Is This Protocol (Paying a Pro's Fee in a Weekly Game)???????

[Golfer6760]

Hello Everyone

During the summer months I play at a local 9 hole 6K yard course. On weekends a group of approx. 24 guys get together and play a quota match. We get paired up and play the field. The quota entry fee is $20 where 50% of the purse goes to the individual winners & the other 50% go to the best team.

Last weekend I was paired up with our Assistant Pro at the club who is seeking his PGA membership and hopes to become a full member by the end of the season. He's a nice young gentleman and hits a pretty decent ball.

After the round I asked the assistant for his $20 anti in to the pool. He told me he doesn't pay. I said Huh!!!!  He replied his partner puts up his money for his game. :-o

I asked the person running the game and he said it's protocol that the partner of the Assistant or Pro put up his portion as respect. I am still baffled by that one.

So, is this so called common protocol???? Maybe if he was Greg Norman or Tiger Woods I'd agree. But this kid is nothing more than a PGA apprentice.

He shot a 74 with no strokes to the field. I wasn't impressed.

Also, would he have a Ghin #??? I couldn't find his past scores or Handicap on line.

I would love to hear your opinion :-)

[David in FL]

Huh? If you win, do you get all the winnings, or does he still get half? Regardless, it's ridiculous and I'd refuse to be his partner under any circumstances.

[vangator]

I'd tell him my protocol about "kissing my ---". If you can't pay, don't play. I might pay this one time, but in the future I'dsay he's got to pay his own way or he needs to find a different partner.

[Hammer 4]

I'd tell him my protocol about "kissing my ---". If you can't pay, don't play.

Good one vangator...

[Aguirre]

I'd tell him to borrow the $20 I paid his wife last night.

[MS256]

Not a chance in the world I would pay his part even if it was Greg Norman or Tiger Woods. They can more afford it than I can plus they would be getting the thrill of playing with me. ;-)

[Shorty]

I love they way he told you he doesn't pay. What a joke. If it is the protocol, how and why did it start? Because some pro though he was too special. And what about the "respect" thing!!!!! If he was a half decent person he would have ponied up, just to save the embarrassment.

[Golfer6760]

I get the impression some members feel it's a privilege to play with a decent player. I'm wasn't impressed . I was waiting for some members to remind me to kiss his ring IMO he's just an employee of the private club I belong to. "Go get my bag son"

I did learn one thing. The next time I'll say "I'm Out" for the game and play with others.

[newtogolf]

Did he provide you any golf instruction while he was your partner?  Our club has a similar deal, but you pay for the pro to join you and he plays but also helps you out with course management and some comments on your swing.  At the end of the round he reviews some video of your swings with you and offers some drills to work on as well.

[caniac6]

I would not have paid, and if they gave me a hard time about it, I would not have paid for myself, and walked away. I am really against employees of a private club, especially pros, playing in money games against the members.If some guy takes the members money, it could create some hard feelings. If some pro did something questionable, it could affect his future career.That situation sounds like trouble waiting to happen.

[march11934]

Sounds like someone owe's you a 20 spot.

[DocWu1948]

Have you been playing this weekly game for a while? If that's their protocol, then you have to abide by their rules, but I really I think they should have told you before you before the luck of the draw happened.

I suppose the Pro doesn't pay, but he doesn't collect either? And having him on your team gives you odds to take half the pot? Only reason I can see for him getting a pass.

[Strandly]

Hello Everyone

During the summer months I play at a local 9 hole 6K yard course. On weekends a group of approx. 24 guys get together and play a quota match. We get paired up and play the field. The quota entry fee is $20 where 50% of the purse goes to the individual winners & the other 50% go to the best team.

Last weekend I was paired up with our Assistant Pro at the club who is seeking his PGA membership and hopes to become a full member by the end of the season. He's a nice young gentleman and hits a pretty decent ball.

After the round I asked the assistant for his $20 anti in to the pool. He told me he doesn't pay. I said Huh!!!!  He replied his partner puts up his money for his game. :-o

I asked the person running the game and he said it's protocol that the partner of the Assistant or Pro put up his portion as respect. I am still baffled by that one.

So, is this so called common protocol???? Maybe if he was Greg Norman or Tiger Woods I'd agree. But this kid is nothing more than a PGA apprentice.

He shot a 74 with no strokes to the field. I wasn't impressed.

Also, would he have a Ghin #??? I couldn't find his past scores or Handicap on line.

I would love to hear your opinion :-)

What is this the mafia?  I woulda told them to lick my balls.

[late347]

What is this the mafia?  I woulda told them to lick my balls.

yea it does sounds like extortion really...

simply put, they expected him, to pay for the entrance fee of himself (fine) AND also the assistant pro's entrance fee (not cool)

yea, in poker for example, you have ante bets, at the beginning, and everybody contributes for himself.

[LBlack14]

[VIDEO]http://youtu.be/_Op-YRpAsv4[/VIDEO]

[Patch]

I played in a tournament a few years ago and was paired with the club pro. I did not know I had to pay his entry until we all settled up at the end of the round. Entry fee for that tourney was $50.00 each. When told I had to pay my partner's fees because he was the club pro, I refused, and stated I should have been notified before hand of this scenario. I also showed them our score card where I shot a a 73, and the club pro had shot a 75. I was told I would not be allowed to play in that tournament next year unless I payed. I still didn't pay, and still played in the same tournament the next year where I won a bag full of Hogan Apex Forged irons. No one remembered the previous year.

[Divotmaker77]

Would you pay the Pro's entry fee if it is a Pro Am tournament? Someone at my club invited me to play in one awhile back but said I had to pay my portion of the pro's share of the entry fee.

[phan52]

I think it was tacky for the kid to have to bring it up, but I have played a lot of golf with young pros and we always pick up their expenses, even paying for their caddie fees, if applicable (most golf clubs don't charge them a green or cart fee). We don't do it for established guys, and they would never ask, but young kids, yeah, pay their expenses for them.

We even have an education fund at our club to help them with expenses to gain their A-1 status, if they haven't already.