What makes booking a tee time so hard?

When you ask golfers to name their biggest frustrations, you are probably going to hear a considerable amount related to slow play and poorly conditioned courses. But their complaints around the difficulties of booking a tee time are something that is even harder to ignore - as they impact everyone.

If you're a member of a golf club, to derive maximum value for money from an increasingly expensive subscription, you are going to hopefully play multiple rounds a week during the peak season, but securing the desired tee times can be testing, particularly when you are competing with golfers in a similar position as you.

Can Golfers Book The Tee Times They Want?

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

When we surveyed golfers extensively to gain a greater understanding of their experiences booking tee times, only 68% of respondents under the age of 55 said that they were able to book the times that they liked.

Older golfers, typically with the most free time to play any day of the week, are comfortably the most satisfied demographic, with 92% of those aged over the age of 65 being content that they get their hands on preferred tee times.

Those who are working full-time and have family commitments often find themselves in a quandary, unable to book times during those fleeting hours that they are available, which can be grating and difficult to accept.

Golfers Want to Play Regularly - And That Creates Challenges

Participation levels in the game have generally risen in recent years - but that has placed a fiercer demand on those limited tee times that are available. It's why some are calling for substantial punishment against those golfers who fail to cancel a time that they no longer want.

There is also the argument to be made that some clubs simply have too many members that they struggle to accommodate. It's a nice problem to have, perhaps, but it can create heightened levels of resentment from those who routinely miss out on the times they want.

Illustrating just how competitive an environment it can be for tee times, we found that 80% of golfers aged over 65 play more than once a week during the peak months of the season, with that number rising to 87% for those between the ages of 55 and 64, with 78% of golfers under the age of 55 playing more than once a week in summer.

Times between 8am and 12pm are the most coveted, especially among the oldest golfers on weekdays, but even at the weekend, which is clearly the busiest time for younger players, those morning tee times are the ones they value.

As we look ahead to the new golf season, just what factors are making booking a tee time so testing?

Rising Demand For New Golf Season

The clocks are about to spring forward, the days are growing longer, warmer and brighter, while the Masters always encourages a surge in enthusiasm. 

Following a long, cold and, for some of us, strikingly wet winter, the demand for golf will suddenly rise, placing an even greater premium on those weekend rounds that will soon become a priority in the minds of golfers once more.

Increased Club Competitions Pressure Tee Sheet

Some of you may have played in winter competitions, keeping yourselves ticking along, but there is no doubt that the new season brings with it an even more packed calendar at the majority of golf clubs, which puts an even greater strain on the tee sheet, with numerous times being allocated for those playing in the medal or knockout match play tournament.

That makes it even harder for those who simply want to enjoy a relaxed bounce game.

The Digital Rush is Chaotic

Back in the day, if you wanted to book a time, you would call up the pro shop, put your name down on a literal sheet, or turn up on the day and queue for a round.

These days, however, the online booking systems and digital apps have taken over. Those are - on the face of things - more convenient and arguably more democratic, but it doesn't always seem that way.

With everyone logging on at the same time - whenever that booking window opens - it's often a lottery to see who gets hold of the most popular tee times, with some golfers being accused of abusing the process and organising methods to give themselves an advantage over the rest of the membership.

Passion For Weekend Golf

Many of you won't be able to play during the daytime on weekdays and twilight rounds aren't workable for everyone, meaning that the weekend is your moment to play.

Unfortunately, legions of other golfers are in exactly the same position and that makes those tee times even more precious and precarious to claim.

There is likely to be no solution that pleases everyone, but that doesn't mean that clubs themselves shouldn't search for ways to accommodate paying golfers, as the scarcity of tee times (and hoarding of them by others) can have significant consequences for both players and venues themselves come membership renewal time.