A new ‘Lottery’ feature for the booking system will be implemented from 5th May and apply to all timesheets.
Members now select ‘Join Draw’ underneath the Locked timesheet status within 30 minutes of timesheet open, there will also be a new countdown timer. The draw closes at 00:05 seconds to run the lottery to order all the draw participants.
Note for mobile users when using mobile or app no need to Join Draw just select the Locked button to Join Draw.
When the timer hits 00:00 the first five participants in the lottery go into the timesheet to make a booking, all others will get a ticket in the queue to enter the timesheet when those ahead have completed their booking. This may add a few minutes to the overall draw but will best replicate a lucky draw at the club.
By only allowing 5 members in the timesheet at a time, members have far better chance of selecting an available tee time as the timesheet is virtually live. A member that has access to the timesheet has 60 seconds to select a tee-time before the next person in the queue is admitted to the timesheet. Once the member selects a tee time they have three minutes to complete a booking.
The benefits of the ‘Lottery’ are
- No more fastest click wins
- Your device or internet speed will not affect your entry in the draw
- Random draw for all
- Fairer for all as resembles a traditional members draw here at the club
- There’s less chance you will be rejected with ‘Row Taken’
Here are the steps for a PC user
1. Select Join Draw
2. Wait for Timer and stay on that screen
3. Your position in the queue
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
Q. If I am first to hit Join Draw do I go straight into the timesheet
A. No sorry you will have to wait until the random lottery of members that also select Join Draw.
Q. When can I select Join Draw
A. For PC users up to 30 minutes prior to timesheet opening. ie between 10 seconds and 30 minutes prior
Q. I have a slow internet speed, will I miss out.
A. No you have as much chance as everyone that enters the draw
Q. Previously I would get constantly get ‘Row Locked by Another User’ and that was frustrating
A. There are now only up to five members in the timesheet when it is your turn to book, if you were lucky you will have the hole timesheet to select. If not lucky you will be able to select the remaining available rows without being rejected.
Q. I’m on a mobile device I can;t see Join Draw
A. For mobile device users that have the optimised mobile web site just select the timesheet and as long as you are within the 30 minutes of the draw closing you have Joined Draw
Q. I’ve heard members using multiple devices and browsers to better their chance of getting a ticket in the draw.
A. Before lottery that was possible, not really fair on others though. Now you can only Join Draw once, try it more than once and you or they might not get a ticket in the draw.
Q. Can I a stay in and add more players after I have my added my group.
A. No you only get one ticket and group to book and there are others in the queue so please be mindful of your fellow members
Q. I got to number 1 in the queue then it pushed me way back, what happened.
A. Sorry about that but browsers and devices all work in weird ways, you may have jumped on too early and your session timed out or your browser/device weren’t compatible. We find lottery works best using the Google Chrome browser or clear your browsing history and start afresh next time. The browsers save cookies and try and use those cookies to load pages faster. Sometimes those cookies are older versions of the system.
Q. How long do I have to select a time
A. You have 60 seconds to select a tee time before the next person comes in, so the quicker you select a time the better your chances of getting a preferred time
Q. How long do I have to complete a booking
A. You have three minutes to complete the booking of yourself and/or playing partners
Q. Can I use my playing partners and default list to book partners
A. Yes, no change there but if you clubs has only two names per time you will need to remove two names form default playing group