[ConnieNonnie]

Due to construction @ Tierra Del Sol, our tennis group
Plays @ Hacienda Hills Country Club. Once a month we
Have a dinner social with approximately 16 - 20 people.
September & October we made reservations to stay @
HHCC and had a great meal, great service & of course
So much fun! Today, after play, I walked into restaurant
To make reservations for Tues. 11/25 5pm for 16-20 people.
To my surprise I was told no, it can't be 5pm, it could be 4:00.
Why? I was told it is "the season now" & that's their policy.
I again asked nicely - "Are you telling me in Sept & Oct it
Was fine, and now you don't want our business, 16 - 20
Villagers?" Same reply. Should I have asked for manager?

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by ConnieNonnie

Due to construction @ Tierra Del Sol, our tennis group
Plays @ Hacienda Hills Country Club. Once a month we
Have a dinner social with approximately 16 - 20 people.
September & October we made reservations to stay @
HHCC and had a great meal, great service & of course
So much fun! Today, after play, I walked into restaurant
To make reservations for Tues. 11/25 5pm for 16-20 people.
To my surprise I was told no, it can't be 5pm, it could be 4:00.
Why? I was told it is "the season now" & that's their policy.
I again asked nicely - "Are you telling me in Sept & Oct it
Was fine, and now you don't want our business, 16 - 20
Villagers?" Same reply. Should I have asked for manager?

I think any business has a right to have one policy for High Season and another for Low Season.
Should you ask for the manager? Most people will probably say yes.
I wouldn't ask for the manager; I would go somewhere else or take the 4 PM reservation
It may not be a wise business decision for HHCC if enough people become offended and decide to remove their business permanently.
But it looks as if they've weighed the risks and decided a new policy would be more profitable.

[njbchbum]

Sorry - am not understanding. Do you think that because you relocated your tennis from one country club to a new one and enjoyed off-season dinner scheduling that now that it is in-season you should be afforded an exception to the seasonal policy?

Also have a problem seeing where you were told that the country club did not want your business - you were offered a dining oppty.

[walterray]

Originally Posted by ConnieNonnie

Due to construction @ Tierra Del Sol, our tennis group
Plays @ Hacienda Hills Country Club. Once a month we
Have a dinner social with approximately 16 - 20 people.
September & October we made reservations to stay @
HHCC and had a great meal, great service & of course
So much fun! Today, after play, I walked into restaurant
To make reservations for Tues. 11/25 5pm for 16-20 people.
To my surprise I was told no, it can't be 5pm, it could be 4:00.
Why? I was told it is "the season now" & that's their policy.
I again asked nicely - "Are you telling me in Sept & Oct it
Was fine, and now you don't want our business, 16 - 20
Villagers?" Same reply. Should I have asked for manager?

Tuesdays are German/Hungarian night at HHCC and typically popular and busy. It could be they already a number of reservations at or around 5pm and didn't feel that they could properly handle that many more people at that time. I have always found the management and staff to be accommodating and have always enjoyed an excellent meal there.

[kaydee]

We very often have a considerable large group, 12 to 16, of golfers that eat at HH. We so appreciate being able to make a reservation but we fully understand that we have to be there by 4 in order for our reservation to be honored.
This is Florida, and it does not matter if its The Villages, Sarasota, Ft Myers etc, it is season and restaurants have to make changes to their policies to accommodate the influx of people.

[redwitch]

Considering the fact that the number of people coming down for the winter, I wouldn't want to be part of a large group eating between 4:30-8:00 pm. The service would be bad at best, the food orders would get fouled up, at least one person wouldn't get their meal until after everyone is done eating. Large groups get the short end of the stick when a restaurant is busy.

[Birdie Dreamer]

Originally Posted by redwitch

Considering the fact that the number of people coming down for the winter, I wouldn't want to be part of a large group eating between 4:30-8:00 pm. The service would be bad at best, the food orders would get fouled up, at least one person wouldn't get their meal until after everyone is done eating. Large groups get the short end of the stick when a restaurant is busy.

Maybe we have been lucky, but this has not been our experience. Have a group of 16 to 20 who go out every Thursday after golf at about 5:00. Been doing it for a year and very rarely have any issues. Obviously not every place can accommodate us, but we have quite a few places that do.

[Uptown Girl]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

Sorry - am not understanding. Do you think that because you relocated your tennis from one country club to a new one and enjoyed off-season dinner scheduling that now that it is in-season you should be afforded an exception to the seasonal policy?

Also have a problem seeing where you were told that the country club did not want your business - you were offered a dining oppty.

Personally, I do not understand the desire to be in a party of 20- in the middle of a restaurant anyway. At best, one can only socialize with those they are seated near- maybe 4 or 6 at most?

I was included in huge dining parties a few times- didn't enjoy the experience.
I thought it rather arrogant, really. I now politely decline.

I even find my dining experience less enjoyable when SEATED next to a party that size….

[graciegirl]

When it is the high season, things change. Try looking at it from their point of view.

This is when our restaurants make their most money and hopefully save some of it for the dry season when we who live here year 'round can get in right away even if we bring the whole fleet.

It will pass. Just don't be killed by an unskilled motorist. April will come.

[Wandatime]

We used to go out in huge groups with our social club. Figured out it was much easier for the waitstaff and more enjoyable for the group to make reservations for multiple tables rather than one big table.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Uptown Girl

I do not understand the desire to be in a party of 20- in the middle of a restaurant anyway. At best, one can only socialize with those they are seated near- maybe 4 or 6 at most? .

I agree. I much prefer a small group where everyone is part of the same conversation.
But I think we may be in the minority.
It seems there are many larger groups of golfers, clubs and neighborhood gatherings.
If groups are encouraged at 4PM, rather than between 5-7 PM, that seems to be an equitable solution for everyone.

[ConnieNonnie]

Thank you for all your input. ConnieNonnie