Four Los Angeles City Council members introduced a motion Tuesday seeking to crack down on what they describe as “black-market tee time brokers” from booking and reselling city golf course tee times for profit.
The Department of Recreation and Parks operates multiple golf courses throughout the city. Residents can purchase an LA City Golf Player Card and book tee times up to nine days in advance at all golf courses. Without the player card, the general public can book tee times up to seven days in advance. In March, a group of golfers filed a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging that the city failed to perform its duties to oversee golf courses. The lawsuit claims that the city has permitted unscrupulous brokers to profit off city golf courses — and as a result, people who have purchased a player card have not received the benefits of affordable tee times as promised by the city.
“Your deposit will be forfeited if you cancel your tee time for any reason,” according to an email sent by the city to regular customers Wednesday. “Note: The separate $10 per person no-show/short-show penalties will also remain in effect. A refund of your deposit may be issued if a course is closed due to adverse weather and/or other course closure events or if electric carts are not available for rent, preventing you or your group from playing.