moorezt711

Let me start off by saying I intend this to be a scathing review of the culture of White Wing. The course is fine but the state of the course had little to do with my experience over Memorial Day.

As I have done at other golf courses in the Austin area, I booked a tee-time at White Wing and brought my son to ride along. Going with me is a good way for us to spend time together and for me to teach him about the game. I usually arrive an hour early to let him hit balls on the practice range and then we put his clubs back in our car. Sometimes we ride three deep in a golf cart, but we also have no problem getting our own cart. Ever since he started riding along, my son knows the rules are 1) stay in the cart, 2)remain quiet while other golfers are hitting, 3) tell me when you have to go pee, and 4) have a great time. If he does all those things, we usually end the round with a hotdog. I enjoy playing the sport but honestly, I can't and don't want to spend 5 hours away from my son just to play golf. For nearly two years, bringing him along has been a delight and---until we arrived at White Wing---a universally positive experience.

At White Wing though... As soon as I walked in the door an older man at the front desk sat up in his chair, looked over at my son carrying his golf bag, and rudely told me he couldn't play. He said our group already had 4 players and he would be a 5th. I think he saw my sons bag (we were going to the practice range as usual) and so I told him my son wouldn't be playing and would just be riding with me. He repeated - his face and body now visibly hostile - that it's not possible to have 5 players. I asked if it was about the carts (riding 3 deep can be an inconvenience to some I know) and he said no...we just couldn't have 5 players. I asked if I could rent my own cart, but they (now the boss was involved via phone) said no, the limit was 4. The fact that the other players - members of the retirements communities nearby - all had their own private carts and I would have had to have my own anyway just made their insistence more ridiculous.

This heated conversation is all happening by the way right in the middle of the pro shop, in front of other members, and most importantly, within the sight and sound of my son. We were told upfront, without any effort to accommodate nor empathy to our situation, that we couldn't play together and that no refund was possible. I was going to drive back 40 minutes to Austin for nothing. What kind of message does that send to a little kid who might want to play the sport someday? What message does that send to a dad who wants to invest in his family as much as the game?

After I had to defend myself and my son and the overall progress of modern society for 15 minutes, the staff at White Wing eventually let us go out --- under certain conditions. They said my son couldn't bring his clubs, couldn't play, we had to get our own cart, he couldn't get out of the cart, and we would have to stay on the cart path the whole time. Did I like the idea that I would need to leave my son on the cart path instead of pulling up near the ball and talking to him about the game? No. Did I think the condition was vindicative on their part? Yes. The whole reason for limiting the group to 4 is to keep the pace of play on schedule. How does making on golfer walk support that? It doesn't. It just a way for mean old people to be mean old people.

Golf has a reputation for being the snobby game of cranky old men. That reputation is changing in places all over Austin. Unfortunately, my son now wonders why the men at White Wing don't want him around.

Side Comments:

1. Not my experience but one guy I was golfing with happened to live on the course. He said his grandkids were out in the backyard throwing a football one morning. Golfers called the clubhouse and complained saying his children shouldn't be outside disturbing play. I bet you the club didn't tell the complainer to lighten up.

2. The cold old man at the front also made it clear that that White Wing didn't like it when people book tee times through GolfNow (read: they don't like anyone not living in the 55+ retirement community of Sun City).

3. They don't sell hotdogs. My son obeys his rules for 18 holes... and they don't even sell hotdogs. What's wrong with this place!?

4. No services carts for bringing you water, beer, or snack during the rounds. Bringing your own or be prepared to bum a bottle of Ensure from one of the members.