Guest Player Guidelines
Guest player guidelines
Most Finnish golf courses welcome guest players with open arms. But, to avoid disappointments and to be sure things go as planned, it is worth remembering a few basic points before heading for the first tee.
Call ahead
When planning to visit a course, start by calling the course's caddie master. They will provide you with tee times or information about events limiting play (e.g. company competitions, etc). The caddie master will also tell you about any guest handicap requirements or non-member tee time regulations. Keep in mind that many courses set their green fees in accordance with the time of the year or week. So, by calling ahead, you may even save some money!
Remember your handicap/membership card
It's to all players' advantage that courses in Finland require a minimum level of playing skills (i.e. the "green card" requirement). So, remember to always take your (your country's or other golf union's) handicap/membership card with you when visiting a course. Remember: It's the player's responsibility not the caddie master's if a forgotten handicap/membership card spoils the day.
Be on time!
An unhurried start is always the best beginning to a round of golf. If you're planning to visit a course where you have not been before, be sure to leave enough time to find your way to the course, report for your tee time, and make other preparations for the round. For example, some courses may require you to change your metal spikes to soft spikes. Or you may need a few extra minutes to find some playing partners. Or, if it's scoring you're interested in, it's always good to stop by the putting green to find your "touch" before the round.
Be ready to meet new people
It's the caddie master's job to be sure that there's a suitable number of players in each group. So, if you reserve a tee time for just two or three players, be ready for the caddie master to pair you with other players in order to speed up play for everyone.
