California Bans Tee-Time Brokers at Municipal Golf Courses
By Staff Writer
1 min read
LoopGolf
Key takeaways
- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill barring third-party brokers from advertising, selling or transferring tee-time reservations at California's publicly owned golf courses without the operator's written consent.
- Brokers had been gaming municipal booking systems and reselling tee times for $30 to $40 each.
- Two brokers were arrested last year and charged with failing to report $1 million in income to the IRS.
- The law covers more than 200 golf courses owned by California municipalities.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation prohibiting third-party brokers from advertising, selling or transferring tee-time reservations at publicly owned golf courses without the operator's written consent, according to the Los Angeles Times.
What prompted the new law?
The practice surfaced in 2024, when brokers were found exploiting online booking systems at municipal courses to scoop up tee times in bulk and resell them for $30 to $40 apiece. The Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks investigated after golfer Dave Fink exposed the scheme.
Last year, two brokers were arrested and charged with failing to report a combined $1 million in income to the IRS. One, Ted Kim, said he was simply booking the tee times himself.
Who authored the bill?
State Assemblymember Christopher M. Ward, a San Diego Democrat, wrote the legislation. He said residents "shouldn't have to compete with brokers buying up tee times" to resell at marked-up prices.
The law turns a booking-system workaround into a violation, shifting the burden onto brokers rather than golfers chasing a tee time.
The consent requirement applies statewide, covering more than 200 municipally owned courses.
- Gavin Newsom
- Christopher Ward
- tee-time brokers
- municipal golf courses
- California golf legislation
- public golf courses
- Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks
