A pro bet me he could beat me with 6iron only?

Ended up with a bet today - a local pro challanged me to beat me with a 6iron only - strokeplay over 9 holes - no shots. I could use all my clubs, he only 6iron - no putter or wedges - we play same tees. We probably play front 9 so a lot of elevated greens - heavily sloped greens (have fun chipping a 6iron or pitching 6iron into these greens esp. if they are dry - ball wont hold).

On a okay day i shoot 3-4 over - so how low do you guys think i need to go to have save bet if he doesnt make any mistakes (he probably shoots 2-3 over on 18 i would say with all his clubs).

He sounded very confident, but i really cant belive its that easy for him to beat me. Anyone of you did this before - how did you end up?

It really depends how good this, "pro" is. Ive dealt with a lot of self-proclaimed golf pros who were far from being scratch golfers.

I'd say you'll kill him if you shoot 3-4 over with all your clubs and he shoots 2-3 over unless I'm missing something.

Unless he is a touring pro, I would take the bet and double up ^^

Seems very overconfident that a 6i could beat a <10 HCP'er.

I'd say that you would win. But not by much. Probably 2 strokes.

I think he said he shoots 3-4 over for

9 holes , while the pro shoots 2-3 over for 18 holes on a typical day. I think that's what he said.... and that would match up with his handicap.

We have a tournament at our course that requires us to take a club out of our bag on each hole (start at 5 I think). By the 18th, you only have one club. It's surprising how well you can score once you take the long clubs out.

A local priest in San Francisco who i know is a geniune scratch golfer is buddies with Harrington,they play golf together regular,They played once and all Harrington brought with him was a 7 iron,he still beat the scratch golfer.
The priest reckons the pro's are on a completely different level than anyone who is a scratch golfer.

A teaching pro that is scratch or +2 would probably beat you on an above average tract. He would never be in trouble, and obvioulsy has spent time putting with an 8 iron, or he would never make the bet.

My money is on the pro - no offense. Best round I've ever shot at my home course (back in high school 15 years ago) was our teams' 2 club practice. Any two clubs. Took 6 iron and putter. Shot 2 over par for 9 holes. To this day have never matched it with a full bag. Keep meaning to try it again. Just tough to leave 12 clubs as home! And a bag! And really all but 1 ball! Might be on to something here, pack light!

Curious - how come the pro challenged you to this match?

Most likely there is some kind of story leading up to this. The pro didn't just walk up to you out of the blue and issue this challenge, did he?

If you don't win it's pathetic. I could understand if he was using a 6 iron and putter, but him having to put with a 6 iron? lol.

i personally think that you are going to have the edge
with all of your clubs and your low handicap
you shouldnt have any trouble with him
good luck
make sure you tell us how it goes

I had a golf hustler from Las Vegas show up at a course I was playing and he offered the same type of bet, one club . . . I and my friends didn't take it because he was just too confident. That's how they make their living! He will beat you.

After I turned it down he played a bit with one club just to show us and he was amazing. Your 'pro' can play under par, remember these guys are like +6 and on an easy course they will eat it up. Don't bet a hustler, besides they know how to throw you off your game, crack jokes, mess up your pace of play, and just unnerve you, that's part of their game also.''

Putting will not a problem. I once played with someone who putted with a SW, in fact he chipped on the green and had no problem.

A very interesting proposition... Although you didn't state how long this guy has been a pro or what type he is (teaching or tour), statistically, I'll go with the pro. But, not by much.

Donald Ross, the famed golf architect observed that “golfers used to be made on the golf course. Now they are made in the machine shops.” With all the high-tech equipment available today, few golfers ever get the feel for the game. It’s more about numbers. You get out the laser or GPS hand-held and zap - you got the distance. Then it’s just a matter of selecting the number from your bag and swinging the club. While I don’t want to sound like it’s that easy, it is easier.

Back in the early days of golf, players learned to feel the shot with precious few clubs. However, in the swashbuckling 30’s, many tournament golfers were carrying between twenty and twenty-five clubs which was bordering on the insane. Think about the caddies staggering along under the load of that many clubs. Just how many golf clubs do you really need? For Lawson Little it was thirty-one clubs at the peak of his career. For Harry Varden it was six. Now, thank heaven, it's a to use more than fourteen clubs.

My son who hits off a +1.6 HCP, tells me, “Dad, it’s not the arrow, it’s the Indian.” He scored his first ace on a Par-3 with a seven iron he was playing a 9-hole round with (one club) when he was fifteen. That's what the pro is telling you... It doesn't matter what club you put in his hand, he's the better Indian. He has challenged you with a 6-iron... That is psych-out number one. He's got you thinking. And, now you're asking us? All that needs to really be asked is... What do you think?

Good luck! Remember old man par...

Yeah my money is on the pro, I watched my buddy, a 3 or 4 handicap, get mad after the front nine go by the car and put his bag away and came out with one ball and 7 iron and shot even par, that's not a bet I would take if you are a 9 handicap against a 0-3 handicap. Unless the bet is a small amount anyway. Sounds like the type of guy who would probably remind you from time to time that he whooped you with a 6 iron, and most likely in the presence of others.

How much was the bet for?

You know, it doesn't matter, because as soon as you start playing he will start throwing all sorts of bet options at you. He'll sandbag, get behind and then ask to double down, so many tricks which will end up expanding the bet a great deal. You want to keep the match friendly, and of course you feel a bit guilty for having such an advantage, so he will have the psychological advantage over you and you will have a hard time saying, "NO" to all his options. You're walking into a minefield. But if you have a lot of cash to lose, it will be an amazing experience, a great story to tell, as long as you don't mind losing and telling people about it.

Iv'e already posted on page one, but a 6 iron seems like BS to me. An 8 iron would be the better choice.

What course are you playing?

Best of luck against Tin Cup.