I just got my golf cert sat. I had my card for about a month. No points as I already have the reg marriots card and gotten another preimer one. I had to call in to get it. Once I called in I got the cert in about a week. I also got hit up with the annual fee for the new card and have not gotten the free night cert.
When I applied for the reg card last year the points and cert arrived/posted in a week of the card arriving.
I guess they make you wait for the cert now. PS - I still have not gotten hit up for the fee on my other card and I had that for 5 months.