Picton Golf and Country Club

[scholes]

Went down to Picton last Thursday to play this course. The course was in good shape with a nice variety of holes....unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the club personnel.

I went with 4 other friends from different cities around Ontario. After arriving, the pro shop attendent attempted to talk me out of not using my Passport Savings Book.....he repeatedly told me that I could use the book if I WANTED but I wouldn't be saving much money for myself or the other golfer using my 2 for 1 coupon.

After teeing off in groups of 2 and 3 we ran into the marshall on hole #2 for the first time on hole #2......By the time we finished our game, he had bothered us no less than 9 times.....the course was empty and we played a few holes as a fivesome.....with no other golfers in site......this marshall was on a power-trip like I've never seen....at one point, the starter came out and told us that we wouldn't bother anyone so it would be ok if we played as a group of 5......the marshall came back and told us NOT to listen to the starter and that we were not to talk to each other nor were we to have any fun until after the round......here we are, in our early forties, being scolded by a marshall who has nobody else to worry about on the entire course.

We tried to explain to him that we had been told that it would be ok by another club employee but he would not listen.....the final blow was on the 18th when he asked the twosome to move their power cart from off the cart path...he told them they could not keep the cart there and watch the threesome finsih their game....

This is the first time that I can say that a marshall has completely ruined a round of golf.....I will NOT play nor recommend this course again!!

[Mule56]

Went down to Picton last Thursday to play this course. The course was in good shape with a nice variety of holes....unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the club personnel.

I went with 4 other friends from different cities around Ontario. After arriving, the pro shop attendent attempted to talk me out of not using my Passport Savings Book.....he repeatedly told me that I could use the book if I WANTED but I wouldn't be saving much money for myself or the other golfer using my 2 for 1 coupon.

After teeing off in groups of 2 and 3 we ran into the marshall on hole #2 for the first time on hole #2......By the time we finished our game, he had bothered us no less than 9 times.....the course was empty and we played a few holes as a fivesome.....with no other golfers in site......this marshall was on a power-trip like I've never seen....at one point, the starter came out and told us that we wouldn't bother anyone so it would be ok if we played as a group of 5......the marshall came back and told us NOT to listen to the starter and that we were not to talk to each other nor were we to have any fun until after the round......here we are, in our early forties, being scolded by a marshall who has nobody else to worry about on the entire course.

We tried to explain to him that we had been told that it would be ok by another club employee but he would not listen.....the final blow was on the 18th when he asked the twosome to move their power cart from off the cart path...he told them they could not keep the cart there and watch the threesome finsih their game....

This is the first time that I can say that a marshall has completely ruined a round of golf.....I will NOT play nor recommend this course again!!

Was the guy in the club house a big guy, blond hair. The reason I ask is because I know the head pro that mans the club house every week and I'll ask him what happened. I will also ask Scott about the marshall. I do know that even as a member at my home course I would not play as a 5some regardless of the situation.
I do know that I play there several times a year and have never run into any type of issue with any of the staff.
Mule

Was the guy in the club house a big guy, blond hair. The reason I ask is because I know the head pro that mans the club house every week and I'll ask him what happened. I will also ask Scott about the marshall. I do know that even as a member at my home course I would not play as a 5some regardless of the situation.
I do know that I play there several times a year and have never run into any type of issue with any of the staff.
Mule

Short update. I just got off the phone with Scott. He would like to know your tee time on Thursday so he can drop a hammer on the staff involved. He was more than a little upset. He also assured me that this is not acceptable to him or the club. He was not in on Thursday as he was in a tournament.
Mule

[Mule56]

Went down to Picton last Thursday to play this course. The course was in good shape with a nice variety of holes....unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the club personnel.

I went with 4 other friends from different cities around Ontario. After arriving, the pro shop attendent attempted to talk me out of not using my Passport Savings Book.....he repeatedly told me that I could use the book if I WANTED but I wouldn't be saving much money for myself or the other golfer using my 2 for 1 coupon.

After teeing off in groups of 2 and 3 we ran into the marshall on hole #2 for the first time on hole #2......By the time we finished our game, he had bothered us no less than 9 times.....the course was empty and we played a few holes as a fivesome.....with no other golfers in site......this marshall was on a power-trip like I've never seen....at one point, the starter came out and told us that we wouldn't bother anyone so it would be ok if we played as a group of 5......the marshall came back and told us NOT to listen to the starter and that we were not to talk to each other nor were we to have any fun until after the round......here we are, in our early forties, being scolded by a marshall who has nobody else to worry about on the entire course.

We tried to explain to him that we had been told that it would be ok by another club employee but he would not listen.....the final blow was on the 18th when he asked the twosome to move their power cart from off the cart path...he told them they could not keep the cart there and watch the threesome finsih their game....

This is the first time that I can say that a marshall has completely ruined a round of golf.....I will NOT play nor recommend this course again!!

Well I got a response from my buddy this afternoon. As that old saying goes there are three sides to every story, your, theirs and the truth. Here's the golf courses side.
You asked to play a fivesome and they said no. Once on the course your two groups joined together and played as a fivesome. The course was not empty, but was quiet busy. He sent me a copy of the tee sheet and I can confirm that there was a few openings, but it was a lot busier than I thought it would be for a Thursday in prime cottage and vacation land.
He came out on the course (the same guy that booked you in at the club house) and told you, you could not play as a fivesome. You started to argue with him. He then told you he would refund your money and pay your green fee at any other place that would let you have a fivesome. You told him that nobody would do that. He agreed and told you his offer stood or you had to play in the 2 groups he booked you in. The Marshall had several reports of the fivesome after that conversation and split you five up repeatedly.
On the 18th hole you parked your carts in an area that people teeing off on the 18th tee could not have seen you. You were asked to move it because you could have been hit by a tee shot if no one knew you were there. It was a safety thing and since I know the course well I can confirm they are correct about that. I've seen a couple of carts get hit right in that spot.
Mule

[scholes]

Mule, you have gone to a lot of trouble to investigate this issue....thanks for your effort....I would agree with you in that there were 3 sides to every story.....

1. We never asked to play as a fivesome

2. When the clubhouse attendant came out to speak to us (asking us what the "HELL" we were doing driving off the path on a par 3....honest mistake), he told us that we shouldn't have a problem problem playing as a fivesome because there was nobody around. When we explained this to the marshall he said he didn't care what the clubhouse guy said.

3. We saw a onesome behind us at one point during the round...other than that there were a few foursomes of members playing in some shootout competiton.....nobody was within three holes of us. We played 18 holes in 4 hours and 15 minutes (about 7 of those as a fivesome and with 9 converstations with the marshall).

4. If the course was busy, shouldn't the marshall be moving throughout all 18 holes?


Once again, thanks for your time and effort.

[Mule56]

[quote=scholes]about 7 of those as a fivesome and with 9 converstations with the marshall. quote]

I have to ask this question. How many courses have you played that have allowed a fivesome? I know at my home course it is not allowed, not even for members. I know when I go to another course I am very conscientious of making sure that I treat that course and staff the same way I do at my home course. It may be why I have never had a bad experience with staff at a course.
Mule