high school golfer turned down 5,000

[motteler621]

Just read a story of a high school kid who won 5,000 in a putting contest but didnt take the money or he wouldnt be able to play college golf. Whats bad about it is hes a college freshman and no school wants to recruit him to play. He still made the right decision though

http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/Prep-golfer-wins-5-000-then-promptly-turns-it-?urn=highschool-wp2983

[BigTazz53]

Good choice, but if he had no desire to claim the prize why place oneself in a situation to have to make a tough choice.

Especially in this economic time.

[shades9323]

Originally Posted by BigTazz53

Good choice, but if he had no desire to claim the prize why place oneself in a situation to have to make a tough choice.

Especially in this economic time.

Because he wanted to win.  It isn't always about the money.

[shades9323]

Oops, forgot the multiquote.  Oh well

motteler, he is a HS freshman, not a college freshman.  He has plenty of time to impress scouts.

Originally Posted by motteler621

Whats bad about it is hes a college freshman and no school wants to recruit him to play. He still made the right decision though

http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/Prep-golfer-wins-5-000-then-promptly-turns-it-?urn=highschool-wp2983

[WUTiger]

A couple of years ago in Oklahoma, a HS junior was playing in a scramble and made a natural hole-in-one. Prize was a $35,000 pickup truck. He "turned pro" and took the truck.

[Shindig]

A couple of years ago in Oklahoma, a HS junior was playing in a scramble and made a natural hole-in-one. Prize was a $35,000 pickup truck. He "turned pro" and took the truck.

Jason Bohn won a lot more than a truck for a hole in one that turned him pro. I thought hole-in-one prizes no longer counted against amateur status (not that I'm at any risk).

[Clambake]

You're right that there is an exception for hole-in-one contests now, but not for things like a putting contest.

3-2. Prize Money

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 USGA. This limit applies to the total prizes or prize vouchers received by an amateur golfer in any one competition or series of competitions.

Exception: A prize, including a cash prize, for a hole-in-one made while playing golf may exceed the above prize limit.

[jamo]

I have to say, I've never considered myself a sell-out, but I would have taken the $35,000 pickup that WUTiger mentioned (and then sold it), even if it meant giving up my amateur status (which the post above this establishes it does not). With that kind of cash, I could pay back all of my current and future student loans and then some. I probably would have turned down the $5,000 though. $5,000 is nice, but over the course of your life it probably won't make or break you (or at least that's my hope).

[BigTazz53]

Originally Posted by shades9323

Because he wanted to win.  It isn't always about the money.

It was a putting contest with a money prize to the winner of the contest. If winning this contest wasn't about money just the honor of winning then I hope

after he sank the putt he immediately announced he didn't want the money and the contest continued on, other wise the people yet to putt in this contest would not have putted.

And as I read it it sounded like he made it and won...contest over.

Who knows maybe someone else who hadn't tried yet could have made it.

Again, I think he did the right thing, but I wouldn't have placed myself in such a pickle just to say I won.

[michaeljames92]

Couldn't you win the money, then revoke your pro status? Or is there some sort of time you have to wait...

[mihi4]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clambake

You're right that there is an exception for hole-in-one contests now, but not for things like a putting contest.

3-2. Prize Money

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 USGA. This limit applies to the total prizes or prize vouchers received by an amateur golfer in any one competition or series of competitions.

Exception: A prize, including a cash prize, for a hole-in-one made while playing golf may exceed the above prize limit.

Wow, that's interesting - there's a difference between the rules of the USGA and the R&A; in this matter.

Here's Rule 3-2 of the R&A;:

Quote:

a. General
An amateur golfer must not accept a prize (other than a symbolic prize) or prize voucher of retail value in excess of £500 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, excluding any hole-in-one prize (see Rule 3-2b ).

b. Hole-in-One Prizes
The limits prescribed in Rule 3-2a apply to a prize for a hole-in-one. However, such a prize may be accepted in addition to any other prize won in the same competition.

Sadly, a friend of mine, who won EUR 100.000,- in a HIO-contest lost his amateur status because he lives here in Europe and not in the US.

[mihi4]

Originally Posted by michaeljames92

Couldn't you win the money, then revoke your pro status? Or is there some sort of time you have to wait...

My friend (see posting above) has to wait for 2 years until his amateur status will be revoked...

greetings

michi

[shades9323]

Originally Posted by BigTazz53

It was a putting contest with a money prize to the winner of the contest. If winning this contest wasn't about money just the honor of winning then I hope

after he sank the putt he immediately announced he didn't want the money and the contest continued on, other wise the people yet to putt in this contest would not have putted.

And as I read it it sounded like he made it and won...contest over.

Who knows maybe someone else who hadn't tried yet could have made it.

Again, I think he did the right thing, but I wouldn't have placed myself in such a pickle just to say I won.

So, because there is prize money involved, an amateur shouldn't compete?  Are you saying all the amateur's that just played in the U.S. Open shouldn't have played if they wanted to retain their amateur status? That is just silly. Contests are about winning and becoming the champ, the monetary prize is secondary.

Originally Posted by jamo

I have to say, I've never considered myself a sell-out, but I would have taken the $35,000 pickup that WUTiger mentioned (and then sold it), even if it meant giving up my amateur status (which the post above this establishes it does not). With that kind of cash, I could pay back all of my current and future student loans and then some. I probably would have turned down the $5,000 though. $5,000 is nice, but over the course of your life it probably won't make or break you (or at least that's my hope).

You would get a good chunk of change from that, but not as much as you think. That $35k truck will cost you about $6k in taxes on your federal income tax return.  Plus whatever titling fees that you have to pay in the state in which you reside. You can then add in another $3.5k in depreciation driving it off the lot. That left over $25k would be better put into an investment vehicle for your retiremet than paying back your current and future student loans.

[ochmude]

This is one rule that really makes no sense to me.  I would certainly understand and agree if the rule applied solely to prize money awarded as a result of performance in a stipulated round.  Losing amateur status for winning a putting contest, though, just seems stupid to me.

[JoelCochran]

Originally Posted by ochmude

This is one rule that really makes no sense to me.  I would certainly understand and agree if the rule applied solely to prize money awarded as a result of performance in a stipulated round.  Losing amateur status for winning a putting contest, though, just seems stupid to me.

I agree completely.  I think this is an antiquated rule.  What magically happens between $750 and $751 to make you lose your amateur status?  What if your local member-guest had a $1,000 prize (putting contest, long drive, best net, etc.) - technically by accepting it the member would no longer be eligible to even maintain a USGA handicap.

I think the event itself should be labeled a "professional" event in order for prize money to affect amateur status.  This would include exhibitions, tournements, Skins matches, etc. Under that guise, monies awarded for appearance fees, prize winnings, and endorsements would affect Amateur status.  In other words, unless the player is earning part or all of his income from playing golf then he is a professional, otherwise it should not be an issue.

[Shindig]

Sadly, a friend of mine, who won EUR 100.000,- in a HIO-contest lost his amateur status because he lives here in Europe and not in the US.

The question is, would he still be considered an amateur in the United States, even though he wouldn't be one in Europe? [quote name="JoelCochran" url="/forum/thread/47653/high-school-golfer-turned-down-5-000#post_616252"]

I agree completely.  I think this is an antiquated rule.  What magically happens between $750 and $751 to make you lose your amateur status?  What if your local member-guest had a $1,000 prize (putting contest, long drive, best net, etc.) - technically by accepting it the member would no longer be eligible to even maintain a USGA handicap.

[/quote] It isn't that there is something magical in that extra dollar, it's that there has to be a cut-off somewhere. The advantage of a hard rule is you don't have a gray area. Also, I think professionals are allowed to maintain handicaps. They just can't compete in amateur events, which usually includes club things. I am pretty sure that Ben, a professional who is on this site regularly, maintains a SCGA handicap.

[JoelCochran]

Originally Posted by Shindig

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoelCochran

I agree completely.  I think this is an antiquated rule.  What magically happens between $750 and $751 to make you lose your amateur status?  What if your local member-guest had a $1,000 prize (putting contest, long drive, best net, etc.) - technically by accepting it the member would no longer be eligible to even maintain a USGA handicap.

It isn't that there is something magical in that extra dollar, it's that there has to be a cut-off somewhere. The advantage of a hard rule is you don't have a gray area.

Also, I think professionals are allowed to maintain handicaps. They just can't compete in amateur events, which usually includes club things. I am pretty sure that Ben, a professional who is on this site regularly, maintains a SCGA handicap.

The disadvantage of a hard rule is no leeway for obvious exceptions.  It just seems to me they could come up with something more flexible that would not violate the spirit of the rule.  As for the handicap, that's not really the issue I was trying to highlight and I might well be wrong about that.  My point is that I can conceive of a situation like the putting contest from the OP that really shouldn't affect amateur status, but because of the hard rule has no alternative.

[ochmude]

The thing is, under the current rules and decisions, someone who doesn't even own a set of clubs can "go pro" with a lucky putt on the showroom floor of a car dealership.  Should you really have your amateur status revoked for something that is essentially no different that getting the ball into the clown's mouth on the 18th in a round of mini-golf?

If you want a hard rule, I think you should at least include the requirement that the prize be directly the result of a score posted at the conclusion of a stipulated round.  Singular occurrences during that stipulated round (like an ace) or entirely outside of a stipulated round, such as a long putt or hole in one contest, which result in prizes over $750 should not affect amateur status.  This is just my opinion, though. It's certainly possible that I don't fully understand the USGA's intent as to why the rule is written as it is.