When Money Is On The Line

[dhc1]

> @TheCityGame said:

> > @dhc1 said:

> > For those who play better with money on the line, do you play for real money? Real money is different for each person but as Michael Jordan states,”it’s the dollar amount that makes you uncomfortable.”

> >

> > Wouldn’t that be the best way to hone your competitive instincts? What does a small dollar amount really mean if it’s not meaningful? If it’s not a meaningful amount, my group is still likely to give missable putts to our opponents (2-3 footers). Is it any different from having to do X number of push-ups if you lose a match?

>

> Just because the money isn't "meaningful" in life doesn't mean winning money isn't meaningful. You might be playing golf with a buddy for 5 bucks, but you wouldn't walk up to the same guy and go, "give me 5 bucks" and expect him to just give you five dollars no questions asked. Money means something by its very nature.

>

> You sit down at a poker table for matchsticks and you might as well see every single hand to the end. You face a couple bucks to stay in and all of a sudden, you're not going to see if your _king high_ holds up. You don't throw away 2 dollars just because you can.

>

> Same with golf. It's completely absurd to try to get a ball in a hole in a prescribed number of shots. It's slightly less absurd when trying to do it in fewer strokes than some other guy. It actually starts to mean something when you're trying to get the ball in the hole in fewer strokes than him and you have money riding on it.

>

> If I'm out with a friend playing for 0 cents, I'm picking up my 2 footer without regard to his opinion. If we're playing for 1 cent, I'm not doing that.

 

Let me understand your point better. If you're playing for a penny, do you give putts that are 2 feet away? Does that change if its for $20, $200 or $2,000? It also sounds like you would take putts if there's no money on the line - I'm probably less likely to take a 2-3 footer when there's not money as I always want to practice those.

 

Lastly, would you feel any different if you bet that you had to do 10 pushups if you lost?

[TheCityGame]

> @dhc1 said:

> > @TheCityGame said:

> > > @dhc1 said:

> > > For those who play better with money on the line, do you play for real money? Real money is different for each person but as Michael Jordan states,”it’s the dollar amount that makes you uncomfortable.”

> > >

> > > Wouldn’t that be the best way to hone your competitive instincts? What does a small dollar amount really mean if it’s not meaningful? If it’s not a meaningful amount, my group is still likely to give missable putts to our opponents (2-3 footers). Is it any different from having to do X number of push-ups if you lose a match?

> >

> > Just because the money isn't "meaningful" in life doesn't mean winning money isn't meaningful. You might be playing golf with a buddy for 5 bucks, but you wouldn't walk up to the same guy and go, "give me 5 bucks" and expect him to just give you five dollars no questions asked. Money means something by its very nature.

> >

> > You sit down at a poker table for matchsticks and you might as well see every single hand to the end. You face a couple bucks to stay in and all of a sudden, you're not going to see if your _king high_ holds up. You don't throw away 2 dollars just because you can.

> >

> > Same with golf. It's completely absurd to try to get a ball in a hole in a prescribed number of shots. It's slightly less absurd when trying to do it in fewer strokes than some other guy. It actually starts to mean something when you're trying to get the ball in the hole in fewer strokes than him and you have money riding on it.

> >

> > If I'm out with a friend playing for 0 cents, I'm picking up my 2 footer without regard to his opinion. If we're playing for 1 cent, I'm not doing that.

>

> Let me understand your point better. If you're playing for a penny, do you give putts that are 2 feet away? Does that change if its for $20, $200 or $2,000? It also sounds like you would take putts if there's no money on the line - I'm probably less likely to take a 2-3 footer when there's not money as I always want to practice those.

>

> Lastly, would you feel any different if you bet that you had to do 10 pushups if you lost?

 

If I'm playing for a penny, or for $2000, whether I give the 2 foot putt is situational. If I'm playing for $0, I don't care if the guy picks up a 20 foot putt.

 

I'm probably less likely to take a 2-3 footer when there's no money on the line because I'm practicing golf. I'm not playing golf. I'm hitting a 2-3 footer to practice for my next tournament, or next money game.

 

Well, I would never play a guy for 10 pushups. That's a bet where there is only downside risk. If I lose the bet, I have to do 10 pushups. If I win the bet, I get nothing.

 

If we had a bet where the loser has to do 10 pushups, but the winner receives something of value, then I would feel similar.

 

It's also a weird question because I do push-ups somewhat regularly for my own benefit. I see pushups as a benefit, not a cost.

 

If you want to change it to something like "loser has to get his head shaved", again, I wouldn't enter into that bet, unless I got something of value if I won. Like I get to keep his hair for my growing collection of human hair.

[gioguy21]

as a low handicapper -- when it comes to betting; i tend to be more oprah-at-christmas than i am a collector.

 

we have a ryder cup event this weekend and it's $75/man plus $20 for birdie pool for each day...it's not bad considering the course(s) give us a break on the cost of greens fees.

[dhc1]

> @TheCityGame said:

> > @dhc1 said:

> > > @TheCityGame said:

> > > > @dhc1 said:

> > > > For those who play better with money on the line, do you play for real money? Real money is different for each person but as Michael Jordan states,”it’s the dollar amount that makes you uncomfortable.”

> > > >

> > > > Wouldn’t that be the best way to hone your competitive instincts? What does a small dollar amount really mean if it’s not meaningful? If it’s not a meaningful amount, my group is still likely to give missable putts to our opponents (2-3 footers). Is it any different from having to do X number of push-ups if you lose a match?

> > >

> > > Just because the money isn't "meaningful" in life doesn't mean winning money isn't meaningful. You might be playing golf with a buddy for 5 bucks, but you wouldn't walk up to the same guy and go, "give me 5 bucks" and expect him to just give you five dollars no questions asked. Money means something by its very nature.

> > >

> > > You sit down at a poker table for matchsticks and you might as well see every single hand to the end. You face a couple bucks to stay in and all of a sudden, you're not going to see if your _king high_ holds up. You don't throw away 2 dollars just because you can.

> > >

> > > Same with golf. It's completely absurd to try to get a ball in a hole in a prescribed number of shots. It's slightly less absurd when trying to do it in fewer strokes than some other guy. It actually starts to mean something when you're trying to get the ball in the hole in fewer strokes than him and you have money riding on it.

> > >

> > > If I'm out with a friend playing for 0 cents, I'm picking up my 2 footer without regard to his opinion. If we're playing for 1 cent, I'm not doing that.

> >

> > Let me understand your point better. If you're playing for a penny, do you give putts that are 2 feet away? Does that change if its for $20, $200 or $2,000? It also sounds like you would take putts if there's no money on the line - I'm probably less likely to take a 2-3 footer when there's not money as I always want to practice those.

> >

> > Lastly, would you feel any different if you bet that you had to do 10 pushups if you lost?

>

> If I'm playing for a penny, or for $2000, whether I give the 2 foot putt is situational. If I'm playing for $0, I don't care if the guy picks up a 20 foot putt.

>

> I'm probably less likely to take a 2-3 footer when there's no money on the line because I'm practicing golf. I'm not playing golf. I'm hitting a 2-3 footer to practice for my next tournament, or next money game.

>

> Well, I would never play a guy for 10 pushups. That's a bet where there is only downside risk. If I lose the bet, I have to do 10 pushups. If I win the bet, I get nothing.

>

> If we had a bet where the loser has to do 10 pushups, but the winner receives something of value, then I would feel similar.

>

> It's also a weird question because I do push-ups somewhat regularly for my own benefit. I see pushups as a benefit, not a cost.

>

> If you want to change it to something like "loser has to get his head shaved", again, I wouldn't enter into that bet, unless I got something of value if I won. Like I get to keep his hair for my growing collection of human hair.

 

The point of the OP was that playing for money makes you a "better golfer" as you concentrate more. Perhaps for some people, but for serious golfers, I'm not so sure.

If concentration was peaked by the dollar amount, I'd imagine one would play better the more the amount of money on the line.

For me, when I'm playing for small stakes (as I usually do), it doesn't have much on an impact on how I play or if I give putts (i'm pretty generous except maybe on the last hole). Could just be me as I care far more about winning a golf shirt from a fraternity brother in our annual bet than I do about winning a 6-figure calcutta. I would thoroughly enjoy watching my friends doing push-ups after losing quite a bit and would play hard to avoid the same fate.

[RichieRichAus]

My mate and I have a bottle of wine on each game. It definitely helps keep you focused, especially if you're not even playing well and are out of contention to win the club comp for the day.

There's nothing like being in 25 points for the day but still playing to win.

Longer term, it helps build the resilience to pressure for when it really matters in a tournament.

 

Plus it's just fun!

[northgolf]

> @Soloman1 said:

> Michael Jordan is a compulsive gambler, which is different behavior than most golfers playing a $5 - $20 Nassau with two down automatics.

 

When I was in Chapel Hill, Jordan was carrying a vanity 7 cap (13 was more realistic) and he loved to bet big. He was a famous pigeon in those days. I think it took him until his thirties to give up the vanity.

[dhc1]

> @northgolf said:

> > @Soloman1 said:

> > Michael Jordan is a compulsive gambler, which is different behavior than most golfers playing a $5 - $20 Nassau with two down automatics.

>

> When I was in Chapel Hill, Jordan was carrying a vanity 7 cap (13 was more realistic) and he loved to bet big. He was a famous pigeon in those days. I think it took him until his thirties to give up the vanity.

 

I think that at least 2/3rd of the players in any net tournament have no chance because they have a vanity handicap. The guys to watch out for are the guys who burn the edge on putts when they aren't needed but drop it in the cup when they need a putt.

[Sweetdraw]

that's interesting....guys that up the handicap to get more $$$. opposite of vanity cap.