California has said enough to the tee-time brokers reselling spots at municipal courses.
According to a story in the LA Times, Gov. Gavin Newsom has "signed a bill that prohibits third-party brokers from advertising, selling or transferring tee-time reservations at publicly owned golf courses without the written consent of the course operator."
In 2024, it became widespread knowledge that "brokers" were gaming the online booking system by scooping up tee times at several municipal golf courses and then reselling them for $30 or $40 each, hiking the price for locals who seemingly have no choice but to pay.
A year ago, two tee time brokers were arrested and charged with failing to report $1 million in income to IRS. At the time, one of them, Ted
Kim, said, "It's not like I’m taking advantage of technology. I’m booking myself. I’m not doing anything illegal."
The new piece of legislation signed by Newsom comes long after Dave Fink first exposed the slimy operation. “This is an issue that affects everybody who pays taxes in the city, and anybody who plays golf as well, so I just felt like it was my duty to say something,” Fink said in an interview with The Times in March 2024.
The L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks finally got around to an investigation. Statewide, there are more than 200 golf courses owned by municipalities.
“Public golf courses belong to the public, and residents shouldn’t have to compete with brokers buying up tee times just to turn around and sell them at inflated prices,” state assemblymember Christopher M. Ward (D-San Diego), who authored the bill, said in a statement Sunday. The legislation “puts an end,” he said, “to this unfair practice and helps ensure local residents, seniors, students and families can continue accessing the public courses their communities support.”
Todd Kelly is the assistant managing editor of Golfweek.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: California governor signs bill blocking tee time brokers at municipal golf courses
