Bonifay Golf
 

Had a 1:oo tee time on Monday. Quit after 9 holes, we never would have finished the back nine. Backup was unbelievable. Ambassador told us it was one group about 5 groups in front of us, and wouldn't due anything about it.

So off site we went on tuesday instead. Their loss, our enjoyment to play in 4 hours.

Ambassador was not doing his job. We as Ambassadors have the tools get everyone finished on time. If he thought the job was to ride around and look pretty ,he should look for another job. Being an Ambassador for many years, I found that most players will listen and try to do better. If I couldn't handle the problem, I would call a Manager.

Since you were an Ambassador, is it true that you aren't supposed to really "ruffle any feathers" or you would be fired? I have heard that really serious stuff has to be handed over to a supervisor?

I know that Ambassadors here do NOT have the same clout as Marshals that I have been used to playing golf for forty years.

We try to...
 

keep everything on a friendly level, polite & respectful...it works 90+ percent of the time. If an individual(or more)starts becoming disrespectful to us then we are supposed to back off and notify our asst. manager and let them handle the situation.

The title of "marshall" or "ranger" can have negative connotations so "ambassador" is used as it implies a person use tact and common sense to solve potential problems. It is also a title that implies fairness and common sense.

How do the guys in the starter shacks schedule the starts or I quess what I'm asking is how much time is set between starts? I only ask because I've had people come up behind me on a first tee before I've launched the first stroke. I'm assuming they walked on.

They are "tee times"...
 

there are 9 minutes set between times, but since nothing goes perfectly there are times(minutes)where things aren't exact. There are also other considerations and a starter tries(supposed to)to keep people off the first tee till the other group has hit their 2nd shot(championship courses)or off the green on executive courses.

When it's busy a lot of people ignore the starter and go to the tee on their own. It is near impossible to control it all perfectly.

Thanks Fred for answering my question. I'm a newbie golf wise and I never walk up on a tee box until I know the other party are off the green and carting off.

Nothing wrong with being on the tee box and preparing to tee off.
Just wait, to hit, until the group ahead has left the green area.
Play ready Golf!

Thanks Bogie. As a new golfer I've gotten better explanations on TOTV than I have at the good golf tee time school and with seasoned golfers. I get the impression they are intolerant of new golfers. I have had excellent experiences with starters and ambassadors so far. One of things I have not been impressed with are all the divots not filled, cig butts, broken tees and candy wrappers left by other golfers. I'm not perfect and may have missed a ball mark but I never leave trash anywhere I go.

I agree there are issues with unfilled divots and unrepaired ball marks. Unfortunately I have found that on all courses ( including private clubs ) that I have played on through the years.

I have not found the issue you have regarding broken tees. I use them on all par 3's as well as any hole I am not using a driver. I have a very difficult time finding them on any of the courses I play in The Villages. No excuse for trash, but I really have not noticed that to be a problem here. Maybe I have been too focused trying to find my golf ball.

Can agree that more divots can be filled, just find one and fill it.
But cannot agree about candy wrappers and cig butts, seldon see these. The ambassadors do pick up the items you mention on the courses.
We can all do our part by picking up trash when and if it is seen.
Most "seasoned golfers" will answer your questions when asked, as usual there may be jerks that come over as; know it all's.
Keep it in the short grass!:wave:

I try and do my part. Thanks again Bogie