Ways to gamble without gambling

[GolfinPastor]

As you can tell from my username, I'm a pastor, so I don't gamble. Some of the guys I routinely play with do, and it adds some fun to their round. What are some ways to gamble with them, without gambling? Can I talk them into playing me for pride?

[SHIVAN]

Pride was already on the line. I believe you need to understand more thoroughly the definition of "gamble".

[vbb]

I believe in God and I also believe gambling between friends is perfectly okay. Maybe I'm trying to "have it both ways" but I think the all or nothing approach to many things pushes more people away than brings them in. I'm friends with people all over the religious scale, from complete Atheists who laugh at the notion of "God" to the most devout born-agains that live as close to Biblical times as possible. It's when people go to the excess with whatever it is.... drinking, gluttony, pride, vanity, and yes, even gambling, that's when it is a problem.

Now you're a pastor, so I certainly don't expect to change your perspective on things nor am I trying to do that, but I just wanted to point the above out because you said "I'm a pastor so I don't gamble" and I don't think those things are mutually exclusive necessarily.

I play for money with my buddies to keep the competitive juices flowing. It's no more than $20 overall, and usually we end up exchanging the same $5 back and forth unless someone has a historically bad or good round. It keeps us in the moment, keeps us honest, and makes the game more fun. I don't even like to play a casual round anymore unless we've got a few bucks on the line, but I never put any pressure on people who don't like to gamble to join us in the betting.

But to finally answer your question... I think that the moment you start playing for anything except the fun of the game, it could be considered gambling. Maybe you could get creative and tell your golfing buddies that if you win, they have to do extra Bible study or attend your church on a Wednesday night or something like that. Or maybe the "bet" can simply be dinner and fellowship at someone's home. I don't know, just trying to help you think of some games that might be fun. In reality though, your friends are probably like me, and will continue to gamble amongst themselves, but respect you and your decision not to at the same time.

[jclark3]

Play for lunch maybe? Something on the line always makes it more fun. I personally have never looked at it as gambling. I don't feel like I'm gambling if I pay an entry fee for a tournament and win a prize which is basically what any low ball type deal is.

[DavePelz4]

My friends don't call it gambling, they call it accepting weekly donations.

[DavePelz4]

In all seriousness, pride and the ability to tease is way more important than $.

[Gap22]

My group puts up $5 per player for the daily winner. I don't consider that gambling any more than a professional golfer would consider it gambling when they win a tournament and collect the prize money.

[golfdaddy01]

My roommate and I played for club cleaning. Whoever one got to sit any lunch while the other clean both sets of clubs

[golfdaddy01]

Stupid phone. The winner got to eat lunch while the other person cleaned both sets of clubs

[tony_teetime]

You don't need to play for money. Loser has to clean the winner's shoes and carry his bag to the car after the round and acknowledge verbally that the winner is "da man" .

[SilverBullets]

Our group/s play mainly for pride but we do put a small number on the line as well. We play for slushee's and slim jims/candy after the round. Dead serious. The front is worth a slushee, the back is worth a slim jim, and if we are feeling spicy, overall is worth a $5 scratch off lotto ticket. At most, you're down $8.

I pretty much know that every time I play I am getting at least a slushee out of the deal.

[tatertot]

Me and my buddy found an old green top flite ball on the course years ago. Ever since than, it's the traveling trophy between us. Sometimes it's match, sometimes it's stroke, but it's always on the line (unless we're playing in a team event with each other).

Ball is worthless, but's the most valuable thing in my bag right now. (passive brag) It means more than a $5 nassau ever could.

That being said, I too am a Christian and bet small amounts with my other golfing friends.

[BicknellCC]

I will ask you a question Pastor,

Is paying to enter a golf tournament considered gambling? How about a skins pot? What about paying a entry fee into a pot for an informal event, to be divided up at the end of the round?

[LittleLeftToRight]

This is just like the old prom line "Just the tip..."

You are either gambling or you are not.

[Bonneville85308]

[quote name='GolfinPastor' timestamp='1424103717' post='10963579']
As you can tell from my username, I'm a pastor, so I don't gamble. Some of the guys I routinely play with do, and it adds some fun to their round. What are some ways to gamble with them, without gambling? Can I talk them into playing me for pride?
[/quote]

I don't think there is any way of "gambling without gambling" if you have a broad definition of gambling, which I imagine you do. No matter what the "stakes" are - cash, a dozen balls, lunch, a ride to and from the course, etc. , you are technically risking losing something by playing poorly and possibly winning something if you play well. If you want to continue playing with these guys but don't want to gamble anything, there are plenty of 3-man games they can play while you remain in the foursome. Or, if you are all good buddies, perhaps after explaining your opposition to gambling, they would be willing to play for pride, and get their gambling fix during rounds without you present. If they insist that you participate in their game, then you might need to find new playing partners.

[Sooner7x]

[quote name='GolfinPastor' timestamp='1424103717' post='10963579']
As you can tell from my username, I'm a pastor, so I don't gamble. Some of the guys I routinely play with do, and it adds some fun to their round. What are some ways to gamble with them, without gambling? Can I talk them into playing me for pride?
[/quote]

Ive played with several pastors who gamble. I don't think that's an appropriate statement.

Your a pastor [b]and[/b] you don't gamble.

[Flop Shot Master]

Step up your game, it wont be gambling if you know you're going to win...

[LeoLeo99]

We always used to play for a few dollars. Whomever won would get paid and then put the money on the table to pay for lunch and drinks. If you win, you're paying for lunch. If you lose, you're paying for lunch. Basically, whomever wins the round gets free lunch and a couple beers. No big deal. To me.

[butch33611]

I find just playing with my group and see the scores at the end boring. We dont play for money but depending on how many players we have there's always a contest. If we have 4 players its always a four ball team match. If we only have 3 we play point for a par, 2 points for a birdie and one point for a green in regulation on par 3's. For me it makes it more of a contest and keeps my concentration up all during the round. We have a great time and no money changes hands.

I completely understand your situation and why you dont want to gamble money on the round. Well done by you sir.

[bk52]

[quote name='tony_teetime' timestamp='1424108684' post='10964121']
You don't need to play for money. Loser has to clean the winner's shoes and carry his bag to the car after the round and acknowledge verbally that the winner is "da man" .


[/quote]

Depending on one's personal definition of wagering/gambling, both [url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/user/337631-golfdaddy01/"][color="#353535"]golfdaddy01[/color][/url] and tony_teetime make good suggestions. My friend and I walk and carry. As a side wager the loser of the hole has to carry the other's bag for the next hole. If you are in a cart, the loser has to remove his bag and walk/carry for the hole. We have also had a home made bumper sticker that read "I lost a golf match to ------ ------- last week" Finally, you could have a really goofy hat owned by the group and the loser has to wear it the next round.

[OneBowTie]

Play them for a soda at the turn...and again double down for the back nine.

[Hateto3Putt]

I knew a priest who was one of the biggest barboot players in the city. Pretty good golfer too.

Gambling without gambling, huh? No such thing. Even if you're playing for a golf ball, soda, lunch or other nominal stipend, if you win you get something, or lose you lose something then it's still gambling, no?

Does your church have a bingo? Fairs with the chuck-a-luck wheel? Or is it only gambling if you're not the house? Not trying to be a smart sss, but really, where is the line drawn?

Good Luck! ([i]see what I did there?[/i])

[THenman]

Play where loser donates some time to XXXX charity. Could be a no lose prop. for a pastor! Win and you just might get some help lose and do what you would anyhow.

[mwkbmw]

People often ask, "Is gambling a sin?" and, "Is playing the lottery a sin?" It is apparent from your comment that any form of gambling is a sin. I personally think that it comes down to two things: Being a good steward of what has been given to you, and answering the question of, "Where does your trust (or hope) lie?"

If you are wagering an amount in a golf game that if you lose, you would be hard pressed to meet your obligations or unable to provide for your family, then you are being a poor steward and would obviously be in danger of sin. I regard small, friendly wagers as entertainment. I spend more going to the movies. None of my church friends have suggested betting, but I actually miss the fun and needling I had with my buddies before I became a Christian.

As far as the lottery goes, I feel that the problem comes from one putting their hopes in winning, thinking that it will be the answer to all of their problems. I know that is not true, and winning brings a whole other set of problems along with it. Obviously, anything that takes your trust away from the Lord is an idol.

The whole point of betting on golf is the camaraderie. Normally, the same $5 gets traded around and no one is actually going to make a wad off of the others. If they do, then measures are taken to even the field and bring some parity. It's all for fun, so go have some!

[Augster]

As said above, you can make gambling a very wide or very narrow definition. Some consider poker gambling. I'm REALLY good at it, so I don't consider it gambling. Can I lose in the short run? Of course. But given enough time, a few hours say, I expect to make money. When I was able to play online, with enough tables open, I always made money. Am I wagering money? Absolutely, but I have a very positive ROI on those "wagers". So overall, I'm making money the entire time. Like a job.

If your only issue is passing around the $6 of a $2 Nassau, you can do what we did. I used to play with a group that never had any money. Some guys liked to wager, others didn't. And playing for "pride" is simply not the same as playing real golf. Rounds with nothing on the line become "practice rounds" real quick, i.e. extra shots, putting non-chalantly, playing OB as red, etc. That's really no fun for anyone.

So we came up with a trophy. Like the ball mentioned above, a friend of mine made a "Cup" for a trophy. Every time we get together, the cup is in play, we play all the Rules of Golf, and it works like a travelling trophy. There are way more bragging rights when you are having a soda or a beer out of the cup after the round in front of everyone instead of just collecting $2 that will be forgotten before you get to your car. You KNOW if you lost the Cup and you also know when you WIN the cup. It basically makes every round with those guys a tournament round.

You aren't disallowed to play in tournaments, are you?

You can still play with the other guys, and they can still have their side wagers etc. You can let them know you will only be playing for the cup. Our cup is still in play.

[jlt73]

You can make it so that the losers have to pay a certain amount to the charity of choice of the winner.

[E401k]

You win they sit front row at Sunday service, they win you make mention of your defeat to the congregation

Who wouldn't want to play for those stakes and everyone wins

[isaacbm]

[quote name='GolfinPastor' timestamp='1424103717' post='10963579']
As you can tell from my username, I'm a pastor, so I don't gamble. Some of the guys I routinely play with do, and it adds some fun to their round. What are some ways to gamble with them, without gambling? Can I talk them into playing me for pride?
[/quote]

Is pride any less of a sin?

[Cicero]

[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1424153871' post='10969307'][quote name='GolfinPastor' timestamp='1424103717' post='10963579']
As you can tell from my username, I'm a pastor, so I don't gamble. Some of the guys I routinely play with do, and it adds some fun to their round. What are some ways to gamble with them, without gambling? Can I talk them into playing me for pride?
[/quote]

Is pride any less of a sin?[/quote]

Wrong kind of pride

[Jack Daniels]

I don't think any deity would be opposed to a $5 nassau.