Bag drop , unsung heroes of golf. OT

[archie_struthers]

 


We are blessed to an unbelievable group of bag guys at our club .  They work hard , know the players , and how to act in a service capacity . Moreover they are fun , smart , and consistently courteous.  Interestingly enough all four of our  mainstays are over 50 years old . 

Anyone who has experienced really good bag guys and starters knows how important they can be . It certainly helps Knowing they will do,just about anything you ask without question . They just get re done .  What say you on the impact at your club .

[Brent Hutto]

I'm afraid I'm the opposite. If my club employed zero "bag guys" instead of the one full-timer and couple of part-timers we have, that would be an improvement as far as I'm concerned. Not because there's anything wrong with the individuals performing the job  but because the job itself is both a distraction and unnecessary expense (in very difficult economic times).

Anyone capable of getting himself from the first tee to the last green is perfectly capable of getting from his car to the clubhouse to the first tee without a personal attendant.

We do not employ either a "starter" or any "rangers", thank goodness. And we have coolers or water on the course in lieu of a beverage cart "girl", thank god for that.

Golf is at its best when it is at its least encumbered. Golf carts may be a necessary encumbrance for some, running a gauntlet of gofers upon arrival is absolutely unneeded IMO.

[Bryan Icenhower]

They are often the first point of interaction at a club. I am lucky that where I play the bag drop guys are great. Today I popped by the club to hit balls and have lunch, and the bag drop guy saw me park, walk up the little hill and was on his was to grab my bag from storage.  He even had taken the time to look at the results from the weekend's member / member and talked to me about the results.  

A great outside staff helps set the day.

[Gary Slatter]

Archie, it is the most important position at a golf club.    It can kill a course faster than fungus on the greens if you have the wrong type of person at the bag drop.  Kananaskis Golf had the best in the business in our area, and they were young but obviously trained properly.  I never met a golfer who did not comment about their service.
I have also seen many clubs where a select group of members get great service, the big tippers.  The rest get  "regular" service, sadly.

Glad you mentioned BAG DROP, the first impression of a golf operation that has to be properly run.

[Gary Slatter]

I'm afraid I'm the opposite. If my club employed zero "bag guys" instead of the one full-timer and couple of part-timers we have, that would be an improvement as far as I'm concerned. Not because there's anything wrong with the individuals performing the job  but because the job itself is both a distraction and unnecessary expense (in very difficult economic times).

Anyone capable of getting himself from the first tee to the last green is perfectly capable of getting from his car to the clubhouse to the first tee without a personal attendant.

We do not employ either a "starter" or any "rangers", thank goodness. And we have coolers or water on the course in lieu of a beverage cart "girl", thank god for that.

Golf is at its best when it is at its least encumbered. Golf carts may be a necessary encumbrance for some, running a gauntlet of gofers upon arrival is absolutely unneeded IMO.

Brent, I agree about the rangers, but Bag Drop can make your day, without expense!

[Terry Lavin]

The psychological factors of primacy is important at a club or a resort. "Shoe" is the bag drop/front door operations guy at Bandon Dunes. One of the greatest guys you'll ever meet. Genial and welcoming without being in any way servile. He sets the tone for your stay at the resort.

[Ryan Coles]

We are blessed to an unbelievable group of bag guys at our club .  They work hard , know the players , and how to act in a service capacity . Moreover they are fun , smart , and consistently courteous.  Interestingly enough all four of our  mainstays are over 50 years old . 

Anyone who has experienced really good bag guys and starters knows how important they can be . It certainly helps Knowing they will do,just about anything you ask without question . They just get re done .  What say you on the impact at your club .

I find the entire concept nauseating. A completely unnecessary function that bears no resemblance to the Clubs I frequent or would like to frequent. Give me a polite welcome in the pro shop, a smile and service at the bar. Everything else is phoney. Your friends are there to be your fiends, these hired cheer leaders serve only to reassure the delusional or insecure.

[Brent Hutto]

So is there no such thing as a decent private club out there where you just walk with your bag on your shoulder from your car to the first tee and play golf? Without requiring either assistance or deeply meaningful personal interactions with employees of the club?

Maybe I'm the only one. I'm used to that.

[Bryan Icenhower]

I agree its not needed, but that's not my point.  You also don't need a receptionist at your doctor's office, you could simply come in and wait for the doctor come get you.

[Ryan Coles]

I would suggest that's a poor and inaccurate comparison. Most golf clubs operate without such nonsense. No doctors surgery can operate without administration staff.

[Mike Sweeney]

So is there no such thing as a decent private club out there where you just walk with your bag on your shoulder from your car to the first tee and play golf? Without requiring either assistance or deeply meaningful personal interactions with employees of the club?

Maybe I'm the only one. I'm used to that.

I would guess there are 100+ in New England that somehow get through the season without one. I think they shoot Bag Drop guys in Maine and feed them to the lobsters to make them fat for tourist $$ When they get a bag drop guy at Cape Arundel, I will officially retire from golf

I can't believe a guy from the Bongo Room started a thread about "Bag Drop Guys". Wow, let's all go to a lounge at the Borgata and drink Apple Martinis !!

Sorry Archie, but I used to fish for marlin and tuna as a summer job at the Jersey Shore..... Freakin bag drops at da Shore, geez this going to give me nightmares....

[Bryan Icenhower]

Surgery of course. But a regular check up? Teeth cleaning?

[Charlie_Bell]

My dentist's receptionist doesn't expect a tip.

[Bryan Icenhower]

Nor do the staff that work the bag drop where I belong.

[Josh Stevens]

like compulsory carts, it does seem to be a particularly American affectation.  Are you incapable of carrying your bags 50m from the carpark?

[BHoover]

There's a club here in my hometown where the bag boys are expected to drive a cart out to the parking lot to pick you up. When I used to play there, I made a point of trying to sneak my way up to the bag drop without being picked up. At 30 years old, I felt like I was capable of carrying my bag from my car to the bag drop, much less walk from my car to the clubhouse. It wasn't the bag boys' fault; the club owner required them to do it. In fact, I stopped when they told me they'd get in trouble if the owner saw a member or guest carrying their own bag to the bag drop. I thought that was ridiculous and totally unnecessary, but I didn't want to be responsible for getting those guys into trouble.

[archie_struthers]

 

 I know it sounds awful but our guys are great , seriously .  I lose clubs , they find them . Need a beer , they bring it .  Need to know where to go to play 9  in an hour without running into anybody , they tell you .

Now maybe it s old age that has made me needier but I really appreciate when I' m running to the tee late for our noon game , after running out of work , that I can just stop and pop the trunk and my clubs make it to the proper spot , quickly .  I guess our guys do such a nice job that I'm soft , as much as it pains me to say so. I still am fairly certain that I could hang with Sweeney in some unsavory bars without being picked on by the locals, despite my warm relationship with  our bag drop guys.

[J_ Crisham]

I agree its not needed, but that's not my point.  You also don't need a receptionist at your doctor's office, you could simply come in and wait for the doctor come get you.

You must either be joking or a complete idiot- my receptionists answers the phone,sends a lot of time scheduling patients , triaging, filing insurance claims and putting out fires that I have neither the time nor energy to deal with. If I'm trying to perform her duties my ability to treat patients is diminished in many regards. When you visit a doctor you want them to be at their best not dealing with headaches in the waiting room. What we pay them is far less than what they deserve. They probably should get tips. The work a hell of a lot harder than most waiters and waitresses.

[Bryan Icenhower]

I agree its not needed, but that's not my point.  You also don't need a receptionist at your doctor's office, you could simply come in and wait for the doctor come get you.

You must either be joking or a complete idiot- my receptionists answers the phone,sends a lot of time scheduling patients , triaging, filing insurance claims and putting out fires that I have neither the time nor energy to deal with. If I'm trying to perform her duties my ability to treat patients is diminished in many regards. When you visit a doctor you want them to be at their best not dealing with headaches in the waiting room. What we pay them is far less than what they deserve. They probably should get tips. The work a hell of a lot harder than most waiters and waitresses.

Clearly I am stretching the truth, not sure why you need to call me an idiot. Yes, your business runs better with and more profitably with a receptionist.  Having grown up in a medical family, in which my mother played that role, I understand more than you obviously give credit for. I would assume your patients appreciate your front office staff. I know my father's patients did, and he was more.successful because of it.

I like being greeted when I go to wal-mart too. they don't "need" that position. Puts me in a better mood.

And for the record,  if I have my bag with me in the car when I arrive, I park and carry them up myself. Still like the pleasant hellos from the outside staff.

Not all clubs have the luxury of full rosters and little competition.  We are living in an experience economy. I at no time said I required it, that only good clubs have this service or anynother derogatory statements.  I simply agreed with Archie that they were unsung heroes of the experience.  If my club didn't have them, it would be a loss. I would not leave the club because of it.

[Bill_McBride]

The psychological factors of primacy is important at a club or a resort. "Shoe" is the bag drop/front door operations guy at Bandon Dunes. One of the greatest guys you'll ever meet. Genial and welcoming without being in any way servile. He sets the tone for your stay at the resort.

100% agree about Shoe.  I hadn't been to Bandon in about five years.  He reminded me of my last visit, I felt very privileged to be there.  Shoe is the soul of that place. 

[Mark Chaplin]

I remember a well known GCAer telling me it could cost him $50 to get from the car park to the first tee.

The best clubs I've been to in the US were all non tipping, members should be socially responsible and pay staff a proper wage and do away with the tipping culture. I'm sure the concierge, caddie master, shoe shine, bag boy, range master and starter will all still be ultra helpful.

[Mike Sweeney]

[quote  :Dauthor=archie_struthers link=topic=58413.msg1370232#msg1370232 date=1398910242]
I still am fairly certain that I could hang with Sweeney in some unsavory bars without being picked on by the locals, despite my warm relationship with  our bag drop guys.
[/quote]

Archie,

I have been known to play a fancy golf club or two and actually enjoy it

In my slanted view of the world, everything should run like Fishers Island and Newport CC. Technically, the caddies at NCC will come down to the car park and help you with the bags, and if you drive up to the clubhouse and drop off, they will certainly help you. But there is no "bag drop" guy at NCC, Fishers or Cape Arundel !

As an apartment dweller in NYC, we (our wives) do not allow golf bags into the apartments. They stay in the car trunk. The only time I have to set up my bag is when I reach my fancy golf club at the beginning of a golf day. It drives me personally crazy when the bag drop/valet guy chases you (seriously they do) and stand there waiting for you to pack your bag for the day. I want to say:

"Dude it is not your fault but I married a crazy chick that loves Broadway and running in Central Park. I am stuck with 8 million people in a crowded place and will never be able to fondle my clubs in a man cave because man cave's in my neighborhood cost $1200 per square foot. Now go away for 10 minutes while I fondle my clubs in private and figure out how much suntan lotion I need for my soon to be cancerous body!"

Hope the new Atlantic City CC allows push carts like other clubs on the water - Misquamicutt and Fishers, and no bag drop guys!

Cheers from rainy NYC with fond memories of The Bongo Room:

[Michael Whitaker]

I remember a well known GCAer telling me it could cost him $50 to get from the car park to the first tee.

The best clubs I've been to in the US were all non tipping, members should be socially responsible and pay staff a proper wage and do away with the tipping culture. I'm sure the concierge, caddie master, shoe shine, bag boy, range master and starter will all still be ultra helpful.

+1

[Adam Lawrence]

I'm afraid I put bag drop in the same category as hotels folding the end of a loo roll into a triangle - the epitome of unnecessary service.

[archie_struthers]

 


Mike, have that picture of the Bongo Room , love it .  My buddy Wags bounced off that step one night when he was thrown out of the bar . I got him back in by sheer charm but the bouncers said it was on me if he misbehaved again ,  and he did.  What a maroon he was that night , girls were 2-1!  How fun was the first set by Ocean ! 

As you may know , I'm not wowed by pomp and circumstance. Our bag guys are really excellent. !  They get your clubs re gripped , cover for you when you are running late , always have a range token if you need it , etc etc again . and just make the whole experience at the club a little more fun .  If you don't have them , that's cool too, but when someone is good you appreciate the service.

On the other hand , uniformed , non golfing bag drop guys are the worst.