How to Confront a Pay to Play Abuser?

[jeremyhilss]

That is pathetic.

I'm trying to figure out where these estimates came from.....

Either way, pretty douchy locals... Sandy Point and BRP charge FIVE DOLLARS!!! FIVE F***ING DOLLARS!!!! And you get WORLD CLASS DISC GOLF!!! I understand it's nice to have free public park courses, but comon' that money goes soooooo far to make p2p courses great...... people suck.

 

[DavidSauls]

I'm trying to figure out where these estimates came from.....

As I read it, the number of players seen playing, less the number of signed waivers. And just an estimate.

 

[gradus]

I've played the course and there is absolutely no ambiguity about the waiver or the payment. Someone that is playing daily while ignoring those two things every time doesn't strike me as the sort of person who will suddenly modify his behavior with a good talkin' to.

I guess Mark will get to see...

Seems that you're going to the extreme to avoid confrontation. It's perfectly reasonable to ask people to pay. It isn't going to change if you don't try.

 

[biscoe]

Seems that you're going to the extreme to avoid confrontation. It's perfectly reasonable to ask people to pay. It isn't going to change if you don't try.

yup. this. as unappealing to you as it may be, you really need to walk up to possible offenders, ask if they have paid, and then inquire why they have not. at that point you ask them to either pay or leave. it will not take long for things to get themselves under control.

indirect passive aggressive behavior on your part is only going to drive you nuts until you get fed up with the whole deal. i have watched this entire scenario unfold at a local private course. the ownership allowed themselves to be walked over for a long time, eventually they took drastic action and shut the place down for a while- had they gotten "on top of" the issue earlier that could have easily been avoided.

disclaimer- i own a course, it is not pay to play but i accept donations.

 

[davetherocketguy]

LOL...as fun as it might be to boot on someone's car and see them attempt to drive away...I think the towing option is a little more palatable. Those boots must be some pretty heavy duty steel and ex$pen$ive. Especially when someone does this:



:clap:

 

[thirtydirtybirds]

If you have that big of a problem with people not paying, that is your main concern, not one guy. It might be time to collect at hole 1, or the parking area. I realize this requires time, but you need to let everyone that plays there know it's not an optional fee in person. Maybe enlist some volunteers, or a local club in exchange for a discount on the year pass?

 

[DavidSauls]

I'll take a contrary position on whether to single one person out.

I certainly go along with not tolerating the no-pay abuse any more---with more explicit signs, warnings, etc.

But if one person stole $5 or $10 from me, and another person stole hundreds of dollars, I'd be inclined to go after the latter hardest. And if I wanted to make an example out of someone, that would be my first target.

 

[tbird888]

Do your community have a Facebook page? Maybe you should pose the same question there and let the finger pointing begin.

Maybe let them know that it's required to pay every time you play, and you're going to start involving the authorities and will press trespassing charges (as well as towing cars at owner expense) on any and all offenders. Security systems with decent cameras are pretty affordable at this time. Let them know that you'd rather spend the money on course improvements, but you're stuck wiping peoples' asses instead.

 

[BogeyNoMore]

...if one person stole $5 or $10 from me, and another person stole hundreds of dollars, I'd be inclined to go after the latter hardest. And if I wanted to make an example out of someone, that would be my first target.

^ this.

I'm sure the OP doesn't have the time to chase down all the offenders. Given a finite amount of time for enforcement, how can this guy not be the first person the OP approaches about paying? Plus, players of fair to middlin' personal integrity that play there with some frequency might actually be encouraged to skip payment if they know a regular does so all the time.


Crack down on a few on a few different occasions, and word will get around.

 

[Major Tomahawk]

Where is this course? I've got an ice pick and a bag of sugar for you.

 

[davetherocketguy]

Where is this course? I've got an ice pick and a bag of sugar for you.

Clearly I am missing something here lol...

 

[Kodachrome]

Clearly I am missing something here lol...

Same.

Use the ice pick to off him and then cover him in sugar for the local wildlife?

Only thing i can think of.

 

[Disc Golf Chuck]

I believe he's talking about putting sugar in the offender's gas tank. Use the ice pick to gain access to the opening of the gas tank.

 

[JC17393]

I believe he's talking about putting sugar in the offender's gas tank. Use the ice pick to gain access to the opening of the gas tank.

Or the ice pick is for the tires. Either way.

 

[smarkquart]

Whatever, it would be best to not make it a snap reaction. Even a posting where starting on (insert reasonably soon date) you will be strictly enforcing the pay to play policy might be blatantly enough to get most to start paying. This will add more legitimacy to an eventual confrontation. It also reduces the "well, what about them?" comeback.

 

[Consult20]

Problem solved:

 

[Puckstopper]

OP- "Pay to play is on the honor system and in general I estimate that 25% of locals and about 60% of non locals pay the $5 fee"

Majority dont pay, but OP is going to pick on one lone person..

Alright.

Are you the freeloader in question or are you choosing to take a contrarian position just for kicks? You can't possibly think it's right for anyone to steal from a fellow disc golfer (which is exactly what this guy is doing) can you?

The way I'm reading his post, the OP is willing to tolerate occasional non-payment from customers who do pay other times. What he's not willing to tolerate, and would like to prevent from spreading, is the complete and total unwillingness to pay shown by one individual. I agree with what he's trying to do 100%. If you put your time, effort, and money into a course on private land there is no need to tolerate flagrant disrespect. Failing to pay is not that different than vandalizing benches or damaging baskets. By busting out the biggest offender you avoid alienating most of your customers while sending the message that you're getting serious about people paying. It's brilliant really.

Now, as others have said, once you've set the precedent, you need to keep busting freeloaders. If you want to grant the occasional free round, it's your course and that's very generous. But I'd be busting anyone who thinks they can simply TAKE a free round without asking.

 

[tbird888]

If you're worried about a confrontation over the fees, perhaps you could give the guy a choice? Buy an annual pass so he can legally play or put in so many volunteer hours working on the course a month.

 

[dreadlock86]

OP- "Pay to play is on the honor system and in general I estimate that 25% of locals and about 60% of non locals pay the $5 fee"

Majority dont pay, but OP is going to pick on one lone person..

Alright.

yeah, cuz he has all day to watch every single person and see whether they paid or not.

it's obviously a lot easier to notice the guy who is always there and never pays. and as someone else said, he's the obvious guy of whom to make an example.

what an inane post

 

[Lazerface]

Murder