ForeOnFour
Leave no birdie behind
I've got a question for the forum:
Me son who is 11 really enjoys golf and enjoys competing, not just in golf but sports in general. 3 weeks ago he asked if he could play in the Sunday morning Stableford with me. $7 entry fee, prize money determined by how many show up, generally the first place teams splits $40 or less.
I said sure, I'll ask. Got to the course and the usual groups had no problem with it, so he played. We go back the next week and he plays again, this time he gets randomly drawn and ends up on the second place team. He is over the moon and can't wait until next time.
Next time was yesterday. We show up, play our round, we each put our $7 in the pot and go out to hit on the range while the other groups finish up. Next thing I know one of the other players, who is the lead grounds keeper, walks up and hand me back my son's $7 and says he is not allowed to gamble, for fear that the owner would fire the him for allowing minors to "gamble"
My issue is I'm not convinced it's gambling but more an entry fee to win a small prize based on your skill and game that day. The USGA specifically has a rule about amateurs playing in small money games and we check all the boxes for following their rules.
I just don't understand taking away something from a junior golfer and souring him, to an extent, on golf. Before playing in the stableford it was sometimes a chore to drag him out of bed on Sunday morning. But for three weeks he was up before me and chomping at the bit to go. He has a handicap, that we pay a yearly fee into the mens club for him to join. He plays from the same tees that the full grown men do.
Am I over reacting because he's my own kid or do you think it really is wrong for him to play in our local stableford for money?
Thanks for reading and letting me know your thoughts.
Me son who is 11 really enjoys golf and enjoys competing, not just in golf but sports in general. 3 weeks ago he asked if he could play in the Sunday morning Stableford with me. $7 entry fee, prize money determined by how many show up, generally the first place teams splits $40 or less.
I said sure, I'll ask. Got to the course and the usual groups had no problem with it, so he played. We go back the next week and he plays again, this time he gets randomly drawn and ends up on the second place team. He is over the moon and can't wait until next time.
Next time was yesterday. We show up, play our round, we each put our $7 in the pot and go out to hit on the range while the other groups finish up. Next thing I know one of the other players, who is the lead grounds keeper, walks up and hand me back my son's $7 and says he is not allowed to gamble, for fear that the owner would fire the him for allowing minors to "gamble"
My issue is I'm not convinced it's gambling but more an entry fee to win a small prize based on your skill and game that day. The USGA specifically has a rule about amateurs playing in small money games and we check all the boxes for following their rules.
I just don't understand taking away something from a junior golfer and souring him, to an extent, on golf. Before playing in the stableford it was sometimes a chore to drag him out of bed on Sunday morning. But for three weeks he was up before me and chomping at the bit to go. He has a handicap, that we pay a yearly fee into the mens club for him to join. He plays from the same tees that the full grown men do.
Am I over reacting because he's my own kid or do you think it really is wrong for him to play in our local stableford for money?
Thanks for reading and letting me know your thoughts.