Celebrity Golf question ...

[Rhody31]

Do the celebrities who play in the various tournaments win money? Or does it all go to charity?
I ask because one of the Celebrity Tour golfers is set to play in a state amateur stroke play event; I would think winning money would make him ineligible for play. I've googled the crap out of it and it lists career winnings for celebrities, but it didn't say how much was actually theirs or what went to charity.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

They are prolly paid an appearance fee.

 

[trifectarich]

If the player accepted prize money, he forfeits his amateur status and he most definitely cannot play in the state amateur. Some celebrities know the rules of amateur status and play with professionals but under the condition that they are not playing for prize money; that's perfectly acceptable.

 

[playthrough]

There is an actual Celebrity Tour (the one that has its championship at Tahoe) and that's real money.

There is a cutoff for money, something like if you take more than $600 or $800 cash, you're considered a "pro." Makes for an interesting discussion because if some terrible hack wins $10,000 in a hole-in-one contest, by the rules, he's not an amateur anymore even though he's no more of a "pro" than my 5-year-old kid.

 

[trifectarich]

You're a pro even if you accept a penny in prize money. An amateur can accept a prize voucher with a value no greater than $750; more often than not, this comes in the form of a gift certificate the player can use for merchandise in the golf shop. And, no, an amateur can't exchange the prize voucher for cash.

 

[hondo]

Guys like Rick Rhoden (who once got his Champions Tour card for a year or two) can win around $250,000 per year if they play enough events.
The hole-in-one prize thing is true, as per playthrough. True story, from our area: kid who just graduated from high school wins a Ford truck for making a hole in one at a big charity tournament. Tournament officials tell him he will forfeit his amateur status if he takes it (he had a scholarship to an SEC school also, which would have been forfeited). Kid turns it down but ask the tournament director if he can drive the truck around the parking lot one time.

Guy says, "no, takes keys and leaves.

Also, be forewarned: if you win a car at a charity tournament, you've got to pay the sales tax before taking possession. Do the math for a good car. How many of us have that laying around?

 

[Rhody31]

Playthrough - thanks for the help.
Hondo - that's why at tournaments with a hole in one prize, I always miss on purpose. I'd hate to have the burden of that decision on my shoulders.

 

[TwoGloves]

You're a pro even if you accept a penny in prize money. An amateur can accept a prize voucher with a value no greater than $750; more often than not, this comes in the form of a gift certificate the player can use for merchandise in the golf shop. And, no, an amateur can't exchange the prize voucher for cash.

Don't kid yourself. A lot of them get that $750 in cash.

 

[Rhody31]

The celebrity in question is Mike Schmidt. Talked to him today and he said he got his amateur status back July 17 of this year. This was his first tourney since getting his status back.
He shot 3 over, but is seven shots off the lead; with 36 holes tomorrow, plenty of time to get back in it.

 

[playthrough]

Lots of ex-ballplayers have visions of the Champions Tour. They have no idea how hard it is just to crack that circuit, much less stay there.

 

[Rhody31]

Lots of ex-ballplayers have visions of the Champions Tour. They have no idea how hard it is just to crack that circuit, much less stay there.

That's what Schmidt said.

 

[da man]

There is an actual Celebrity Tour (the one that has its championship at Tahoe) and that's real money.

There is a cutoff for money, something like if you take more than $600 or $800 cash, you're considered a "pro." Makes for an interesting discussion because if some terrible hack wins $10,000 in a hole-in-one contest, by the rules, he's not an amateur anymore even though he's no more of a "pro" than my 5-year-old kid.

In 1992, Jason Bohn was on the Alabama golf team and won $1 million with a hole-in-one in a promotional event. He called his father and said, "Dad, I've got some good news and some bad news. The bad news is I'm off the golf team. The good news is I'm the fourth-leading money-winner on the PGA Tour."

 

[playthrough]

One of the all-time great stories. His 20-year-long payoff from that ace is just now running out, but he's plenty secure on the PGA Tour, having won last year.

 

[hondo]

You're a pro even if you accept a penny in prize money. An amateur can accept a prize voucher with a value no greater than $750; more often than not, this comes in the form of a gift certificate the player can use for merchandise in the golf shop. And, no, an amateur can't exchange the prize voucher for cash.

Don't kid yourself. A lot of them get that $750 in cash.

No they don't. Unlike the NCAA, golf organizations zealously guard amateur status.

 

[hondo]

Lots of ex-ballplayers have visions of the Champions Tour. They have no idea how hard it is just to crack that circuit, much less stay there.

At least three of them have had a cup of coffee: Rhoden, John Brodie and Ralph Terry. And Brodie won a Champions Tour event in the early years.

 

[Rhody31]

Schmidt finished plus 12 (72-76-71-219) and was tied for 24th; he was third in the seniors.
He's playing in the RI Open - a mini pro tourney - August 9-10 and the state Mid-Am in September.
He's one of the better guys I've dealt with in RIGA stuff; some of the guys forget my name after one day. Schmidt saw me today and said "Hey Rhody, how you doing today." We'll see how good his memory is at the Mid-Am.

 

[TwoGloves]

You're a pro even if you accept a penny in prize money. An amateur can accept a prize voucher with a value no greater than $750; more often than not, this comes in the form of a gift certificate the player can use for merchandise in the golf shop. And, no, an amateur can't exchange the prize voucher for cash.

Don't kid yourself. A lot of them get that $750 in cash.

No they don't. Unlike the NCAA, golf organizations zealously guard amateur status.

Well, then a lot of the amateurs I've been covering for 20-plus years are apparently liars. Although why they'd lie is beyond me. And I guess my eyes deceived me when I saw them getting envelopes with cash in them.