Molly McMulligan’s FAB 5: How to Host

Tips for making your golf guests feel at home  

Now that Colorado’s trophies have been distributed, it’s time to use up those punch passes, raffle prizes and gift certificates for rounds of golf. So why not share? What better way to spoil our bosses, our vendors, our pals or even just our everyday loved ones than with a fun day of golf?

I’ve been fortunate over the years to receive invitations from golfers in all the above categories. Here are a few hospitality tips I’ve picked up from the hosts and hostesses with the most and mostess.

Make Compatible Matches. You’re in charge of assembling this party of four, probably with an alternate or two in mind, so it’s a given you’ll select folks you like. But what about how they’ll get along? If their handicaps matter, use the GHIN app that comes with your CGA membership to check those and see how they’ve been playing of late. If you want to blast your speakers, choose players who share your taste in tunes. And don’t forget the question of walk vs. ride: If your perfect picture holds the four of you kumbaya-ing together as you stroll down the fairway, make sure your guests physically can handle that. If one cannot walk and two want to, be prepared to accompany the rider so everyone is part of the group. If you’re all riding, consider matching up cartmates.

Issue the Official Invitation. If you’re able to secure an advance tee time, you should do so before you invite your guests. Not so easy these days, however. Alternately, give your desired foursome a few options and then plan accordingly. Be clear right up front: “I want you to be my guest for golf at my (favorite) course,” letting them know you’re hosting the golf and whether they should expect to pay for a cart or a caddie. Include “please confirm whether you can make it” by a date soon enough for you to invite an alternate.

Alert the Shop. You’ll surely have to do this at a private course. But even, or maybe especially, if you’re using a voucher at a public course, call the shop that morning and let them know your guests are your guests and may not be familiar with the property. Of course you’ll try to get there first, but there’s always that early bird who’s determined to beat the crowd.

Lay Out the Land. This one I learned from a certain exemplary CGA staffer. A day or two before the round, send out an email with details such as the course dress code, any complicated directions or parking instructions, whether cash is accepted or required, what practice facilities are on hand, whether pushcarts are allowed or who will ride with whom. Is there a locker room or should guests change shoes in the parking lot? Are hats prohibited in the clubhouse restaurant? If this is all about the golf, you could even include everyone’s course handicap and suggest game and pairing options. Take it to an extreme and assign the pairings yourself so the teams can plan to color match. Mr. McMulligan loves this.

Make it a Day! Which tees to play? I once played a business round with a foursome where each player matched up best with a different set of tees, and we all shot approximately net par. It was fun and social and suggests that this does not have to be a group decision. Now that we have the GHIN app to adjust handicaps and set up games for us without a calculator, I recommend it, especially for mixed gender foursomes.

If you’ve followed these tips, when the final putt falls your happy foursome will be heading for the 19^th hole – with you as their guest.