Why Does a Big Money Amateur Event Not Exist?

[iacas]

33 minutes ago, Jay Chizza said:

I'm sorry the idea ruffled your feathers.

More assumptions. It did not.

33 minutes ago, Jay Chizza said:

Try not to let the innocuous ideas that strangers post on the internet ruffle your feathers.

Stop.

33 minutes ago, Jay Chizza said:

Figure out HOW you can make something like this work

I have better things to do.

[leftybutnotPM]

14 hours ago, Jay Chizza said:

I've made my living off this motto "there's riches in the niches."  

 

Your whole premise is arse up.

The point of handicaps is to bring scores together, not to separate them. 

Handicapped events exist for the OPPOSITE reason that you propose. I mean, you're seriously suggesting that some "rich Saudis" finance a tournament so that a 24 handicap golfer can claim to be  a better handicap golfer than a 17 handicapper? 

You think that there aren't clowns out there who'd manipulate their HC?

Methinks you have too much time on your hands.

If you want to have golfers competing on a completely level playing field, just turn pro and go and play in some tournaments and see how you go. Your 68 will beat my 73 every time.

 

Edited February 27, 2020 by leftybutnotPM

[boogielicious]

2 hours ago, Jay Chizza said:

Thank you for demonstrating expert status on a brain fart a stranger on the internet posted to a forum. I'm sorry the idea ruffled your feathers.  Try not to let the innocuous ideas that strangers post on the internet ruffle your feathers.  Those birdies you'll be making for the rest of your golfing life need those feathers.

Additionally, would you say it takes creativity to become a professional golfer and be out on tour?  I hear it on TV all the time, most recently about how creative Patrick Reed is around the greens after his recent win. If you agree that it requires creativity, then perhaps turn your thinking cap on in reverse, and play a brain game with yourself... Figure out HOW you can make something like this work... Not why it can't, won't, will never work.

How does a group of Rich Saudi's who start this prevent someone like you from posting an 18 handicap and robbing me?  Should this group of rich Saudi's insist that only tournament rounds count towards your handicap?  Would that force people to post honest scores and eliminate the "rounds with their buddies?"  

I'm able to think about this from all angles. Why this can't work, why it can work.  I can do so without any biases or emotions.  My creativity puts food on the table... 

That said, this exercise won't be meant for you to "change your mind." Rather, it will help you to control your emotions and biases and empower you to critically examine ideas strangers post on the internet from all angels..  That's a powerful mental skill to have.  
 

 

I’m not sure if you are really reading what folks have been writing. No one’s feathers are ruffled. No one is incensed by your idea. No one is insulted that you don’t agree with them. They all just think it is not a workable idea in the long run and have stated so with specific reasons.

Please don’t insert emotion when reading posts. 

[Shermanator]

I think if you wanted to continue actual discussions on making this viable, you'd have to first address how to get the USGA to lighten up their rules on amateur vs pro status and the prizes you're allowed to win, which if I'm reading correctly, is only $750. 

Without that rule change, other conversations are pointless. I'd love to see bigger amateur events, but it just won't happen because as others have pointed out, the rules don't allow it. 

https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules/rules-of-amateur-status.html#!rule-03

 

Quote

 

3-2. Prize Limits

 a. General

An amateur golfer must not accept a prize (other than a symbolic prize) or prize voucher of retail value in excess of $750 or the equivalent, or such a lesser figure as may be decided by the Governing Body. This limit applies to the total prizes or prize vouchers received by an amateur golfer in any one competition or series of competitions.

Exception: Hole-in-one prizes - see Rule 3-2b.

Note 1: The prize limits apply to any form of golf competition, whether on a golf course, driving range or golf simulator, including nearest the hole and longest drive competitions.

Note 2: The responsibility to prove the retail value of a particular prize rests with the Committee in charge of the competition.

Note 3: It is recommended that the total value of prizes in a gross competition, or each division of a handicap competition, should not exceed twice the prescribed limit in an 18-hole competition, three times in a 36-hole competition, five times in a 54-hole competition and six times in a 72-hole competition.

 

 

[mcanadiens]

If there is a market here at all, it is the hardcore gambler.  Certain types will gamble on anything. 

Forget sponsors and forget the USGA. We are talking about guys willing to put up big chunks of their own money. These are guys that won't really give a crap about their amateur status.

The really hard part is how you assure all these guys that the other guys are playing on a level and their HI is legitimate.  

Like I told the OP, security will be necessary.

[Pretzel]

In terms of a business proposition, this doesn't make as much sense as a large and low-stakes operation (such as the Myrtle Beach WorldAM). You're looking to profit off gambling which means you can learn a lot from the casino industry, and the thing about casinos is that only a very small percentage of their business is from the high rollers willing to make large bets. More than 65% of casino revenue comes directly from slot machines, because everybody can afford them and people can put their money in quickly.

The number of people willing to bet in quantities that large is, quite simply, staggeringly small. Casinos know this, and its why they focus on increasing revenue and players for their slots machines rather than advertising lavish benefits for high rollers. A more prudent business idea would be a more widespread series of tournaments you host, focusing heavily on local advertising on nearby courses and pricing entry at only 10-15% above the cost of greens fees. You'll make less money per tournament, for certain, but smaller tournaments like that often fill to capacity when they look like fun and don't break the bank. You can also host many, many more of them in a year.

I have no doubt there are people around the world willing to ante up for a $10,000 buy-in for a tournament. My doubt is that you would be able to reach enough of them without specific connections to make the event a reality. Among the people willing to pay that kind of entry fee, you'll find an even smaller percentage of them willing to do that without being wined and dined or given lavish benefits at the tournament itself. Most of the people with that kind of disposable income are entering this kind of tournament for fun, not because they are looking to turn a profit, and their expectations for the destination, food, and events off the course will reflect that. The people willing to make that buy-in for the money alone, and play a fairly standard course with no events outside of the golf itself, are a minority among the already small minority willing or able to pay the price of entry among the minority of people worldwide who even golf to start with. You're literally looking for the minority within the minority within the minority, which isn't impossible but does become prohibitively expensive without the right connections.

This isn't trying to earn riches from the niches so much as it is trying to find 20 or more needles in a haystack.