The
Tee Time Lottery is an automated draw that assigns tee times according to advance requests. SGCC elects to use a "weighted" draw that considers success in previous lottery draws (14 days) in determining the draw order which in turn affects the outcome.
- Lottery Draws have been in use at SGCC for more than 40 years.
- The software used is the most common program among private courses across North America.
- Lottery rules have been developed without prejudice in consultation with software consultants and SGCC Management.
How does it Work?
Members have online access to view tee sheets up to 14 days in advance and submit a lottery request for a desired tee-time.
Lottery Draws are made twice each week:
- Monday at 12 Noon for Friday, Saturday & Sunday
- Thursday at 12 Noon for Mon, Tues, Wed & Thurs
The cut-off to submit a lottery request is 12 Noon, and tee sheets are published by 1:00 PM.
To submit a lottery tee-time request:
- Log-in to the website using your member number and password.
- Go to the “Member Dashboard” and click on “Book a Tee Time”.
- Select a date and tee time to request.
- The lottery booking window will open allowing you to select the number of players and input the players names (required)
- The “earliest” and “latest” preference boxes are set by default for 2 hours prior and 4 hours after, but can be adjusted to your preference (Note: a wider range will improve your odds)
- Submit.
How Does the "Weighted Draw" Work?
Members are assigned a “weighting factor” or points each time their name is drawn. Weight is assigned according to success in the draw, and then used in determining the order of future draws. In other words, when the lottery looks at requests in the next draw, groups with a lower weight are drawn ahead of those with higher weight.
- A successful draw within 1 hour of the request counts for maximum draw weight.
- Points are reduced for every hour difference from the requested time.
- No weight is assigned if the member is not drawn for a tee-time.
- Lottery weight is assigned by draws only and affects future lottery draws as long as the tee-time is still on the sheet.
- Cancelling a booking more than two-hours before your tee-time removes all weight points.
- Cancelling less than two hours before your tee-time removes the original weight but adds a weight factor for cancelling on short notice.
- No-Shows are given an additional 50 weight points, and repeat offenders may have their booking privileges suspended.
- In the event of an emergency or weather, contact the Pro Shop to cancel times without penalty.
- Weight is carried on a 14-day rolling cycle that drops any weight assigned prior to the 14-day period.
NOTE: Bookings made outside of the lottery are not assigned any weight and have no impact on lottery draws.
Category Draw Weight Points
Because our categories of membership pay for different game access and have different play frequency, the draw weight is slightly different for each category. Assigning less draw weight to categories that have paid for greater access maintains equity in the draw process. The weight for a successful draw within 1 hour of a requested time are listed below.
- Full Play = 20 points
- YP 31-35 = 23 Points
- YP 26-30 = 26 Points
- YP 19-25 = 30 Points
- Game Pack = 30 Points
- Junior = 30 Points
Note: Juniors also fall under day and time booking restrictions.
Other Booking Notes:
- The purpose of the lottery system is to optimize space on the tee sheet.
- Foursomes and threesomes have equal priority.
- Single and twosome lottery requests are permitted, but foursomes and threesomes are given priority to optimize usage.
- Singles are joined with available threesomes or twosomes when available.
- Twosomes are joined with other twosomes or singles when available.
Lottery rules and settings are subject to adjustment in consultation with the software provider, Management, and the SGCC Board of Directors.