A Sharp Contrast in Members' Attitudes
I am now fortunate enough to belong to an easy going welcoming club. One example of this is that for the sum of £1.00 one can use its range all day. The range is also a pitch and putt course, and priority hours are set aside for players wanting to use such. The range is open 24 hours a day, with the last to leave to switch off the lights.
The club is apparently owned by its members and some maintenance / upkeep of the club is carried out by such. Only a couple of days ago the chairman and a few other members were seen cleaning up the club's surrounds.
Today whilst enjoying playing pitch and putt I noticed a member arrive; get out of his vehicle; and proceed directly onto the range without paying. He gathered a basket full of balls off the range turf and then commenced his session - possibly playing a 6 iron from the edge of a jungle adjoining the range to a distance green tight alongside the same jungle.
He didn't have the ability to play that shot without losing a significant amount of balls into the brambles etc. I guess that he lost around 15 - 20. What would that have cost the club?
I couldn't help but see both images in my mind - the 63 year old chairman sweating in the sun with a hand brush and dustpan and the young man enjoying frittering balls into dense undergrowth at absolutely no cost to himself.
I'm not quite sure how to finish this off. I feel sad. That's about it really.