Tee Times

[John Decatur]

Glenn, I agree with you 100% on range balls being free and included. I said that every year in my comments and it took 12 years for it to be included. I am hoping it wasn’t just because of COVID I hope it continues going forward. We pay enough and are basically renting the course for the day. I have never paid for range balls in upstate NY when I played in a tournament. I always thought it was a cheap money grab for the courses to charge and some did and some didn’t. It was usually the courses that were desperate for money that charged like the Big Cats probably why one of the reasons they are in such horrible shape. People got sick of being nickel and dimes and stop coming. As an example Grand Dunes never charged and they are an awesome course and the conditions always are great.

[Darryl JOHNSON]

My suggestion for next year would be to have tee times the first 3 days and then shotgun the final round with pairings based on flight standings.
As far as flight sizes, if we had 44/flight, and tee times starting at 8:00 off of 1 and 10 with 10 minute intervals, the last 2 groups would tee of at 9:40. That is based on groups of 4 instead of 3. I liked groups of 3 in single carts, but doubt that will continue when things get “normal.”

[Bob Newman]

The more I think about this years event, I am more convinced that without the 4 hour rounds we experienced, with the higher humidity we played in this year, I doubt that I could have made it thru the 5 plus hours of past years. I had wondered coming in if I could play 4 days in a row but I did. If they go back to shotgun, I may have a decision to make.

[Harold Zofcin]

I personally did not like using tee times and will not play in the tournament next year if tee times are used. After playing in seven very enjoyable World Am tournaments, last year’s tournament was equally disappointing. Sure, playing in threesomes in single carts sped up play; but at what cost? Furthermore, social distancing was not improved as was one of the goals stated for using tee times. Players still gathered in close confines as carts were not loaded in areas where social distancing was possible! My main reason for disliking tee times, however, has nothing to do with pandemic practices. I travel to the tournament with a group of friends/players who are also of like mind. A large part of our enjoyment during tournament week stems from meeting at a local watering hole after our round and socializing over a beer or two. The use of tee times made that aspect of our week impossible! With shotgun starts everyone could meet up within about 45 minutes of each other. Tee times meant that the time between first and last arrivals at the watering hole could be more than two hours, sometimes closer to three. For me and my group, tee times were a bust!

[Tommy Briggs]

Harold I think you have three groups of people who play in the WA.

The first group are the socializers, they are more concerned about the 19th hole and as you said socializing after the round. Golf takes a backseat to the socializing.

The second group are the golfers, they are mainly concerned with the golf, arriving with room on the range to warm up, more reasonable round times, less confusion at the outset, socializing is just not that important.

The third group well they come for a variety of reasons or some combination of all of the above. They will go along to get along and adapt to whatever circumstances dictate.

The running total here is 14 to 2 in favor of tee times and I understand tee times were overwhelmingly requested to stay. The surveys sent out will tell the story and if tee times are used this year it is because the majority supported it. You raise a good point but the socializers are far more upset about the lack of the 19th hole than tee times.

[Bob Newman]

Tommy, I think you are correct in your assessments. I do hope that the surveys prove you correct about more preferring Tee Times. I’ll make an assumption that is purely my Own opinion with absolutely no facts to back it up. I believe that the WA can reach the 3000 number regardless of whatever route they wish to go, on any issue. It is that popular. I honestly think that the number that drops out for whatever reason will be picked up by others. As much as I do not want to go back to shotgun starts, I’m not sure of that is a game breaker for me. I found out last year that I could survive an absolute terrible golf course and have a good event. I’m anxiously awaiting to see the game plan for this years WA and I will proceed from there. I’m currently rehabbing knee replacement and it is going slowly, so this is another factor for me.

[Danny Fox]

Tee time was a great, even if we do go back to the 48 player flights start the tee times at 7:30 it will still be great.

[Tommy Briggs]

Bob how far along are you with the knee replacement?
You have 5 months for rehab, I have confidence you will be there. Stay safe.

[William Zeoli]

My 3 cents. My group is 8-10 players each year coming from Boston. We are all handicaps and all ages from single digits to high teens, from 40 years old to 70 plus. We need to rent cars and usually have 4. Once we get our course assignments I make a spread sheet and we divvy up the cars so that one car can take 2 or 3 golfers to certain areas, say North or South, dropping off golfers and then picking them up. We did not go last year, for obvious reasons, but are “all in” for this year. Right now airline pricing is high, but we’re still in. However, if the tee time scenario is in effect, we would need likely 6-7 cars, at least. To be honest, that may be the straw that breaks the back. With entry fees, airline costs, car rental and lodging, plus one practice round or skins game, we are near or above $2000 per player.

[Bob Newman]

Tommy, I’m 5 weeks out from surgery. Have 88 degrees of bend in it now but still am dealing with a lot of swelling. Working hard on it every day and the hopefully will be playing by time registration opens. Knew 5 years ago that the knee didn’t have much time left on it. Right one was replaced 5 years ago and doctor told me I would be back in less than 18 months for the left. Had I not got my shoulder fixed, it might of lasted longer. But when I was able to get down thru the ball and onto left side, I started having issues. I feel like I’ll be able to play with some sort of game but fully expect to be dealing with some swelling.

[Mike Cheeseman]

Bob you are the six million dollar man.

[William Zeoli]

I guess I am in the minority when it comes to tee times.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by William Zeoli.

[Bruce Friend]

William,
Yes you are in the minority but I am also with you and it is logical if you view it as you and I apparently do. And this year’s q-school in March proved it. Rounds were 5 1/2 hours plus so the fallacy tee times still using foursomes with only two carts will not speed up rounds when they put this many golfers on a course. The benefits of having shotgun starts with coordinating getting golfers to the courses with minimum amount of cars is something those proponents of tee times don’t consider with their opinions among other intangibles.

I feel tee times was the right decision for 2020 (even though I did not attend) and March 2021 qschool due to the pandemic and attempting to space out the golfers. But every round at qschool, there were a crowd of golfers with tee times at every course with no social distancing so even though it would have been more with a shotgun start, tee times did not eliminate the danger of the spread of Covid very well. Most US residents SHOULD be vaccinated by August 2021 so risk is reduced but not eliminated with the spread of Covid and personally, I would like to see us go back to shotgun starts. I am doubtful that will happen and will deal with it without complaint as I know the WAM staff are attempting to do the right thing with a tough situation.

[Tommy Briggs]

Bruce I am not sure what flight you played in but we played right at 4.5 hours for flights 1 & 2 all three rounds including a cart path only round at Caledonia on Wednesday. I teed off at 9:15 near the end of the day on Tuesday and Wednesday, which normally would be the slowest rounds.

If it took you 5.5 hours per round then someone dropped the ball and did not properly keep the groups moving. Once play starts it is actually easier to keep the groups moving with tee times than a shotgun because it is easier to spot the slow players.

William’s argument is valid if socializing is important, I travel by myself and socializing is just not important to me. I like getting to the course and having room at the range and on the practice greens, that is far more important to me.

[Bruce Friend]

I played in group 3-4 but my travel partner was in your group. His times were 5:15, 5:15 and 5:45 at Caledonia. Also heard from others in your group and the 5-6 group and you are the first I have heard under 5 hours.

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