Monday, September 29, 2008

GOLF NEWBIES

Links Life Vol. 5

By Jeff Louis


So you still want to play golf? Once again, your personal mentor is here to guide you through.

Let’s discuss some of the points of golf reservations.

I hope you’ve all been practicing. It’s almost time to take you out on the course. Before we do that, however, you’ll need to know a few more things...

Tee time: This is your reserved appointment to play golf at a particular course. Sometimes these times are held with a credit card number because most courses have a cancellation policy. If you or a member of your group does not show up or cancel in time, then the credit card may be charged.

Pairings: This is the number of people you have promised will be there. The tee time can be made for up to 4 people, in a time slot. If you have more, then you have to work that out directly with the course.

Outings: Usually, if you need to book tee times for more than 8 people (2 foursomes) this is considered an outing. You should inquire about getting a discount if you have a large number in attendance.

Walk up: A walk up is an individual that comes to the course to play, but doesn’t have a designated (reserved) tee time. Usually, single players can not reserve a tee time.

Sign Up List: The name of a walk up goes on this list. You will be called to play according to your position on the list, or, need. If 2 players come together as walk ups and a group has 3 players and needs one more to fill out the slot, you have 2 choices. You and your friend can break up or you can let the next single walk up go next and wait for a time slot with 2 places available.

Starter: This is the individual usually positioned near the 1st tee. He or she takes your tickets and keeps tee offs running in a smooth and orderly fashion.

Ranger: This is the law & order keeper of the course. The ranger can help find your ball or give you advice on how to play a particular hole. The ranger can also ask you to play faster if your group is playing so slow that you hold up the rest of the course. One more piece of information, the ranger can also escort you off the course if he or she deems you are causing damage to the course on purpose - a/k/a vandalism.

This Week’s Golf Term:
“Playing Through": If your group is playing efficiently, or faster than the group ahead of you, and the group that is ahead of you is not in sight, then you can ask to “play through.” This means that the faster group of players is allowed to pass the slower group on the course. It is an acceptable, well mannered practice. There is, however, a caveat. The slower group does not have to let you play through, as they may feel that this is a personal affront to their skill sets. Size up the risk. You have more choices. You can call the ranger for an assist or decide to skip that hole to avoid confrontation. Do not cause a commotion and manhandle (figuratively speaking of course) the slow group. Allow them to finish the current hole and tee off 1st on the next hole.

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