Q. I am a member of a golf club that
is considered to be one of the best in southern England and where non-members enjoy playing. Naturally, in addition to paying an annual subscription, there is a cost if one invites a guest to play. As is usual with this type of established club, the cost is not exorbitant. However, among our friends, the unwritten rule is that the guest offers to pay this green fee and, depending on the circumstances, this is either accepted or refused. The important thing is to offer to pay. My problem is that I have a good friend who never offers to pay. I enjoy playing with him, but inwardly I groan each time I invite him as I know that I will end up paying his green fee and this puts me off. Does he not realise that the credit crunch is affecting more people than one thinks? Do you have a suggestion of either how I can get him to pay without causing offence or something I can do to avoid being irritated by it?
J.H., Hampshire A. The offender may have been genuinely confused by etiquettes prevailing at other clubs and may think that as a ‘guest of a member’ rather than a ‘member’s visitor’, it is incorrect for him to offer to pay the green fees. Put him in the picture once and for all by inviting two other friends to join you, two novices to this course. Prime one of them in advance so that, as you dart back to your car for something you have ‘forgotten’, he can ask of the offender pleasantly, ‘I understand the etiquette in this club is that even though we are the member’s guests, we offer to pay our own green fees. Do you know how much they are?’
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