The Guest Pass Thing—Yet, Again—And Over Regulation
Visualize, two old friends, one of which lives in nearby Stonecrest, asking me, Jerry, if I could get a tee time for us on a TV course. I'd just enjoyed a friendly, relaxing day playing the Stonecrest course with him and the other friend who lives in Virginia and a fourth, also a non-Stonecrest resident.
So, as it was short notice, I went to the available-tee-time section of the golfing web site and found a tee time on Palmer for 1:13, or thereabouts. I put my wife and I and two guest in. Good, all set.
When we show up to play, my guests are asked, "Do you have a guest pass?" Whoops! I'm thinking that guest passes are only required to use the amenity-fee-supported facilities. Wrong. You gotta have them to play the Owner's golf courses, too. But, even if I had had time to apply for guest passes, my friend from nearby Stonecrest couldn't have gotten one. Not eligible. Lives in the tri-county area. (So, what's the logic, here. One can. One can't.)
But, the desk guy at the club says to my guests, "Okay. Can I see your identification, please. So, my friends dig out their drivers licenses. "Uh-oh, you are from Marion County," he says to the Stonecrest friend. [This is the friend who couldn't have gotten a guest pass had I had time to apply.] The desk attendant was accommodating , however, and proceeds to process the deal, which comes to over $200 for the four of us. (The friend from Stonecrest's green fee is $70, because he is an "Non-resident Guest.") Okay, my friend from Virginia insists on paying it all, which is what I expected he would do, or I wouldn't be playing Palmer in prime season. He's a very generous guy.
Okay, so we get past the ordeal at the club house, and go to the starter's shack. Same thing: "May I see your ID's?" My wife and I show our TV ID's. Our 'guests' have to pull out their drivers licenses, again. How embarrassing!
Folks, we are over regulated. The day at Stonecrest was in stark contrast. The golf course people knew my friend and called him by name. I didn't have to show any ID at the clubhouse or at the tee, although a guest. The beer lady on the course was friendly and knew my friend by name.
By contrast, I bring my friends to The Villages and am completely embarrassed. (My friend from Stonecrest probably enjoyed it all, as he is always promoting Stonecrest over TV to my friend from Virginia.)
We old folks bring this on ourselves. We are constantly asking for more rules and regulations: guest regulations, golf cart speed limits, limited-access streets, etc. Why must we demand regulation? Live a little, while you can.
Jerry
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