Enhancing The Use of Golf Tee Times at Woodcote Park

Please scroll across to see the rest of the table

What change is going to take place?How will this impact me as a member or Pass Holder?Why is this necessary?
As of Wednesday 1 January 2025, the Coronation Course will adopt the same 3-ball minimum from first tee time to 10:50am. Pass Holder priority will not extend to the Coronation Course, but bookings will require 3-ball bookings, or pairing via our Golf Reception Team. The 3-ball minimum rule, which is currently in place on the Old Course for both Saturday and Sunday tee sheets, will now also apply to the Coronation Course. This rule aims to optimise the use of the tee sheet, ensure a suitable pace of play, and provide more Members with access to tee times. We understand that not all Members may know or be aware of potential playing partners. Therefore, our Reception team will assist by maintaining a list of Members who are comfortable being paired with others. This initiative will foster a stronger golfing community and ensure a more equitable use of the tee sheet during peak periods. Members wishing to book 2-ball tee times are encouraged to do so during off-peak hours, as this does not allow for the most efficient use of the courses.Due to the high demand for golf at Woodcote Park, it was essential to evaluate how effectively the course is being used during peak periods. Allowing two-ball golf, which leaves significant space on the course underused, is not in the best interests of the Membership. Consequently, this has led to a change in the existing policy.
Whilst 'anonymous' bookings are currently not permitted, a dedicated approach will be taken to remove these bookings, by cancelling times booked with 'anonymous' and charging Member Guest rate to players booking in golfers who 'no show' for tee times. It has come to our attention that some Members are leaving bookings without specifying their playing partners, resulting in ‘anonymous’ entries on the tee sheet. To address this, we will implement a policy to remove ‘anonymous’ bookings at least 72 hours before the tee time. The Golf Team will review the tee sheet and send an email reminder to complete your booking details. Any bookings that remain ‘anonymous’ and do not meet the 3-ball minimum requirement will be cancelled. If you prefer to keep your playing partner’s name private, please enter ‘Guest of [Your Name]’ in the field, and the charge will be applied to your Member account. Due to the high demand for tee times at Woodcote Park, ‘no show’ bookings will also be charged to your Member account.It has been observed that, despite the high demand for golf at Woodcote Park, there has been misuse of the tee sheet, with some bookings listed as 'anonymous.' To promote fairness and maintain accurate booking practices for all members, this policy aims to address these issues. Members are entitled to reserve tee times but should ensure they are aware of their fellow playing partners before making a booking.
A weekend per month will be kept free, where the golf fixtures diary does not include any competitions or advanced bookings. As the demand for golf at Woodcote Park continues to grow, it’s essential to consider why our Members and Pass Holders choose to play our courses. We recognise that not all Pass Holders are interested in competitive golf. To accommodate this, we will implement a procedure to designate one weekend each month free from competitions. This will allow Pass Holders greater access to tee times within the twelve-day booking window. We will maintain priority access on the Old Course while ensuring that competitions continue regularly on the remaining weekends.Reflecting on the diverse groups of users who enjoy golf at Woodcote Park, it was essential to consider both anecdotal feedback and statistical data that demonstrate the demand for golf beyond the traditional competitions and fixtures. The growing demand for social golf among Pass Holders has been acknowledged with this policy change, providing a balance between the competitive schedule and social play on weekends.
Alternate day competitions for non-honours board ladies competitions will be replaced with individual competitions during the week and weekend. By offering competitions on both weekdays and weekends, we can enhance playing opportunities for our female pass holders, while also ensuring access to honors board competitions by preserving the alternate day format for these special occasions. Based on feedback from our members and the growing section of ladies’ golf, it’s clear that we can successfully support individual competitions rather than 'alternate day' events. This change will enhance playing opportunities for our female Pass Holders while preserving the integrity of the honours board events, making them accessible to players on both weekdays and weekends.
Single-gender advanced bookings will be replaced with additional 'roll-up' times on both Saturday and Sunday. Tee times booked in advance will now be accessible to a larger group of golfers who want to enjoy the community of pass holders. For lady pass holders, the previous designation of "ladies golf" has been replaced with a more inclusive calendar of competitions. This change allows both male and female pass holders to access an increased number of weekend roll-up times. The Club and Golf Committee will monitor the usage of these times.A key benefit of being a Pass Holder at Woodcote Park is the access to both the Old and Coronation Courses. Central to this benefit is our commitment to promoting fairness and equality in tee time allocations. Our review of course utilisation has shown that both male and female Pass Holders enjoy equal access through the twelve-day booking window. To maintain this parity, neither male nor female golfers must be granted advanced booking privileges on weekends for non-competitive rounds. By eliminating the designated ‘ladies golf’ tee times on weekends, we can uphold the principle of fairness while still allowing for one weekend free of competitions. This change will introduce roll-up times that are accessible to all golfers, regardless of gender. Ultimately, this approach aligns with our goal of ensuring equal access to peak times for all Pass Holders while preserving a competitive golf calendar.
We will run two tee starts on the Coronation Course during the winter period commencing 1 November 2025 through to 31 March 2026. A key reflection during the utilisation review was the availability of tee times during the shorter daylight hours of the shoulder seasons and the peak of winter. With reduced daylight, implementing a two-tee start allows for greater access to tee times for 18-hole rounds. The Coronation Course is an ideal venue for this winter two-tee start, as its layout and green size give our greenkeeping team sufficient time to complete morning maintenance and prepare the course effectively.To address the demand for tee times at Woodcote Park, we must consider the effect of reduced daylight hours on availability. Starting 1 November 2025, two tee starts will be available from Friday to Sunday on the Coronation Course, continuing until 31 March 2026. This adjustment aims to increase the availability of 18-hole rounds during peak hours from 8.00-10.00am.