Brokers are buying up precious tee times at L.A. city golf courses. Golfers are desperate and outraged

Dave Fink, a golf influencer and teaching professional, has become a prominent voice in bringing attention to the role of brokers selling tee times on Los Angeles golf courses. Fink grew up playing on city courses and said one of his “fed up” friends went to Griffith Park and asked Saturday morning golfers how they got their tee times. “This is a public good,” said Patrick MacFarlane, 35, who grew up playing on L.A. municipal courses and serves on the city’s golf advisory committee. “Golfers know where to hold the mouse so you can click quickly,” said Charlie, who gave only his first name because he’s often searching for tee times at work. Initially Lee saw no issue: “I thought it wasn’t illegal, and we’ll pay $5 each and play.” But he quickly realized the brokers were “a poison” and had “occupied all the tee times, even the weekdays and weekends.” Joseph Lee said that well before the recent uproar, he shared his concerns with the officials who run golf at the Department of Parks and Recreation.