Golf and Gambling....

[Bigvivec]

Golf and gambiling…
Monday at my course is caddy day…caddies, pros and office staff are allowed to play on the course…pros play whenever, but usually are doing so as a playing lesson…Mondays they get to have fun…anyway, the putting green Monday mornings is a gambling hotbed with all the staff who stroke putts all week in the slow afternoons lining up putting competitions for various amounts…my biggest weakness as a golfer is probably how I handle pressure, and I decided to join them in an attempt to start to overcome my bouts of nervousness when there is pressure present…I joined one of the assistant pros and a visiting pro with the bet 100,000rp (11bucks more or less) for three out of five to various holes around the green, and 50,000 for two out of five…we drew a small gallery of about 15 people and played for about 45minutes…I think it was the best putting practice session that I have ever had as there was tangible pressure on every putt and just as on the course, every putt counted…I was shaking over the first putt, but three holes in I settled down and by the end was actually really enjoying “performing” …the visiting pro dropped out after 10 minutes and I went head to head with the assistant pro…we wound up even in the end though I’d been leading about half the time…second to last hole the assistant pro made three putts from 20 feet to go ahead 50,000, and with all the boys whooping it up on the sidelines I was quite proud of myself in that I stood up to the pressure, catcalls and trash talk to sink 2 of 4 then leave the last one two inches short of the front lip, tight on the last one but I didn’t yip and almost got it; not bad for the first time out of the garage anyway…I plan on attending these Monday sessions as often as I can and can see how this will help me with my dealing with pressure and focus problems…next pressure proofing step is to start gambling on the course…I’ll be playing near my inlaws house in the suburbs for a week or so after the birth of my second daughter in a couple of weeks; that course complex (three courses now) is full of guys who love to gamble (at least I got invited to by every group that I joined last year when I was out there for a week), mainly Air Force officers as it is right next to the base, so I ought to be able to get a game…I’m liking this; I haven’t gotten into hardly any competitive situations on the course as when I do play with others it is always just a bunch of individuals out there together each keeping their own card…adds another dimension to the game…

[Leaguegolf]

Bring your wallet BigV........gamblers rarely take checks.

[PA PLAYA]

It does add a different perspective to the game, one that I must say that years ago interested me not. But as I've improved over the years, I've really gained an interest in competitive golf. And part of that environment is the more formal rounds with modest wagers attached, naturally.

I occasionally play with two head professionals at a local club, both are very good friends of mine and we've played several times together the past couple of seasons. Although I sport a 3 handicap, they refuse to spot me strokes. LOL.... So I play them straight-up, from the tips no less, and all I can say is that if these two guys played every round of golf with me for a season, I'd easily be scratch or better. I just seem to do no wrong when I'm playing with better players, and it's really not about the money to be won as much as it's hanging with and/or besting two very accomplished players in their own right.

Our last match together was a couple months ago, I shot 71, they shot a pair of 73's. They missed a few putts coming home, and that was ultimately their demise. It sure felt good to have a little "pro" money in my wallet that evening!

[Leaguegolf]

Originally Posted by PA PLAYA

Our last match together was a couple months ago, I shot 71, they shot a pair of 73's. They missed a few putts coming home, and that was ultimately their demise. It sure felt good to have a little "pro" money in my wallet that evening!

There's no feeling quite like besting a pro on his own course. I'm wondering if that "couple months ago" was their choice. It sure doesn't sound like they're in any hurry for a rematch.

[PA PLAYA]

Originally Posted by Leaguegolf

There's no feeling quite like besting a pro on his own course. I'm wondering if that "couple months ago" was their choice. It sure doesn't sound like they're in any hurry for a rematch.

Funny story... I showed up at their facility a few years back.... as a single. They were going out as a twosome. So they offered to let me play through on the very first hole. So I take my home-made swing and belt one out there about 275, dead center. I couldn't see their reaction, but I could sense that their mouths hit the ground. As I turned to thank them and headed to the cart, they asked if I wanted to join them. Seeing a few groups of 4somes ahead of me, I said what the heck... sure. Honestly -- I had no idea that they were pros at the facility. I thought they were just joe customers.

It didn't take long for me to realize that they were gamers. The head shot 70, and the teaching pro shot 71. I scrapped it around the last couple holes, but shot a good round of 74 despite that.

We had a great time, and we traded phone numbers after the round. We've played about 7-8 times since then, and it's always an enjoyable round. And of course, they get me comp'd. So I don't mind. And there's been only one other round outside of that first round that I've shot higher than 73 with them. And I've actually whipped up on them a couple times, although they're entitled to bad rounds every once in a while despite the common reputation that they're above that.

But we've had some great matches. I'm supposed to play with them again in a few weeks, although I think we're playing a course I've never played before. It'll be interesting.

[C-Tech]

Pa Playa, that sounds like real fun. I haven't played any competitive golf since I left Arkansas. My buds and I used to play for small time stakes and it always made me play better. I am so naturally competitive that I can't even stand to be beat at Old Maid.

If my Mom had known how hard I would concentrate for a quarter, she would have dangled one over my school books and I would have been a Rhodes Scholar.