Proper Thank You for a Round of Golf

[Erich]

I am sure others on this site have grappled with this topic.  What do you send or bring someone to thank them for setting up a round of golf at an incredible place?

Bottle of Wine
30yr old Scotch
Thank you letter

Any suggestions out there?

[Vinny from Staten Island]

a couple of c-notes will do.

[ed_getka]

Erich,
  I have a golf book collection, so I have given one of my books along with a note of appreciation. I read where someone had a round at Cypress and the host wouldn't accept a gift of appreciation so the grateful golfer donated money to a junior golf organization on the hosts behalf, if my memory serves me right.

For a public golfer like me, the opportunity to play private courses is a little awkward, since I don't have a club I can reciprocate with. However, the guys who have invited me out have been so gracious and excited to share their course with others who really appreciate the opportunity that I have felt much more comfortable over time.

Last year, with the assistance of Todd Eckenrode and Tom Huckaby I helped organize a get together at Barona Creek where about 30 GCA guys got together for golf and fun. That is another way I have tried to give back to those who have been so nice to me.

[Bob_Huntley]

Don't tell the host that his course would be better played backwards.

[TEPaul]

You thank your host by telling him what Brian Silva once told a memberhip:

"You're playing on a dogtrack, but underneath this dogtrack is a great golf course. You can continue to play on this dogtrack or you can take my advice and play on a great golf course. The choice is yours."

That's about all you need to tell your host in thanks for playing his course, and who knows, if he doesn't punch you out and he does take your advice maybe some day he'll be thanking you!

[TEPaul]

You can tell I don't subscribe to that stupid old cliche that it's worse to insult someone's golf course than it is to insult the look of their wife.

I think you should just automatically insult both or how will anyone take what you say seriously?

I can almost promise you it works beautifully too. Actually Brad Klein is getting better and better at it everytime I hear him speak.

It's great--very much gets peoples' attention, and ultimately it's an honest and kind thing to do!

[Joel_Stewart]

What do you send or bring someone to thank them for setting up a round of golf at an incredible place?

Any suggestions out there?

It depends on the person and place.  I played Pine Valley a few years ago with a member who didn't drink.  I ended up giving him a dozen balls and he was happy.  Normally I give wine but I have received books from people that I have hosted and they are nice gifts.

[Mike_Sweeney]

I recently was set up for such a round here in NY. It came through a mutual friend, and thus I did not know my host well. My host is in a "comfortable" position. Thus what to get him. Someone suggested to me to make a donation to his favorite charity, as he was very active with the charity.

My host was very appreciative, and I was subsequently invited back, I assume a good sign.

[TEPaul]

You could always send a great looking hooker to his house although the appreciation factor on that gift is generally never better than about 50/50.

[W.H. Cosgrove]

I love the charity idea!  

After listening to you big spenders, I might have been a cheapskate all of these years!!  I always send a note of thanks.  It is an easy thing to do and in today's world done all too little.  

Get some nice notecards and make the effort.  

I do like that charity idea though!

[W.H. Cosgrove]

One other thought.....If you drink to much....act badly.....insult your hosts wife and golfcourse before throwing up in the corner of the lockerroom.....I suggest a VERY LARGE GIFT and plastic surgery to change your appearance.  Might as well change your name too!

[TEPaul]

What's the matter with you people? Have you no real manners? Why don't you all agree with my great looking hooker idea? You can even improve on the appreation factor tremendously if you happen to know your hosts habits well (not to mention that you need to know his wife's schedule extremely well!).

[ian]

An idea to think about.

Call a mutual friend (if you can), or their personal secretary and explain why you are calling. You will find out what they like to read, if they like wine or scotch (great idea that I had never thought about), or have a particular interest. Ask if you can help a friend of theirs.

[TEPaul]

Ian:

When you say, ask if you can help a friend of theirs, do you mean send another great looking hooker to their friend's house too? Go slow there, Pal--that can start to run into some pretty serious money. Is a great round on a great day at Pine Valley really worth all that?

[Ratso]

Who the Fuck gives a shit...get back to work asshole.

[redanman]

Tom:

I usually send a stripper rather than a hooker.  More politically correct.

Ratso:

Tom is at work.

"I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Monica Lewinsky!"

-The OED defines "sexual relations" as coitus.  Therefore the statement was indeed legally correct.  It is a good thing when the President teaches us all a good lesson in law.

[Ratso]

I am in complete agreement with Redanman...send a stripper.  Most of them will put out if you toss them a c-note anyways.

[Trevor]

Give him a hand job and call it even.

[TEPaul]

Would you all please welcome Ratso to Golfclubatlas. Judging from his cogent first post I'd say he clearly has an extraordinarily firm and intellectual grip on golf course architecture.

[Bob_Huntley]

TEP.

I think he has surfaced before with equally erudite comments.

[TEPaul]

Bob:

I see--well maybe he's on his way on the bus from NYC to Miami with the Cowboy as we speak.

[ian]

Tom,

As Hugh Grant might be overheard to say "Yes, but don't use the credit card because someone might think they were for you."

[Forrest Richardson]

Personally, I'd give them a copy of "Routing the Golf Course" as this will both show your appreciation and help pay for my daughter's college tuition. The scotch is good, also. Edradour is a favorite from the north of the Holy (golf) ground.

[redanman]

Just for the record, I don't send a stripper.

Reciprocation is the best offer if you have a club.  I don't believe in lavish gifts, it reeks of arse-kissing.  Over tipping, over repaying, overachieving is all way too American for me.  Whisky, Cigars, a book, dinner all work well if you don't have a club to reciprocate a home-home.

You can always offer to take the one whom you are returning the favor to a nice new CC-FAD.  That's what they're there for, people without clubs, and also if your club is in Timbuktu compared to where the recipient might be in the next six months and you want to make the impression to get re-invited back to Trump/Wynn Waterfall National SOON.

Also, sorry for creating a monster there on that other thread.