Hilton HHonors - Hilton Garden Inn - Free Golf

Not related to being an HHonors member, but HGI is offering a voucher for free greens fees for Thursday-Sunday stays between 6/16 and 9/30/05.

I haven't been able find the location of the available courses, though.


http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/index.jhtml

>>>I haven't been able find the location of the available courses, though.>>>


http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/index.jhtml

Go to the website from the link you supplied. Click on the golfer. When the next page pops up, scroll down abpout half a page to find the "Where Do You Want To PLay?" written in red. Click on that to find a course lsiting by state.

Ahh...found the problem. The bottom half of the screen doesn't show up in Firefox (must use IE...grrrrrrrr).

Go to the website from the link you supplied. Click on the golfer. When the next page pops up, scroll down abpout half a page to find the "Where Do You Want To PLay?" written in red. Click on that to find a course lsiting by state.

Cool!!
Just changed a resv for this weekend to the promo rate and we'll get free golf. Thanks for the heads-up!!!!!!!!

This is indeed a really cool offer. Anyone compare rates for this promotion vs. AAA or best available internet rate?

This is indeed a really cool offer. Anyone compare rates for this promotion vs. AAA or best available internet rate?

The rates I saw for it are very close to the same, and in the case of one HGI, I believe it was the same when I went looking last weekend.

Mike

Anyone play any of the courses available? A quick perusal shows they aren;t exactly top courses judging by the rates they charge.

We have three of these vouchers. I followed the rules and called to make a tee time for my wife and her friends for this coming week at a course in Northern California. I stated she was using the voucher. They had no idea what I was talking about and stated she should be prepared to pay the regular rate. That is just crazy. I offered and faxed them a copy of both sides of the voucher along with my name / toll free number. Called back to confirm they received. They will call me after contacting their headquarters. Anyone else have a problem using this voucher? Thanks

Sorry to hear about your trouble, RTWSTARALLIANCE. I have my first stay under this promo coming up later this week. I'm not a golfer, but will give the voucher to a friend. I'll let you know if it works for them.

Cheers,
LBBZman

The agent at the HGI we frequent used one last week and has another tee time for this week. I will advise on how my wife does or the response from the course if I hear from them tomorrow. Regards

I called the course again this morning to speak with the director of promotions. She also had no idea what I was talking about. Her reply was also be prepared to pay. I am now speaking with Hilton Guest Assistance since there is no number to call the administrator of this promotion for Hilton Garden Inn. A TOTAL waste of time. I can not send my wife and her two friends on a one hour drive to then pay for golf.

Apparently now the course if talking with the HGI to figure out how they (course) get paid. Guest Assistance was worthless as they transferred me back to the local HGI. Something smells bad here. Anytime Hilton wants to contact me directly would be appreciated.

I received a call from the head of the marketing company for this promotion and the course. They offered apologies and assured me my wife and her friends will be able to use the voucher. Apparently not all information is being passed down the line properly.

Glad to hear you finally got a satisfactory response. Too bad you had to waste so much time.

I'm earning my first golf voucher later this week. Hopefully I will not have to put forth as much effort to try to use the thing. :rolleyes:

Total waste of time. Since no one from Hilton ever called me they can just stick a few points in my account for my time. A program not administered well. I have two more vouchers to use and I have NO intent on trying to earn any more of these things.

I couple weeks ago I stayed at a Hilton Garden Inn and recieved the golf giveaway voucher. However, unknown to me until I checked out, during the stay one of the employees at the hotel modified my rate plan from the Golf Giveaway rate to my usual corporate rate.

Will this cause any problems when I try to use the voucher? The voucher says I need to bring my folio from the stay. I didn't know if anything special prints on the folio to denote the golf givewaway.

I doubt there will be an issue b/c I assume the people at the golf course wouldn't know what (if anything) to look for.

Any thoughts?

My folio says "L-GA" in the Rate Plan section.

I think the key is to have one of the slick brochures they hand out as your voucher. The hotel wouldn't give you a voucher if you didn't have a qualifying rate. That's my logic. I doubt the golf course will know.

In fact, you will more likely have the golf course people not knowing anything about this promo at all. That will be the bigger issue. I will be using my first voucher this coming Sunday. I'll report back if anyone is interested.

I'll report back if anyone is interested.

I'm definitely interested.

Cheers,
LBBZman

I'm going to be using my voucher later today. I see in the fine print on the voucher..."promotional cart rental required". Has anyone who has already used their voucher had to pay for a required cart rental.

I hope I don't have to come out of pocket for a cart rental I don't want. Perhaps the golf course people won't notice that provision.

I went and played today at Legion Memorial in Everett, WA. As I suspected, the folks in the Pro Shop were completely clueless about the HGI Golf Giveaway. They got on the phone. I think they called the hotel I stayed at. Then they called somebody else. They asked about where my voucher was (the brochure voucher doesn't look really like a voucher). One of the Pro Shop guys said "If this is a hoax, they have done a good job".

They see the T&C's that talk about "promotional golf cart rental required". I say that I would prefer to walk. They discuss among themselves "Maybe the $24 cart rental is all that we will make from this". I say there should be a way for them to get reimbursement from Hilton. They finally let us go without a cart rental. I am left feeling like I have ripped them off.

In the end, I get my free golf for my wife and I, which is worth about $60. But the hassle is not worth the pain. I plan on sending an e-mail to Hilton, but not sure where to send it. This is a poorly executed promotion that leaves all those involved feeling abused. I felt like a con artist instead of a golfer.

There ought to be instructions on the voucher for the golf shop to seek reimbursement. :td: :td:

As a add on to the troubles with this program. My wife used at voucher at Castle Oaks. The first time she was charged $10 for a cart. Last time out. $20 for a cart. When she protested she was told this was the rate the owner had decided to charge people when using this voucher.

I never even received a certificate. The hotel told me that the certificate would be mailed to me. After several calls and emails to both the hotel and to Hhonors, I still can't get an answer. Both parties blame the other or either act like they don't have a clue what I'm talking about. THIS PROMOTION WAS AN ABSOLUTE WASTE!!

My wife called the course and they told her the rate for cart is $11. I called the course manager and he told me the rate for this promotion is $20 and that is the rate for a cart period. Period meaning under any circumstance. Someone is telling a fib. The rate to play with cart is $42. I've never heard of a cart rate nearly 50% of the total rate. Shame on Hilton.

Gave this to my daughter's boyfriend. He had no problems using it in Calgary.

Based on the number of replies to this post, it appears that not that many people got all wrapped up into this promotion. Clearly, this promo had great potentional but lousy execution. It's almost like a college marketing class. Maybe we should turn it over to the Donald and his Apprentice group.

I looked at booking this for my father, as the rate was roughly $3 more/night than the basic room, but after looking at the courses, he decided to go with just the regular room. After reading this thread, I'm glad he opted for that.

My local course didn't know about the promotion. Too risky for me. HGI should have done a better job setting this up. I have three certs that I will not use.

I've read the threads on the pros/cons of the HGI Golf promo...if it were to come back again...what sort of feedback do you have for the program and what would entice you stay at HGI to get it?

Most of the negative feedback read was around the redemption portion of the free round of golf. If the certificate had golf operator instructions on how to redeem, an actual certificate number as well as a customer service number added to call with questions would that entice you to go for this promo?

Interested in your comments as I really like "golf" related hotel promos.

Thanks.

Doesn't anyone like golf promos? Any comments on how to make it better?

Doesn't anyone like golf promos? Any comments on how to make it better?

Based on what you posted in your first post, I think you really answered the question yourself.

Mike

The Hilton Garden Inn golf promo is back....for two free greens fees (*)

o Stay at a "participating" HGI either Thur, Fri, Sat or Sunday night
o Get a golf voucher at check-in
o To book, reserve rate code, GO
o Dates: 6/1/06-10/22/06
o Voucher must be redeemed by 10/31/06
o Participating courses can be found at StayHGI.com/GOLF
o Submit voucher and valid HGI hotel bill with Thur/Fri/Sat/Sun stay to course
o Tee times:Valid Mon-Thur after 10am, Fri-Sun after 2pm (Holidays excluded)
o (*) Must pay for promotional cart fee

http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/promotions/golfgiveaway/index.jhtml?adId=GolfGiveaway,redirectHGI,30

Email questions or comments: golfpromotions@comcast.net

Yes, I noticed that too and have already booked a couple of stays. However, when I used my "free" games last year, I still had to pay $30/round for the use of a mandatory cart! :mad: I prefer walking but that was not an option so keep that in mind.

Where can I findthe list of participating golf courses? Not readily available on the Hhonors web site...

Where can I findthe list of participating golf courses? Not readily available on the Hhonors web site...

www.stayHGI.com/golf

The current HGI contest also gives the following "Did You Know?" note:

You can save your HGI Golf Giveaway golf voucher (for FREE Green Fees for two) and play a course closer to home – Who's your golf buddy now?

Mike

Unfortunately, I never got a certificate the last time. The desk clerk said it would be mailed. The Hhonors people said it should have been given by the desk clerk!

However, when I used my "free" games last year, I still had to pay $30/round for the use of a mandatory cart!

Is this cart fee a function of the HGI certificate or of the specific course you are playing?? The OP's list of stipulations states you must pay a "promotional cart fee". Hopefully someone who has used a few of these can answer.

No, the "promotional cart fee" was directly related to the HGI certificate. Normally, one can either walk or ride at that course but I was told that I had to ride and pay the promotional fee. I didn't mind as the cost to golf with the cart was still slightly less than I would have paid for just the golf game without the certificate. I was just taken aback that the "free" golf game ended up costing me $30 a round for the 4 of us, since I had asked along 2 friends for some "free" golfing and I ended up paying for their cart too.

Can you complete multiple stays for multiple certs?

So you paid $30 per person? for $30 for 4 people?

by the way... i have done this twice now...

Here is some information:

Booking this rate automatically turns your point eligibility off for the stay. However, I have called after both stays and have gotten my points both times (because the hilton employees have no idea what the rate is, and therefore dont know why it is in-eligible).

Apparently the "certificate" is just a booklet (so dont freak out when they give you that).

Other than that, I will be attempting to use my certificate in a week. Don't know what to expect, but will share when I do.

Booking this rate automatically turns your point eligibility off for the stay. However, I have called after both stays and have gotten my points both times (because the hilton employees have no idea what the rate is, and therefore dont know why it is in-eligible).



When you called up and got the points eligibility back on, did you get full points?

I just had this happen to me and originally it showed no points, due to the rate being points ineligible according to the DD. She changed it for me, but I did not get points for the full amount of the stay. Actually, they changed the total shown on the website, so I did get full points, it is just that my rate was lowered.

Stay at any Hilton Garden Inn® hotel over a Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday night between June 1 and October 21, 2007 and receive a golf voucher good for free greens fees for up to two players at over 300 great golf courses throughout the US and Canada. You and a companion can golf at any participating course through October 31st!

Promo page link (http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/promotions/golfgiveaway/index.jhtml?adId=GolfGiveaway,hffeatured,30&cid=OM,GI,Golfgiveaway,HFFeatured)

http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/promotions/hgi_golf_08/index.jhtml?cid=OM,GI,Golf,FeaturedHotel

Now I am trying to find a cheap HGI using this SRP. Any suggestions or help. I am in NJ but can go up to tri-state or even PA.

http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/promotions/hgi_golf_08/index.jhtml?cid=OM,GI,Golf,FeaturedHotel

Now I am trying to find a cheap HGI using this SRP. Any suggestions or help. I am in NJ but can go up to tri-state or even PA.

Nice promotion for me.
What do you consider cheap?

Looks like the golf promotion is back for 2008. Does anyone have any recent experiences with the program? Looks like there were some "marketing" issues based on this thread, but I'm hoping that they've been able to iron them out over the last couple years.

Anyone not planning to use the voucher, I can use them. Let me know what you need for trade. Or $$$$.

PM me.
Thanks

BTW, I saw in Arkansas (HGI) is very cheap...$59.00

May be $50.00



Nice promotion for me.
What do you consider cheap?

Zoiks! Took me two pages to realize this thread is old. I see there were major problems at the get-go.

How are experiences with points accrual and ease of using the vouchers now?

BTW, if you use your AmEx to pay for your stay, cart rental is free.

Promo link (http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/promotions/hgi_golf_08/index.jhtml?cid=OM,GI,Golf,Redirect).