Despite the course’s requests to “suspend” the 1010 booking concierge service and the announcement of a brand new online booking system to be “deployed out by the end of 2020”, it appears some people are still able to exploit the system.

The Post has received a conservation of a 1010 representative confirming they deploy dozens of standard lines to reach the booking system, likely making it even more difficult for the general public to get through.

The Post is also aware that the agent or agents are still operating and securing tee times that they sell at inflated fees.

In exchanges obtained from a golfer, who wishes to remain anonymous, a 1010 representative said they use the same Kau Sai Chau telephone booking system and had “about 100 lines” allowing for a “bigger chance” of entry.

Like many other golfers, they had long tired of countless unsuccessful phone booking attempts and found the only way on the course was to “walk in the morning” to “pick up the empty slots left by people who booked through an agent or other means”. Kau Sai Chau and all other Hong Kong courses have since banned such practice.

“I’ve contacted [Kau Sai Chau] several times and they just make fun of me – nothing was being solved,” they said. “My point of view is that of any normal golfer with no specific advantages. It’s been going on for nearly one year, since the borders were closed.”

The golfer’s only viable alternative was to book through a club or association. Upon gaining the occasional entry, their suspicion only grew thereafter.

“The only way I managed to play in four months is by my club that is giving me lessons doing golf days. At first I tried to call – two weeks every morning, hundreds of calls, never reached – but at the same time I was going there just for practice random days of the week,” they said.

“When I take the ferry there, I always see the same people [getting ready to play]. [Staff] tell you that they’re getting lucky. People arrive at the counter to play with their stamp card. The card expires after six months yet theirs are always full of stamps. I’m wondering how in four months I can’t even book a single game – can’t even reach them on the phone – but there are people here with cards completely full.”

Another golfer told the Post they were also amazed last week when a player in front of them at the registration pulled out a bunch of stamped cards when they struggled to get just one round. A certain number of stamps allows a free round.

Having encountered others who likewise failed in countless attempts to secure tee times, the first golfer began to suspect mass bookings through agents or other means. They inquired about it via the 1010 service’s WhatsApp.

“The day [the course reopened in February] everything was booked. Usually you book one week in advance. So I thought ‘this is my chance, maybe there’s a higher probability that I can book’. I tried to call with two people – none of us reached.

“Out of frustration I checked with 1010 … and asked specifically about Kau Sai Chau. They bluntly told me that they have 100 lines that are calling, kind of spamming the hotline.

“That’s when I lost it. The first thing I did was to call the golf club and ask them to investigate. I was not expecting much because I had called three times beforehand and was told the same thing, ‘they have been lucky’. They are not even investigating.”

The golfer saw others posting on social media that they had played three times in six days and wondered how that could be.

“I can’t even get through to the hotline, yet they can book three times in a row. When I relay this to the club they again tell me, ‘they’re lucky’. “If they really cared about people being able to play, they would get rid of this phone system. The funny thing is the last time I played it is easier to play in Fanling – a closed course – than it is to to play in Kau Sai Chau.

“I can afford to pay this [1010 booking service]. Actually I’m so passionate [about golf] that I’d love to pay for it. But I can’t accept this. It’s not normal.”

Kau Sai Chau general manager Cameron Halliday said on Friday the roll-out of its new online booking interface would now happen on February 18 and it would “redefine the booking experience”.

“KSC has been developing a new booking system to cope with the demand and registration and the new system will commence from 18 February,” he said. “We believe the new booking system will redefine the booking experience for our customers. We deeply appreciate and thank the patience and understanding of our customers.”

In December, Halliday acknowledged that 1010 “operates a concierge service to its customers” to book facilities including Kau Sai Chau, but reiterated it had “no association with 1010 in this service” before confirming they had “requested to suspend” it.

Asked if 1010 had suspended the service, he referred the Post back to previous comments. “Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and related travel restrictions, KSC has faced unprecedented demand for tee times. During this time we have had to strike the balance between meeting demand and maintaining appropriate social-distancing to ensure the safety of both our customers and staff,” he said.

CSL Mobile’s 1010 boasts several “privileges” for its subscribing clients, including a wide-ranging “Personal Assistant Service”, among which a “golf course reservation” service is available to “make local and [overseas] course reservations”. According to its website, the promotion was “valid until December 31, 2020”.

Asked if the service was still operating, a Hong Kong Telecom representative repeated the same statement given in December: “1010 Personal Assistant makes tee-time reservations upon customers’ requests. We follow the normal booking procedures of Kau Sai Chau and make reservations through KSC’s automatic telephone booking system which is open to all members of the public. “1010 Personal Assistance has not asked for, nor does it receive, any preferential treatment from KSC.”