w407133

Played yesterday as a four ball at 10am (as we fancied a change from our normal course where we are members) and it was only £15 to play. The course itself was in fair condition considering the amount of rain and is fairly averagely maintained (but it was only £15 after all). The course was clear in front of us and we were motoring along until a pair of members jumped on in front of us on the 4th hole and preceded to un-apologetically hold us up by playing multiple balls and general slow play - their total lack of awareness and respect for visiting golfers was hilarious. This all settled down because we chose to accept this. However when we got to the 10th hole there was a 2 group hold up because the members in front of us were enjoying coffees and food from the half way hut. We were wet and cold and somewhat miffed by the slow play but decided we would console ourselves with a coffee only to be told by the two members somewhat aggressively that were not allowed to buy coffee for health and safety reasons and this point that was backed up by the man who refused to serve me at the half way hut. LUDICROUS. I asked the group behind us and they told me that last week they were allowed to buy coffee by not bacon rolls. A member of our group decided to bail out on the 12th hole because he was so demoralized.

The 4.5 hours it took to get round should have been 3.5 hours and was slow due to the arrogant and unwelcoming members in front of us who need to realize that it is revenue from visitors like me that help rather than hinder the fortunes of "their" golf club. If I treated a visitor like that at my club I would be embarrassed and would be expecting some forthright words from the club captain.