TH - Why would you EVER identify yourself as a rater at a non-private golf course. It seems to me the only reason would be the hope of a free round. As for private clubs, I understand that the GD name gains you access where you might not be admitted otherwise, but I don't see how anyone can be totally unbiased when you are the "guest" of the course you are rating. It should be understood up front that you intend to pay a guest fee.
That's why most restaurant critics do not identify themselves until AFTER they have eaten. Then they can report on the true experience the average customer will receive. My restauranteur friends tell me the only critics who identify themselves beforehand are the ones who are either trying to impress their companions or are fishing for a free meal.
Michael:
These are very fair points and questions. Please understand I am fairly new at this "game", so for the ins and outs I just use what I believe is courtesy and common sense, in addition to the rules presecribed by the magazine. To answer your questions:
1. TH - Why would you EVER identify yourself as a rater at a non-private golf course. It seems to me the only reason would be the hope of a free round.
Not true. First, understand that the large majority of the courses to be rated are private. Of the publics, I have called and identified myself if that was the only way I could get a tee-time - many of these are quite crowded and getting a time is a huge crapshoot (like Rustic Canyon!), so if I know I'm going to be in an area at a very defined time, I just call and tell them I'm from GD, just to make sure I get a time PERIOD, even if this is way ahead of the normal "calling in" time for the general public. I know I need to play the course, and I can't take the chance on missing out going through the normal crapshoot. I don't feel much guilt about this! In any case such situation is really the only time I'd id myself as a rater at a public course, besides maybe after playing if I want to talk to someone about something or make some comment or give praise. And even in this "getting a tee-time outside the normal ways" case, I'd most definitely expect to pay (and have paid).
2. As for private clubs, I understand that the GD name gains you access where you might not be admitted otherwise, but I don't see how anyone can be totally unbiased when you are the "guest" of the course you are rating. It should be understood up front that you intend to pay a guest fee.
Please understand that it IS understood up front that we intend to pay a guest fee! That is always the expectation. Most of the time they decline to take it, no matter what we say. That's just the way this works. Then it's incumbent upon the rater not to let the comped guest fee "bias" him, and that's truly not all that hard to do... I suppose some tiny bias is always going to exist, but what the hell, I never said this is a perfect system, and you will not my wishes above that people not take it too seriously....
3. That's why most restaurant critics do not identify themselves until AFTER they have eaten. Then they can report on the true experience the average customer will receive. My restauranteur friends tell me the only critics who identify themselves beforehand are the ones who are either trying to impress their companions or are fishing for a free meal.
Unfortunately Michael, these aren't public restaurants and in many cases in order to get in at all, I have to tell them who I am. You do seem to understand that. In a perfect world, this wouldn't be the case... but again, the world isn't perfect. That being said, I have also submitted ratings for plenty of places I did get in via tournaments, guests of members, etc... and you are right, those do tend to give one the most "fair" impression.
TH