Club time sheet full

THEIRISHMOB · 23-11-2013 10:27AM #1

Anyone else have the same problems?
The time sheet in our club in full weeks in advance.
Getting very sick of it as the main reason I pay 1200 a year is to play in the Sunday members competitions.

peepee · 23-11-2013 10:36AM

You should really bring this to the attention of someone at the club who can do something about it.They can simply add in an extra slot to accommodate you. If you have a complaint about how the bookings are taken you should make this known also. Otherwise status quo.

golfwallah · 23-11-2013 10:49AM

THEIRISHMOB wrote: »

Anyone else have the same problems?
The time sheet in our club in full weeks in advance.
Getting very sick of it as the main reason I pay 1200 a year is to play in the Sunday members competitions.

Looks like your club has sold more memberships for this price than they have the capacity to cater for.

As they can't add more daylight time, their options are price differentiation of different membership packages based on demand, restricting the membership offerings for people wanting to play on Sundays or shortening the time intervals between timeslots on the timesheet.

Of course, you also have options, like not renewing next year and shopping around for a different club that better meets your needs.

You could also bring up the issue at your club's AGM and see if there is enough support to get the committee to solve the problem.

THEIRISHMOB · 23-11-2013 11:02AM

golfwallah wrote: »

Looks like your club has sold more memberships for this price than they have the capacity to cater for.

As they can't add more daylight time, their options are price differentiation of different membership packages based on demand, restricting the membership offerings for people wanting to play on Sundays or shortening the time intervals between timeslots on the timesheet.

Of course, you also have options, like not renewing next year and shopping around for a different club that better meets your needs.

You could also bring up the issue at your club's AGM and see if there is enough support to get the committee to solve the problem.

Club used to have 500+ members now about 300.
Shopping around is tough as:
1. Club is within 1 mile.
2. Best course by far in area.
3. all same sub so no competition.

I just need to find out when the time sheet opens exactly and book more in advance but I know other members have same problem.

Other thing that pisses me off is same old singles stableford EVERY WEEK.so boring.

golfwallah · 23-11-2013 12:26PM

THEIRISHMOB wrote: »

Club used to have 500+ members now about 300.
Shopping around is tough as:
1. Club is within 1 mile.
2. Best course by far in area.
3. all same sub so no competition.

I just need to find out when the time sheet opens exactly and book more in advance but I know other members have same problem.

Other thing that pisses me off is same old singles stableford EVERY WEEK.so boring.

I see where you're coming from, as many clubs, including my own have lost a lot of members but the ones who stayed and the new ones who joined all want weekend golf.

That puts a lot more pressure on weekend timesheets (in our case Saturday being the congested day), than was the case when we had a lot more members, many of whom weren't playing weekends as often as our membership in the current "recessionary" times.

People, more and more, are looking for value for money and want to play at the times that suit them - leaving many peaks and valleys in capacity utilization.

In my view, the fact that a lot of people in your (and my club) are finding it harder to get the weekend times they want, points to a big mismatch between supply and demand at peak periods. This issue is compounded by the inertia inherent in voluntary committees, where the predominant sentiment is to hold onto the "status quo" (mainly do nothing except wait for your competitors to go under). These are issue that require more open informed debate and change in many clubs (including my own), especially as supply grossly exceeds demand in a totally changed golf market. Until they are addressed, clubs will just muddle along with a bit of cost cutting, hoping for the best and there are no quick fixes.

It requires activities like:

market research -i.e. asking members what they want and finding out what prices they are prepared to pay for different packages of player benefits (club could try surveying their membership, focus groups, etc.,
This can be done using either members who have marketing skills or by contracting in some expertise to carry out such a project.
analysis of timesheet usage data to get a better understanding of peaks and valleys.
analysis of member database to get a better understanding of member age profile.

In point of fact the GUI / ILGU / PGA produced a booklet about 4 years ago on "Promoting Golf Club Membership" (http://www.ilgu.ie/uploads/docs/2138_ClubMembership.pdf), which pointed to the need for a more market focused approach and the need to prioritise marketing / strategic planning (as opposed to just hoping to survive from year to year with the same tired old membership offerings that have ceased to attract and retain members).

Might be worth a read but my observations are that the suggestions in this booklet are being acted upon by the more professionally run establishments (the dreaded "non-member" owned courses) and largely being ignored by the member owned clubs, who arrogantly assume that they know better.

The plot thickens!!

golfwallah · 23-11-2013 12:47PM

Sorry folks, the link to "Promoting Golf Club Membership" didn't work, but you will find it by Googling this term (seems to have dropped from the GUI site but you can still find a pdf version of the booklet from the ILGU site).

Extracts from this booklet are:
"Introduction:
Current social trends in relation to golf are to do with people’s time availability, the wider availability of pay-as-you-play facilities and the impact of the recession on discretionary spending. In terms of attracting and retaining members clubs need to create added value relative to the perceived value of limited time availability and the cost of casual green fees, or open-day entrance fees.

Age Profile
According to the GUI Club Survey 2008 the average age of male members of affiliated clubs is 49 and according to the ILGU the
average age of female members is closer to 55. These surveys and others around the world reveal almost a “lost generation” of 25 – 44 year olds in terms of club membership. What these surveys have also identified is that a majority of nomadic or casual golfers are actually in this same 25 – 44 age group. In other words clubs as currently structured have failed to create any added value relative to the perceived value of limited time availability and the cost of casual green fees for these casual golfers.

Club Finances
It is not within the remit of the GUI or ILGU to provide advice in relation to club finances. However it is clear that no club is immune to the present recession whether in terms of loss of members, inability to charge entrance fees or a significant reduction in green fee income. Clubs that have recently completed major redevelopments may now be finding that their repayments model is no longer valid. It is important therefore that clubs revisit their long term financial planning model to ensure a coherent financial plan is in place which ensures the viability and future of the club.

Retention of Membership & Attracting Members

Club Finances
• The financial cost around joining, allied to the benefits of club membership must be such as to create added value when compared with remaining as a casual/nomadic golfer.
• Measures being considered and implemented by clubs to reduce the financial burden on members include:
o Reduction or elimination of entrance fees.
o Spreading payment of entrance fees and subscriptions (direct debit).
o Arranging bank finance for entrance fees and subscriptions.
o Reducing the cost of transition from junior to full member. This is very relevant in view of age profile statistics.
o Low annual fees option plus purchased credits that can be used to pay for golf, practice facilities, food etc. with off-peak
time pricing.
o Half of the full subscription and a cost per round up to the full subscription with off-peak time pricing.
Club Structure
Club Structures should consider the following:
• Categories of membership should reflect the amount of time an individual wants access to the course and facilities. Clubs should consider categories of membership that are flexible and geared towards the demands of different lifestyles.

Examples:
• Four/Five day mid-week membership
Six day membership – which allows access to the course of one of the weekend days
• Seven day membership – full access
• Distance membership (Overseas/ Country).
• Pavilion/House Member
• Intermediate Membership (eg under 45) – introduce discounts to attract younger members, remove/reduce entrance levy based on number of years as a junior/juvenile".

Dtoffee · 23-11-2013 10:12PM

THEIRISHMOB wrote: »

Anyone else have the same problems?
The time sheet in our club in full weeks in advance.
Getting very sick of it as the main reason I pay 1200 a year is to play in the Sunday members competitions.

Are you looking for a specfic time ie you want to play between 10 and 11?

Personally speaking, for €1200 I would be out the door and looking for my money back if I could not find a spot on a timesheet with probably over 140 spots available..... dont put up with it, save yourself the stress and walk.

Dr_Colossus · 24-11-2013 01:14AM

THEIRISHMOB wrote: »

Anyone else have the same problems?
The time sheet in our club in full weeks in advance.
Getting very sick of it as the main reason I pay 1200 a year is to play in the Sunday members competitions.

What club is it? Or as people seem so recluctant to say what club they're members of as if there is something to protect at least what region is the club based, it might help make other members info decisions when joining a club

GreeBo · 24-11-2013 01:44AM

THEIRISHMOB is no longer frequenting these parts, permanently.

doublej · 24-11-2013 09:41AM

This surprising intervention requires explanation surely?

GreeBo · 24-11-2013 03:58PM

doublej wrote: »

This surprising intervention requires explanation surely?

Breach of rules, and don't call me Shirley.

For Paws · 24-11-2013 05:59PM

Just so we don't all, save your all-knowing self of course, fall into the same errors, could you please point out which rule or rules were breached ?

FixdePitchmark · 24-11-2013 06:01PM

For Paws wrote: »

Just so we don't all, save your all-knowing self of course, fall into the same errors, could you please point out which rule or rules were breached ?

I'd say you have as much chance of finding that out as Ireland taking the All Blacks.

For Paws · 24-11-2013 06:07PM

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I'd say you have as much chance of finding that out as Ireland taking the All Blacks.

Nemo iudex in causa sua, as my old granny used to say.

FixdePitchmark · 24-11-2013 06:12PM

For Paws wrote: »

Nemo iudex in causa sua, as my old granny used to say.

She was a smart lady - had to look it up .

Where we were from - we had

"Who died and made you god"
"Who the **** does your man think he is"

ShriekingSheet · 25-11-2013 10:27AM

The time the sheet opens online is written on BRS. Click any competition date and in the paragraph above the sheet it should be there.

A handy enough solution, if you're even moderately tech savvy, is to save your time sheet booking page as an icon on the home screen of your phone.

Then set a recurring alarm/note to buzz and remind you to book.

Why was yer man banned?

Surfing_Xboxer · 25-11-2013 10:49AM

why was he banned ???

ForeRight · 25-11-2013 10:56AM

I assume he posted something against the charter but it was deleted by greebo???

stringy · 25-11-2013 11:10AM

For Paws wrote: »

Nemo iudex in causa sua

Agreed, the mob needs to know, spill the beans, fair is fair

charlieIRL · 25-11-2013 11:42AM

He used this thread as a smokescreen to advertise his own company which is against boards rules.

doublej · 25-11-2013 12:11PM

charlieIRL wrote: »

He used this thread as a smokescreen to advertise his own company which is against boards rules.

Thank you for the explanation, it's obviously a problem for many weekend players and deserving of an airing.

In our club, we have tried a number of variations of booking for Sat/ Sun competitions.
There really is no absolutely fair system that will facilitate all members, not everyone has internet access or access to a phone when bookings open.
In our club, and this is NOT an exaggeration, bookings for Sunday through BRS opens automatically at 09.30 on the preceding Thursday( three days before). At 09.31 the first four hours are fully booked, whether the format is singles or Fourball/ Foursomes.
When you consider that there are 8/9 min intervals, this is only max 30 "slots" which is the crux of the problem, most bookers use the slot to include not only their own name, but also those of their preferred partners, making it very difficult for a new member or a member that doesn't have a "regular" partner to get their name down.
It is forbidden for players to enter into a competition that straddles Sat/Sun to enter twice with the same partner, but it is permitted to play with a different partner from within the 4, allowing two bites of the cherry.
I can honestly say that our Club has listened and acted in the best interests of the members and still there are uneven and unfair outcomes.
The greatest problem arises when a person does not turn up and makes no attempt to cancel; in these instances, because golf is a game of honour, if the "sinner" offers any type of excuse, it is accepted without question, even though one may have serious reservations( no pun intended) about the veracity of the explanation!

Wombatman · 25-11-2013 12:19PM

doublej wrote: »

At 09.31 the first four hours are fully booked, !

How does this happen? All members should have an equal shot at booking surely?

Dealerz · 25-11-2013 12:29PM

Wombatman wrote: »

How does this happen? All members should have an equal shot at booking surely?

Maybe a mix up to do with GMT and CET? ðŸ˜‹

doublej · 25-11-2013 12:46PM

Dealerz wrote: »

Maybe a mix up to do with GMT and CET? ðŸ˜‹

What happens is that when the Timesheet opens each slot has "Book now" alongside it, each member then dives into the times, if he is beaten to the punch, he clicks a different time until one is available, when he is inside the system, any other prospective booker is "locked out" until the original booker completes the slot( which invariably is full with 3 or 4 names)

Arsenium · 25-11-2013 01:26PM

doublej wrote: »

What happens is that when the Timesheet opens each slot has "Book now" alongside it, each member then dives into the times, if he is beaten to the punch, he clicks a different time until one is available, when he is inside the system, any other prospective booker is "locked out" until the original booker completes the slot( which invariably is full with 3 or 4 names)

I believe this. Exact same thing happens in my club. Sheet becomes active at 17:00 and by 17:01 the early slots are all gone. If you are sitting at your PC waiting to book it, then you have no real problem. Otherwise you are looking well down the timesheet.

lettuce97 · 25-11-2013 01:33PM

Any chance we could name the clubs with desperately full timesheets? Due to moving house I'm thinking of moving clubs, but would hate to end up in a club that's crazy busy as my current one (Roganstown) has plenty of timeslots free all the time. That's one of the big attractions to be honest.

Wombatman · 25-11-2013 01:35PM

Arsenium wrote: »

I believe this. Exact same thing happens in my club. Sheet becomes active at 17:00 and by 17:01 the early slots are all gone. If you are sitting at your PC waiting to book it, then you have no real problem. Otherwise you are looking well down the timesheet.

For goodness sake. You have the same chance as the other guy. Just take the time to book it when you need to, or would you like the cub to make an exception for you?

Arsenium · 25-11-2013 02:04PM

Wombatman wrote: »

For goodness sake. You have the same chance as the other guy. Just take the time to book it when you need to, or would you like the cub to make an exception for you?

I have no issue with it. If I decide to play in a competition I check when it opens, and ensure I am in a position to book it. Simple job. If you are ready to book it, as I already said, there is no issue.

The issue, which I presume the OP was referring to, is if somebody decides they would like to play a Sunday competition on maybe the Monday or Tuesday of the previous week and find they havent much hope of getting on the timesheet because the slots are all gone.

And to answer your question, yes, I very much WOULD like the club to make an exception for me and reserve 8:50 AM every Sunday morning. But for some reason they just dont seem willing to......

Russman · 25-11-2013 02:34PM

Arsenium wrote: »

The issue, which I presume the OP was referring to, is if somebody decides they would like to play a Sunday competition on maybe the Monday or Tuesday of the previous week and find they havent much hope of getting on the timesheet because the slots are all gone.

I know its not ideal, but I would assume that in most clubs, if you turned up on spec, you'd get out within an hour or so of arriving ?
In my own club we have the same situation with timesheets going live at 11am on a Thursday, but invariably on a Saturday morning they guys will mix 'n' match to ensure everyone gets out, eg we might have two lines of 4 and 9 players looking to get out and we'll just make 3 threeballs. Granted I play early and the first 4 or 5 lines on the timesheet are usually the same groups of guys who know each other years.
But even later in the day, lots of guys just arrive up and get out.

onlyfinewine · 26-11-2013 12:58AM

quis custodiet ipsos custodes

Always worth considering, keeping in mind the number of times it happens on this forum.

GreeBo · 26-11-2013 01:19AM

next one is a ban, drop it please.

Club time sheet full

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