[trilochana.nejman]

Update:

The pro involved called me in response to my email today. We talked on the phone for about 15 minutes and we both explained our point. At the end of the day he apologized for his reaction to my issue with the trail fee, he went on to explain their policy on the fee and why they have it. While I now understand the fee I still don't agree with it in all cases, while I can see their point if a homeowner invites friends out to the course and leaves an open invitation to c'mon and use my cart anytime you want, that is a lot of lost revenue for the golf course. 1 member who's using a cart that the owner would have used but he hopped a ride is not a great big deal. So I explained to him that when I came in and he asked about the fee I would have likely ended up seeing his point and while I may have had issue with him not comping me the fee, I would have paid it with little more issue.

He then went on to explain how very unprofessional he was in his asking for the drink tickets back and his overall method of handling the situation. I accepted his apology and also reiterated how I was sorry it had to come to that and wish that my initial request to talk about it later was possible.

Now, I'm playing in a tournament out there this Saturday. I had already committed to my team and regardless I would still have fulfilled that promise. After that I'll just have to sort of reflect on things and think about it over the winter as to whether or not I'll join back. I do like the guys in league and my step-dad is in that league so it really gives me a chance to play golf with him a little more often.

Thanks for all the responses, even yours JP, you provided a look from the other side of things and that all helped me put it into perspective.

Bravo, Puttin4Bird!

That is the best of all possible outcomes.

I think you handled this situation quite well as did the pro and the fact that you could both see each others points while still expressing your own shows that you're both reasonable people and are both willing to see the "other side" of a disagreement.

That's the way things should be handled!

Great job!


-JP

[Zebrabitch]

Bravo, Puttin4Bird!

That is the best of all possible outcomes.

I think you handled this situation quite well as did the pro and the fact that you could both see each others points while still expressing your own shows that you're both reasonable people and are both willing to see the "other side" of a disagreement.

That's the way things should be handled!

Great job!


-JP

This post just made me smile, thanks JP. I feel much better after he called and we spoke, while I won't rush out to hug the guy, I see his side of the situation so we'll move on from here and learn from the experience.

[Zebrabitch]

Long story, but bare with me cuz I need some advice. Tonight I'm in golf league right, normally I walk but tonight was super windy and just as I was walking to my tee another member who lives on the course rode by as a passenger on another member's cart, he tosses me his cart key and says "here you go, take mine" seeing how windy it was and all I decided to park my Speed Cart and hop in the ride. As I'm getting ready to pull away our head pro says "you know you still gotta pay for that right?" I kinda laugh a bit and he says, "no, I'm serious, you gotta pay a trail fee." So I said yeah I'll get you but now everyone in my group was already on the way to our hole for the shotgun start so I had to go. As I'm out on the course I come across the owner of the cart and I tell him the story so far and he was just beside himself amazed that he would bring that up. I also brought it up to everyone in my group and none of them could believe the guy brought it up either. Fast forward, we're done now and being that tonight is the final night they serve a grilled steak and give us two drink tickets as well. I go in the shop to get the tickets and as I'm walking away he says "hey, did you wanna settle up that trail fee?" I turn around and calmly say, "you know I just don't quite get it, wasn't this cart already registered and paid a trail fee?" he replies back, "yeah for the owner". I then proceed to tell him I don't quite understand since I know that every week there are several members who ride with cart owners without paying such fee, heck I've done it myself a few times. So my reply was that I'd rather come back in and discuss it when I have a chance to calm down and when there is nobody else around (room was full). He then points his finger in my face and goes on to explain how he told me of the trail fee and I knew it so I had to pay it, I tell him then if he wants it, he'll need to send me a bill. As I'm walking out he says, "hey, why don't you give me back those drink tickets?" so I turn around and tossed them into him and said that he can have his drink tickets and he can kiss my a$$ when 2010 Men's Club starts, I will not be back.

Now here's a little background, this is important to understand a little bit. First of all I told him that I would come back and talk when I had a chance to cool down, I had full intentions on paying the trail fee if he can explain how I should have to owe it, again, when there was not a room full of members. Once he pointed his finger in my face he completely crossed a line and disrespected me. I have been a member of this course for 7 years and have never once asked for or expected anything for free. My whole stance was that I know people are riding without having to pay. Background piece 2, he and the cart owner had a major blow out over the use of cart paths on one of our par 3s. Basically the owner drove across the short "fairway" just short of the green and the pro flipped on him, ultimately the cart owner left their match and later in the clubhouse the pro again took up the matter in a rather headed discussion right in front of other members. So the pro had already had an issue with the owner of this cart beforehand.

So once I got home I was still fuming over this and I wrote him the following email.... I want to explain my point a little further, first of all I planned on paying the trail fee, I had 2 hours to think about before finishing my round and even though everyone in my group supported my thoughts that it was ridiculous for you to bring that up. I was going to pay it, I don't agree with it but I'd pay it- I even told you in the pro shop that I would rather stop back in after I cooled down on it because I didn't want to create more than there was over it. Then you point your finger at me and scold me like I'm some school kid, don't ever disrespect me like that again. Let's remember here, my stance was to talk about it when there wasn't a room full of people, but just like you did with your last issue with Venner on the cart path thing, you chose to take the route of showing disrespect and a pure lack of class on your part.

I've been in that men's club for as long as any other person there, you would think if anything I would deserve a little thing like a trail fee, I know for a fact that there are members every single week riding with cart owners without paying a trail fee, are you kidding me? It's not even a matter of trying to get something for free now, as I said, I would pay the fee, but when you point your finger at me and disrespect me like that I am done. I will not be back in 2010 Men's Club, and I hate to say this because it is a nice course and usually a well run facility, but I would be absolutely shocked if I'm the only one who chooses to go elsewhere. As *cart owner* said, you are a very unprofessional "professional" and you should really consider thinking before you act and disrespect your members.

I would be happy to hear your side of things, but I will not stand toe to toe and point fingers back and forth over this. Am I out of line or honestly what do you think? Thanks!!!

[erubresen]

The trail fee had already been paid for that particular cart, what difference does it make who's driving it? Sounds like this Pro is simply being an asshat.

[eladiopsislab]

I think you handled that pretty well by walking away, and your email was appropriate. I would have copied in the club president/owner/manager in your email though.

[standaman]

Doesn't sound like you were out of line to me. In fact, your suggestion to discuss the issue in a more private setting was very level headed. Sounds to me like this guy is jerk. He showed you no respect and from what you're saying, he has shown little respect to others.

Does he own this golf course, or is he an employee? Private or semi-private club? If he works for the members, maybe it's time he's shown the door. There are few clubs that can afford to have their pro driving away members. If he felt you really should pay that fee, and it sounds like you were probably willing even though it bothered you, he could have made his point politely and in private.

I belong to a club where two of the pros, a father and son, are partial owners. It's not that they are disrespectful or rude, they are just not friendly. I have a twelve year old daughter I take there three or four times a week and they have barely acknowledged her existence. For that reason, and a couple of others, I'll be going elsewhere after eight years of being a member. It's a shame because I love the golf course and they have hired a new professional this year who is really a great guy, but the place is not junior golf friendly because of these two. So we're moving on.

Maybe I'm a little dense, but to me being a golf professional is a job that should require people skills. Yet I have witnessed and/or heard about so many instances where golf professionals are idiots in my 35 years playing this game that it is astounding.

No offense to the good guy professionals out there. There's a lot of you doing a great job, I know.

Kevin

[Styparty]

I've never understood the "trail fee" to begin with - you buy your own cart, but you have to pay a fee anyway? They don't charge a push/pull cart fee when you bring your own, do they?

Putting that aside . . . it was always my understanding that the "trail fee" covered the cart and not just the owner. What if the cart driver and his wife were playing together? Would one of them have to pay a cart fee?

Anyway, I think you handled it fine. Aside from the pro's general douchebaggery, all bets are off when someone sticks a finger in your face. I'd scour the rules for info on trail fees and then write a letter to the course manager/management.

[Nutpoode]

Am I right to assume this was a private, personal cart? The trail fee is applied only to the cart? If so, and the trail fee was already paid for that cart, sounds like the other gentlemen was looking for some more unwarranted revenue for his golf course. "Cooler heads". "Don't cut off your nose off to spite your face"....etc...etc..

Here's a good one for you. I have an email flier from my home course saying I can get a cart, some range balls, and 18 holes of golf for $15 between the hours of of 1pm, and 3pm. I don't want a cart, or the range balls, so I asked what it would cost to just walk, between these hours with my flier in hand. $22.50 I'm told. So I asked if I could just pay the $15, and not take the cart, or use the range balls, since he would have the flier, the user has to turn in to get the discounted $15 fee. "Nope" he said informing me of the disclaimer in fine print. I paid the $22.50.

[Zebrabitch]

Thanks for the replies so far guys, keep em coming! This course is semi-private and there are a lot of members and there are more than a few with similar issues with this guy. He's been here since the beginning and I really think it's time for some new blood. He's just a d bag and most of the time he's bearable for me, but yeah all bets are off when he pointed his finger in my face, it wasn't like right in my face, but from his side of the counter to my side it was sure enough to just straight up piss me off.

I will pursue this in a letter to management/owners at minimum. I'm not going to be some big time righteous being who is going to set out to get this guy fired, but I am going to be sure that my point is made. I do plan on completely researching their trail fee policy as well.

Again, thanks for the replies, it helps because I know you guys will give it to me straight.

[Styparty]

Here's a good one for you. I have an email flier from my home course saying I can get a cart, some range balls, and 18 holes of golf for $15 between the hours of of 1pm, and 3pm. I don't want a cart, or the range balls, so I asked what it would cost to just walk, between these hours with my flier in hand. $22.50 I'm told. So I asked if I could just pay the $15, and not take the cart, or use the range balls, since he would have the flier, the user has to turn in to get the discounted $15 fee. "Nope" he said informing me of the disclaimer in fine print. I paid the $22.50.

I might have been tempted to "accidentally" spill all the range balls in the pro shop and then "forget" where I parked the cart (in the woods) on the front nine.