How do you prefer to tip?

[jeffwarne]

Working for a club with a no tipping rule sucks when you are making 8.50 an hour and the other clubs in the area with no tip rules are paying 14.00

Getting to play any day of the week makes up for it though.

Robert,
Is there some reason you can't move to the better paying job?

[jeffwarne]

John,

I was a bag room attendant for 2 years, and a caddiemaster for another two.

I was a waste of money, and felt useless.

All those tasks are really doing nothing for the experience. Do clubs REALLY NEED bag rooms? I NEVER would store my bag because I know what happens in bag rooms.

Kyle,
Do tell.
What happens in bagrooms?
And if you were the Caddiemaster wouldn't whatever it is that happens in bagrooms (assuming it's bad ), be your responsibility?

[Bob Harris]

As a person whose job once upon a time depended upon tips, I tip early and I tip often.  In terms of golf, I tip pretty much everybody at the club, with the exception of the manager and the golf pro, who I try to give ballgame tickets to.  Most of my leisure time is spent around the game of golf and I always try to give back to the people who make my time enjoyable.  In fact, my habits gave me the idea to name my two favorite waitresses at Olympia, "Tip" and "Overtip". 

All in good fun, gentlemen.

My position exactly. Steve Martin said it best in "My Blue Heaven", "It's not tipping I believe in. It's over-tipping."

[TX Golf]

Jeff,

I no doubt could move to a higher paying job..... However, the golf course is in a great location and extremely convenient as it is close to school. Also, they have very generous rules when it comes to bag boys playing, which really is the only reason I work in the first place. For me, that makes up for the lesser wage as it is just my beer spending money that I am making. If I were actually trying to make a living I would be extremely pissed. The more I  think about it I should probably shut up, as I play more days at the course than I actually work!!!!

[Dan Herrmann]

I think we should start tipping the architects.  Send them $5 every time you play.  Addresses are available thru Google

[jeffwarne]

Jeff,

I no doubt could move to a higher paying job..... However, the golf course is in a great location and extremely convenient as it is close to school. Also, they have very generous rules when it comes to bag boys playing, which really is the only reason I work in the first place. For me, that makes up for the lesser wage as it is just my beer spending money that I am making. If I were actually trying to make a living I would be extremely pissed. The more I  think about it I should probably shut up, as I play more days at the course than I actually work!!!!

Robert,
Life is full of tradeoffs. Sounds like you've got it figured out.
As was pointed out to me early in my career by a mentor- "golf courses aren't being run solely for the benefit of the employees "
(as we stood outside an on course rain shelter at a neighboring course which was overflowing to capacity with maintenance workers -while the paying resort guests stood out in the rain)

[TX Golf]

Yep... I also like the guys in the shop, and they know I'm not going anywhere. If my give me a raise or I am leaving threats actually carried any weight they would probably give it to me. Either way... I'm happy. I get to play golf a few days a week, am forced to get out of bed early on Saturday and Sunday mornings (makes me feel productive to go work), and I have plenty of beer money for Friday and Saturday nights.

[Mike McGuire]

The policy at our club has evolved from - an enforced no tipping allowed - to most people tip. I think we are in some undefined middle ground and should make a call one way or another.

An older member stood at the annual meeting and declared " I have been a member here longer than I can remember and I just found out some of you have been leaving tips to the wait staff"

The old school guys think tipping encourages preferential treatment and should not be allowed. The young guys tip automatically.

We pay our help well above minimum and add 15-18% charge charge to the bill which they get a percentage of.

I hope the debate continues so I can pick up some different perspectives.

[mike_beene]

I can vouch for Robert:not only is he a good guy he can strike the ball.He is working at one of the wealthiest clubs in America.Wealthy does not always equal good tips.I bet my less wealthy club pays more and tips more.Probably why we are not as wealthy.Our employees stay forever and seem to enjoy their jobs.

[Tim Bert]

I enjoy tipping for good service.  I can't stand situations where the expectation to tip is very clear and the employees take that situation for granted by providing less than expected service.  I usually don't tip in such situations.

Two of the worst scenarios I see re-played from time to time, one golf related and one not:
- The previously mentioned club cleaners (usually those found at mid-range priced public or "resort" courses that feel obligated to provide the service.)  Nothing worse than the once over with a wet cloth.  At least put some effort to clean the crap off my clubs if you are going to force me to let you wash them and feel obligated to tip you.

- The semi-automated car wash hand dryer guys.  Could you at least please attempt to pretend to dry off my car with the towels in your hand before coming at me for some cash?

[JLahrman]

I don't feel like I deserve a tip one bit.... I have worked for three years no and very very rarely ever get them. I do feel like I should have received a raise, but that is a different issue.

While I don't expect a tip, when I do receive a tip from someone I make sure to go above and beyond every time I see them in the future. This is obviously a different situation than the public/resort course where you give the bag boy money and never see them again.

Also, the people who occasionally do give me a tip are the people that I prioritize anyways because they are the ones who treat me well and actually show a genuine interest in me. Its more the fact that they are nice people than the fact that they also happened to give me a tip.

I worked for a total of five summers in a couple of bag rooms of clubs, and this was exactly my attitude.  I did a half-assed job for nobody, but as a college kid I certainly did appreciate tips and would go above and beyond the call of duty for members who tipped.

I also agree with the poster who said that he gives $20 every once in awhile as opposed to $1 each time.  That is both more memorable to the employee and probably less expensive for the member.

What happens in bag rooms stays in bag rooms.

One person you should always tip is a valet.  I've known a few valets and the stories they tell are frightening.

[Eric_Terhorst]

I would think private clubs would be wise to pay better than scale and top it off with a periodic bonus--its more comfortable for the members day to day and you'll attract and keep better staff.  Some private club members I know make a habit of paying a Christmas tip to people who are important to them.

The person who deserves your tip the most at a resort is the person who cleans your room every morning--they work hard and get paid little.  Leave a few bucks on the pillow.

The only expectation of tipping that bothers me involves those fellows who sit around in the men's room handing people towels, etc., in some fancy restaurants and clubs.  Ew.

[Andy Troeger]

This is an interesting topic to me because a lot of the things we tip for are items that hold absolutely no value to me.

Valet parking--I'd rather park my own car, its not like its hard to do.

Putting clubs on a cart--I'm perfectly capable of doing this. If I'm not going to walk, at least this would force me to do something other than hit the ball.

Cleaning clubs--this one's a little better since I really don't like cleaning my clubs, but I also don't care if they're spotless quite honestly.

I'll always tip the valet or the club cleaner. The bag drop depends on the amount of effort required, its its a 5 second thing then quite honestly it doesn't meet my minimum threshold. If it requires some effort that's different.

Caddies are another story entirely--for a good caddie there's much more value-added than those other items.

[Tim Gavrich]

The culture of tipping in America vs. the rest of the world is fascinating.  In some places (I think Spain was the example given to me), the waitstaff at a restaurant would be taken aback and almost offended if they were tipped.  They work for the wage they are given, and anything added on top of that by anyone other than the boss would seem like pity handouts.

I'm 19, and I'll admit that I have not worked as much as most guys my age.  If I was doing some summer job where tips may or may not happen, I'd only want to be tipped when I was thought to go above and beyond my job description.

If I play golf at some private club with a shoeshine boy and it's $5 to get my shoes shined, I'm going to pay him $5 when he gives me my shined shoes back--no more, no less.  If he shines my shoes so fantastically well that I blind my opponents for the day into defeat and I win $20 on the course, I may kick $2 more his way.  But tipping people for doing their jobs is a little strange to me.  Going above and beyond is what merits tipping, I think.

[Grant Saunders]

I find this thread fascinating

Here in New Zealand, we dont tip.

-We store our own clubs at home
-We get our own clubs out of our cars
-We then take our own clubs onto the course or practice area
-We carry/pull our own clubs around the course
-We clean our own clubs when finished with them
-We have a beer after our game and simply pay the cost of it and not launch into trying to calculate a further 15-18% fee on top of it

Maybe we are just simple people over here or are we just multi talented enough to handle the jobs it appears it requires 5 separate people to undertake.

Could there possibly be a direct correlation between this attitude of doing things for yourself and the fact that our average yearly subscription is NZ$400 (US$250)?

This thread highlights for me what is wrong with the game of golf in the US. It worries me that many other countries take their lead from you as to what standards should be set /desired.

If possible, can someone please crunch the numbers on what it costs to play a round of golf at a course if you combine the green fee, caddie fee, caddie tip, bag drop guy tip, shoe shine guy tip, club cleaner dude tip and all other hidden costs.

[Rich Goodale]

I think we should start tipping the architects.  Send them $5 every time you play.  Addresses are available thru Google

This is a great idea, Dan--as long as we also have the chance to send them an invoice in those cases where the course they designed was not value for money.

rich

[Steve Lang]

  Grant,

Nothing wrong with game in US..  its all a personal issue for folks..

I used to tip a little left, now a little right..

[Anthony Gray]

A one of our esteemed employes once remarked, "The Members break every rule in in the book, except the NO TIPPING RULE."

bOB

Is that mispelling/bad grammur virus catching?   

John,

It shoor is.


Bob

  Why is there only bad spelling on the threads I start?

  Anthomy

[jeffwarne]

I find this thread fascinating

Here in New Zealand, we dont tip.

-We store our own clubs at home
-We get our own clubs out of our cars
-We then take our own clubs onto the course or practice area
-We carry/pull our own clubs around the course
-We clean our own clubs when finished with them
-We have a beer after our game and simply pay the cost of it and not launch into trying to calculate a further 15-18% fee on top of it

Maybe we are just simple people over here or are we just multi talented enough to handle the jobs it appears it requires 5 separate people to undertake.

Could there possibly be a direct correlation between this attitude of doing things for yourself and the fact that our average yearly subscription is NZ$400 (US$250)?

This thread highlights for me what is wrong with the game of golf in the US. It worries me that many other countries take their lead from you as to what standards should be set /desired.

If possible, can someone please crunch the numbers on what it costs to play a round of golf at a course if you combine the green fee, caddie fee, caddie tip, bag drop guy tip, shoe shine guy tip, club cleaner dude tip and all other hidden costs.

Amen.

And with such a structure maybe golf pros could get back to growing and teaching the game instead of babysitting staffs of 10-15
 who provide the services which have little or nothing to do with the actual game-and have the added benfit of not having to track down Mrs. Befuvnick's head cover(s) which she's so sure the bagroom staff covets enough to "steal".

[Eric Pevoto]

Excellent.  The Befuvnicks are members at your club too?

[Tom Yost]

I grew up playing pretty much muni courses where bag attendants, club washers and beverage service were pretty much unheard of.  With the help of a summer discount card, my buddy and I began discovering the more upscale places and resort courses where we started to encounter the "players assistants."  In short time, we developed a method that involved gathering and putting away all the stuff like head covers, towels, tees, extra balls, etc. on the 18th tee, so that we were completely prepared to stop a little short at the cart return, giving us enough time hop out and grab our bags, head for the parking lot and wave off the club washer before he arrived.  The 19th hole for us was a stop at the 7-11 for a hot dog and big gulp on the way home.

After dating a waitress for a while, I was set straight on how the tipping thing works and now that I am earning a more comfortable living, I have embraced the process and freely distribute the pesos with a smile.  

[jeffwarne]

The Befuvnick's are multiple club members
They keep a set (complete with 11 headcovers) at every club (don't know what brand they have or the bag color, but they're sure they left them here-along with the son-in-laws)

Despite this they need their clubs shipped whenever they travel because they like this particular set better (even though they don't know the brand and seldom use the grooves on the club)

[Mike Vegis @ Kiawah]

Some people think "Tipping" is a city in China.  However, prepaid tipping (as we had in the Sanctuary) gives no incentive to give over-the-top service.  Employees consider it part of their "wage."  I was once told that "Tips" is actually an acronym for "To Insure Proper Service."  That’s why we stopped the prepaid tipping at our hotel.  Everyone hustles a lot more now…

[Billsteele]

I believe this is the definitive discussion on the subject:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-qV9wVGb38

[David Neveux]

There is no doubt that tipping well goes a LONG WAY.  As a member of the "hospitality industry" we live on tips.  It's obvious that tips do need to be earned, but i think that tipping is essential.  Now Mr. Pink may not agree, but when you take "care" of somebody they will take "care" of you.  It's rare that I do not tip, but sometimes a non-tip is warranted.  

For instance, if heading to your favorite watering hole on a busy saturday night when the place is packed and it's taking 20 minutes to get a drink, when it's you're turn, depending on the size and amount of your drink order, you should always overtip, always.  Rest assured the next time he sees you standing on the rail waiting, you're his next order.

What's wrong with giving the kid who grabbed your bag a couple dollars, or even just one dollar?  Shit, I'm the kinda guy who will take my clubs off a cart, tell the guy I'm all set and still flip a few dollars.  If I see a guy really doing work on grooves, probably warrants a $5.  If I leave the cart all dirtied up, Ill leave a few dollars in the scorecard holder.  People appreciate these things, and if you're out playing golf chances are you've got a few extra dollars to hook somebody.