Take Responsibility

I went to play golf with a friend yesterday at my local course. We couldn’t make it until after lunch and had a twilight tee off time of 2.12. On arrival we realized that they were running slightly behind and that we would probably be 5 minutes late teeing off but that wasn’t a problem, as we knew we’d struggle to finish in daylight anyway.

We dropped off our bags with the guys that set the buggies up and stood watching on the edge of the practice ground. 5 and then 10 minutes passed and I wondered back to see what was happening and was told that they had no available buggies. I pointed to the fact that there were 5 or 6 outside the clubhouse and that people had obviously finished and had gone for a drink before taking them back. The guy said not to worry that ours was the next one that came in.

5 minutes later and I saw 2 buggies go back and then come out again and none had our clubs loaded on but all went to people that were obviously teeing off after us. Again I walked back and asked what was going on. This time I was told that there was nothing that he could do about it, that they had nothing available and that we’d get the next one. Things like this happen and I understand that but the thing that annoyed me was the way that the guy told me there was nothing he could do about it.

WRONG.

• He could have offered us a few practice balls to hit as we waited
• He could have apologized with an element of sincerity
• He could have rushed into the club house and asked if anybody could free up a buggy because people were waiting

The minute we say to ourselves or others that there is nothing that can be done is the minute that nothing can be done. Up until that point you, me, all of us, have an opportunity to do something, anything to make a difference. This guy didn’t want to make a difference and I am sure he probably believed genuinely that nothing could be done. He wasn’t prepared to think outside the box and offer brilliant service and that’s his prerogative. However, any semblance of creativity, sincerity or effort on his behalf would have at least doubled his tip and made all of us feel better about the experience.

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