clover

I know its old news but the clover is waste of time.

Only a couple of weeks ago we were told that the restaurant had closed, but snacks could be obtained from the clover with meals from 7.30. New opening hours were from 11.00.

Today the golf society (23 players and families) arrived at 3pm as normal to find the opening hours are now from 3pm. As usual there were no cushions on the chairs, or was anyone serving drinks.

After I fetched my own cushions, 3 staff came out and started putting more out. I went in for a drink and asked the only barman if I could have some drinks I was told yes - while he had money laid all over the bar and was counting it. After a couple of minutes I walked out in disgust..

I arrived at the bar at 3pm and eventually got a drink at 3.35. Cushions were laid out by 3.30. (shouldn't this be done before opening?).

I had to go to the bar - no staff came out taking orders.

If only Olagolf would give us an alternative - I really do not like giving Polaris any of my money.

Perhaps it is a spanish thing but it looks like everyone has safe jobs with no responsibilities or targets. Don't have much sympathy for the national strike in spain. They need to earn their jobs.

Barry

The other forum posted this during the week

"Breakfast, lunch and dinner, now at the Clover. A chef is on hand to prepare you your favorite sandwich.

                           On the menu, you will find pizza, pasta and sandwiches served from 11AM-5PM, Dinner is served at 7.30PM."

isn't this the case?. They had a photo of the chalk board in front of the open door of The Clover.

I agree the service sounds appalling- just dont think PW will let Olagolf open up a bar in competition. They might let them move the golf shop into a cabin with somewhere to pay for a round but I'll be 'happily' surprised if the building ends up with a bar.

There's long been a rumour PW check out the forums, I'm not sure its correct but if they did they'd see the complaints and clearly choose not to qact on them. However, they'd also see that all and sundry want Olagolf to open a bar so that everyone would go there instead of The Clover- another reason to put obstacles in the way.

 Hi Tony,

Yes, that was the case - for about a week!  Then PW did the usual and changed it all again.  Ho Hum

L

HI FOLKS I MAY BE MISTAKEN HERE BUT DO THE BANKS NOT OWN THE SPORTS ZONE AND ARE OLA GOLF NOT TIED  IN WITH THE BANKS IF EVER THERE WAS A PLACE CRYING OUT TO BE USED AS A CLUB HOUSE ITS THE SPORTS AREA THERE ARE LOCKERS..CHANGING  ROOMS..A BAR..A KITCHEN ALL OF WHICH WOULD NOT TAKE MUCH TO HAVE THEM FULLY FUNCTIONAL...IT MAY BE A BIT FAR FROM THE COURSE BUT ITS ONLY A BUGGY RIDE AWAY..ITS CRIMINAL THAT THE PLACE IS LYING WITH ITS THROAT CUT NOT BEING USED IF POLARIS ARE PLAYING FUNNY BUGGERS WITH THE OPENING TIMES OF THE CLOVER AND THE LAND ON THE GOLF COURSE FOR THE CLUBHOUSE THE SPORTS ZONE IS IDEAL FOR OLA GOLF TO OPEN UP FOR THE GOLFERS AND NOT ONLY THAT WITH IT BEING OPEN THE RESIDENTS..OWNERS AND RENTERS WOULD USE IT FOR WHAT IT WAS BUILT FOR AND IN TIME THEY COULD EVEN OPEN A SMALL GYM AREA ...IF THE BANKS AND OLA GOLF ARE TIED IN WITH EACH OTHER IT BEGGARS BELIEF THEY CANNOT GET THEIR HEADS TOGETHER AND RE OPEN THE SPORTS AREA...AND ITS ONE IN THE EYE FOR THOSE PIG HEADED IDIOTS THAT RUN P.W...STEVIE FROM GLASGOW.....     

We have our apartment overlooking the sports area & yes I do think its an absolute waste that the building is not open & used to its fullest potential

However there must be a reason why the banks etc have not reopened this facility, so I guess it is still owned by PW.

Though I cannot see why they chose to remove all of the sporting equiptment. It would have been far more cost effective to keep the area open than to close it & try to recoup money from a sale of the gym equiptment

You never get much for any thing that is used no matter how new it is.

Maybe it would be the running costs ie Electricity & wages that has stopped it reopening

maybe one of the residents or even this site could do a survey to see how many owners etc would use it over a 12 month period & look at what those periods are in relation to each month.

If the use looks favourable then maybe those who would  use it regulaly could put the findings to who ever owns it.

to be honest I would not mind putting in a few hours free time to open up & serve a coffee or two wilst we are there, but dont ask me to pull a pint or serve you with a short cos I cant guarantee you woul be very happy with the measures

jan  

 Hi Jan,

The sports area is owned by IRM,  there was a long thread back in July about the community trying to get a deal with them to lease it but it a never happened.  I believe that the presidents are having further meetings this month to try and get the talks started again.

L

Yes, originally the sports zone was managed under one of PW's many company names and that caused some confusion when everything shut down because PW's position with the sports zone wasn't clear. But it went back to the consortium of Banks. Somewhere it was also posted that the Banks dont intend to look for another company to run the sports zone (so its likely its held in surety and an agreement exists for PW to take it back once they can raise the money) but would let the community take it over. However the wheels obviously run slowly and they probably want a lot of money for the lease so negotiations are taking a long time. The gym on Mar Menor was cleared out at the same time as our's.

I do wonder if we ever get the sports zone open if Manzano's will open though as Polaris clearly dont want any competion for The Clover. Pity they haven't opened as stated in Tony's post- maybe the chef didnt turn up!

wel hamibabe am wi you a can pull a few pints but its gota be run right an at least pay for itself but it dont need to make loads o profit and am sure a lot of the owners near there would use it

Just rented our appartment out for the 1st time to good friends of ours , they said they reaiiy enjoyed there stay on cda appart from the ciover , they could not believe how rude and ignorant the staff were, they went in one night about 5 oclock and asked about food , only to be told in broken english that there was none, they made no effort at all to tell them food didnt start till 7.30 , so they did the usual thing and went to campasol . Theres a good chance they might not rent of us again while the facilities are so poor ,we did not buy to rent out , but a lot of people did  , surely theres got to  be something we as a community can do to get the sport zone back  open and running it ourselves to the standards  we expect and deserve , before cda loses more and more holiday makers

Although I'm all for the sport zone being restored and open again I can't see this being done in the near future if the community are to take it over.

I see a number of issues that would need to be addressed including a detailed plan to ensure the community wasn't jumping into something just because of Polaris' bad service (which could lead to a drain on the community resources).  Also there are no doubt some owners who may object to the community taking on a role off managing a bar.  Plus does the whole community get involved, as La Isla I believe are separate from the rest of the resort.

I hope I'm wrong as I'd happily never set foot in the clover again...here's hoping for a new sports zone or a clubhouse.

Hi folks,

I have to be honest and while we were over at CdA last week, we used The Clover ocassionally in the evenings. I appreciate that several people have had a less than satisfying experience there, but everything was fine when we used it. Staff polite, keen to serve us, tables were clean, chairs correctly set out with coverings, etc. I will admit that we didn't actually eat there, only had a few drinks to show our support for the place. I understand the business logic in cutting back the opening hours when things get quiet on the resort but can't help thinking that however bad things seem to be in that bar, if we all boycot it or protest against what little we actually have on the resort, PW will simply close it down during the quiet months, or worse still, remove it completely!

ww    

Well said Welshwizard.

I too have found the staff polite, tables clean and in order etc. etc.  Dave and Carol made the point "they were told in broken english."  You're in Spain!  Would you expect a Spanaird to walk into your local here, London, Cornwall or any tourist spot in the UK and order food and drink, then ask the staff questions in Spanish and be understood.  So why expect it the other way round?

Lets all take over the "Surgery" and run it ourselves.  How much effort and organisation will that require?  Why not put some of the effort in and learn basic Spanish instead.

I took the time to learn the basics, and I can get by.  I and friends I've met there often sit like a barflys at the bar on our visits, speaking to the staff in our "best" Spanish. In return they help or encourage us WHEN THEY HAVE THE TIME.  To be honest there are times I cringe when I hear some of the comments and language from my fellow compatriates directed at the staff..

I was there in Summer when we had an almighty downpour late at night.  All the people sitting outside on the "cushions" on the chairs came running inside.  The staff then had to go outside and collect and shelter all those cushions.  Apart from myself (who was sat inside the whole time) no one bothered to help.  When I returned along with the staff I heard 3 people f-ing and blinding about no service.  Did tell one of the d***heads why.  As in all the staff were outside collecting lots of heavy cushions you all left! For a moment he thought about arguing back but then realised I was right.

Maybe its because I live in a vibrant city - Liverpool.  But I do not expect to walk into a crowded bar and be served "immediately."  The staff would not expect me to treat them as a personal maid.  And in this country there are laws that prevent staff being exposed to verbal as well as physical abuse.  For some reason when "some" people go to CdA they forget this. They're too busy trying to impress their guests, friends or family they have with them.

Please - I have spent many many nights as a barfly in there, and I have on too many occassions witnessed this behaviour.  You're not in your local now where the staff know who you are, what your round is.  So be patient, be polite, take into consideration you're in Spain where Spanish is the primary language.  If need be point laugh and joke about what you would like,.and you will get served.

The difference is the "minority" who have a problem regards service (maybe due in some cases to their attitude) come on here and complain.  Everybody else who finds the service acceptable does not.

Totally agree with you ,  language and behaver like that is not acceptable , i know our friends are not in that minority being very polite and quite , i think they  just  wanted a bit back in return , reguarding learning spanish my wife is doing 2nd year A level , after passing year 1 with a merit , but i think it would be difficult to put learning spanish in our terms and conditions of rental

I did say point laugh and joke with reference to those who have no knowledge of the language.  In other words be patient with humour.  Get into the "manana" (Spanish) way.

I wouldn't agree with anyone giving verbal abuse to the staff.  But I have to say previous people have been much luckier than I have been when at the Clover.

I wouldn't expect immediate service in a crowded bar either...however in a near empty bar I don't expect to stand at the bar for 20 minutes waiting to order.  And that has happened more than once.

I also agree that if you rattle off a large order in english you can expect the girls to ask you some of it again and that using a bit of spanish would be a good idea.  I've never found that an issue as "large beer" seems to be easily understood.

The spanish are a laid back group and we are in their country so need to adapt...but its a hell of lot easier to do that at the bar when you actually have a drink.

It's quite a shame really as the Clover could be so much more for the resort.

We use the Clover quite regularly and have never found any problems with service from any of the staff except on the Ibiza party night during the summer -  on that night the staff were working really hard but their problem seemed to be that they had no process of working a bar and just served those who made themselves known to them - one guy who was at the bar at the same time as me was still there 40 minutes later as he was standing quitely and  politely waiting for them to serve him.   I was at the party night the following week and it was much better with an additional outdoor bar which but it was hardly used.    I always try to ask for my drinks in Spanish and they always give a smile in return (probably laughing at my bad pronunciation).  Also, everyone complains about the price - €3 for a pint is not expensive, €5 for a very large vodka and coke is comparable to bars in any UK city.  Look forward to getting back to Condado as soon as we can and catching up with the many good friends we have made over there.

Paul + Michelle

I'm really pleased other people have come on here to defend The Clover.

I thought I would be shot down in flames for saying what I said.

ww  

Was over last week - after golf (CDA society) on Monday we arrived at Clover at 3pm which is when it should have been open, when leaving at 4pm one of the staff arrived. Couldn't be bothered to try the clover again until after golf (CDA Society) on Friday, yes it was open and yes I did get served without a problem. However, there was a large group of guy's who had also finished playing golf who not only wanted a drink (which they got) they also wanted something to eat which they couldn't get, so they went to the supermarket and bought bread, ham etc etc and made their own DIY food.

I know if I was a visitor and this was my experience I wouldnt bother visiting CDA again with so many other places available. PW do seem to get it wrong more often than not and in so many ways.

Bring on the clubhouse and the sportszone, the sooner the better.