Amateur Status violation?

To be clear, this event is not at Prairie Dunes or promoted by Prairie Dunes

This may sound like a silly question but does it make a difference that a 4 man scramble isn't really a game of golf (i.e. played under the rules of golf) and is really just a gambling event?

This is interesting point. As scramble is not played under (full) RoG, why would it affect amateur status?

It would seem so. From the Rules on Amateur Status

An amateur golfer, whether he plays competitively or recreationally, is one who plays golf for the challenge it presents, not as a profession and not for financial gain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by luu5

This is interesting point. As scramble is not played under (full) RoG, why would it affect amateur status?

It would seem so. From the Rules on Amateur Status

An amateur golfer, whether he plays competitively or recreationally, is one who plays golf for the challenge it presents, not as a profession and not for financial gain.

But the rules don't even recognize a scramble as golf, so how can it be considered as earning money at golf?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fourputt

But the rules don't even recognize a scramble as golf, so how can it be considered as earning money at golf?

The Rules of Golf and the Rules of Amateur Status are two separate entities. There is nothing in the RoG about Amateur status

Of course the Game of Golf consists of playing a ball with a club from the Teeing Ground into the Hole by a Stroke or successive Strokes in accordance with the Rules. That does not mean that if a player breaches a Rule, he is not playing golf.

Scrambles are not 'not recognised'. It simply that the format is not specified in the Definitions and that inherently, Rules will be breached when being played. If play is conducted other than in accordance with the Rules of Golf, the Rules of Golf Committee will not give a decision on any question. 'Conducted' means that the committee has determined that the R0G will not be followed not that individual players may or may not breach a rule.

The distinction between playing for prize money, which violates the Rules of Amateur Status, and gambling, which does not, is essential to the Rules of Amateur Status. The USGA urges amateur golfers to seek USGA guidance whenever it is unclear whether the prize format constitutes playing for prize money or gambling and, in the absence of such guidance, not to play for cash prizes. Such a course of action would ensure that no one jeopardizes his amateur status.

The USGA does not object to informal gambling or wagering among individual golfers or teams of golfers when the players in general know each other, participation in the wagering is optional and is limited to the players, the sole source of all money won by the players is advanced by the players on themselves or their own teams and the amount of money involved is not generally considered excessive such that the primary purpose is the playing of the game for enjoyment.

On the other hand, organized events open to the general public and designed or promoted to create cash prizes are not approved by the USGA. Golfers participating in such events without first irrevocably waiving their right to prize money are deemed by the USGA to be playing for prize money, in breach of Rule 3-1.

The USGA is opposed to and urges its Member Clubs, all golf associations and all other sponsors of golf competitions to prohibit types of gambling such as: (1) Calcuttas, (2) other auction pools, (3) pari-mutuels and (4) any other forms of gambling organized for general participation or permitting participants to bet on someone other than themselves or their teams. The USGA may inform players they have forfeited their amateur status or deny entry in USGA Championships and membership on USGA teams for international competitions to players whose activities in connection with golf gambling, whether organized or individual, are considered by the USGA to be contrary to the best interests of golf.