Wow... Just wow... We're all (likely) lawbreakers...

[RookieBlue7]

Rev, Foz, JaxBeach... Good thing we didn't throw any cash in on the round...

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/golf/gamble-on-golf-beware-of-police-visit/2168716

This is just childish on the employee's part that reported this.

Text:
 

TARPON SPRINGS — Like most Saturdays, the group of golfers gathered at the Tarpon Springs Golf Course for its weekly league.

And like most Saturdays, at this course and courses around the country, the round involved a few side wagers.

Until Feb. 8.

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As the group of golfers walked to the clubhouse that morning, it was greeted by general manager Chuck Winship.

No more betting in league play, said Winship, revealing he was under investigation by Tarpon Springs police.

"Originally," Winship said, "I thought it was joke." Then he learned the case has been forwarded to the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office.

Winship told members that morning that if they wanted to play a regular round of golf, fine. But if they wanted to put up the usual $20, to be divided afterward based on how they play, they would have to go elsewhere.

The prospect of law enforcement overseeing the pervasive and somewhat perfunctory routine of golf wagers seemed peculiar, if not pointless, a pair of legal experts said.

"On the Richter scale of crime, this has got to be in the minus," said Bob Dekle, a professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. "I don't see a prosecutor being wildly enthusiastic about prosecuting the case unless there are thousands and thousands of dollars being bet."

Tarpon Springs police spokesman Capt. Jeffrey Young said his officers were investigating the potential violation of two state statutes: keeping a gambling house and game promotion in connection with the sale of consumer products or services.

Although a suspect could violate either statute without profiting from the gambling, Dekle still believed a prosecutor would be reluctant to present the case to jury, at least given the information police have provided thus far.

Winship estimates that about 14 leagues play at the course weekly. The Saturday morning league averages between 30 and 40 players per week. The formats vary, but essentially golfers pay the normal green fees and cart fees, then put in extra money to be divided at the end of the round.

Golfers might get a portion of the pot for lowest round, closest to the pin or lowest score on a hole.

"Every golf course in this country does it, and why they singled out this golf course I'll never know," said group member Ray Hamil, 78.

"You call any course you want (about gambling leagues) and they will all tell you the same thing, and if they don't, I'll buy you the biggest steak in the state."

Jeff Hollis, director of golf at Mangrove Bay Golf Course in St. Petersburg, said his course hosts summer leagues and several groups during the winter.

"I'm sure people at every course in America play for a Coke or whatever," Hollis said. "What we do is provide the tee times; what they do after that is up to them."

The investigation was sparked, Winship said, by a letter written to the Tarpon Springs police by a former employee, Ron Moxom.

The letter apparently pointed out the gambling going on at the course. A public records request by theTampa Bay Times for the letter was denied because the case is still under investigation.

"It is an ongoing criminal investigation at this point," Young said. "I don't expect it to be a long, drawn-out thing. I know it was started by a letter we received."

Moxom could not be reached for comment.

For two weeks after Winship's announcement, the course hosted no league activity.

But the leagues since have been given permission to resume under certain stipulations.

In a letter sent to Winship on Feb. 21 by Tarpon Springs City Manager Mark LeCouris, Winship was told he could continue hosting leagues under two conditions:

For one, no golf course employees or volunteers can participate in league administration or operation.

Second, "For all participants, per state statutes, entry fees cannot specifically make up the prizes or purses contested for."

That means prizes or purses must be predetermined before play, and not by how much money ends up in the pot.

"We've found a way to play,'' Winship said.

The legal experts were also perplexed about why an investigation remained necessary if, in fact, the gambling has stopped.

"Why carry this thing on?" said Bruce Jacob, Stetson University College of Law professor. "It seems silly to keep it going if they've agreed to change."

As for what happened in early February, Winship, 64, is still under investigation.

"Every day that goes by without hearing anything gets more nerve-racking," Winship said. "It's just dangling over my head. It's driving me crazy."

Times staff writer John Woodrow Cox contributed to this report.

[jaxbeachpackerfan]

  I agree, wow, wow, wow, what a waste of Taxpayers' money!   Angela Corey must be involved somewhere in this...

[revkev]

This is the craziest and I do mean the craziest thing that I've ever heard of before.  If you recall Rookie we did play for lunch so I suppose we have to plead guilty as charged.  Given that our two groups included, two attorneys, three ministers and a judge I'm guessing we might do alright were we to go to trial.

 

Oh and don't forget that we would have the press on our side in this one as well.

 

My buddy's wife is the CEO of Al Jazeer America - and before I have to read the traitor comments watch the news on it sometime - far and away the most objective reporting out there plus - its based in Qatar which is a US Ally not enemy and it was a great career move for her - she was stuck as the number 2 or 3 person at ABC news.

 

I'm sure that Kate would be very objective in reporting this story also.

[MmmmmmBuddy]

Ok, You can owe me...

 

http://youtu.be/e5u7yZiV3bI

[HighFade]

Gambling is illegal at Bushwood. And I never slice.

[HighFade]

Beat me to it, buddy. But I owe you nothing!

[revkev]

I just came home from being a character witness in court. I prefer this judge.

[MmmmmmBuddy]

Beat me to it, buddy. But I owe you nothing!

Come on....  While we're young!!!

[HighFade]

I should have yelled 'two'!

[revkev]

First, WOW, secondly, there is much more here than is being reported and finally, Al Jazeer can't be any more biased than CNN or CSNBC, lol

Have a great week Gents/Gals

Fairways & Greens My Friends,

Richard

And that's their point.

[SeeRed]

Asinine. What a waste of time and resources.

[MarcKilgore]

It's exactly this kind of BS that makes the average citizen get fed up with government getting involved in stuff they shouldn't be. Seriously... this is what they spend our tax money on. By the time they are done, they'll have spent more tax money on this than the amount of money wagered over the next freaking decade.

[RoverRick]

It is pretty simple, individuals can bet any amount of money on what ever they want as long as the winners get all of the money.  It is perfectly legal for everyone to put $10 (any amount) of money into a pot and the winner gets to take the pot.  It does not matter who holds the pot.  It is another matter if the winner does not make all the money.  Say they win $9 per person, and the person that held the pot keeps a buck.  If the proshop is keeping even a penny then they are running a gambling house and must be licensed and fall under the jurisdiction of the states gaming commission.

 

We have a Wednesday Night Scramble.  It cost $15 to play.  $5 goes to the club for dinner.  $10 goes to the winner.  However, if you do not play in the scramble, you can still have dinner for $5.  All the money is paid to the same people but they divide it up but since the person collecting the money is not making anything off of it then it is not illegal.  There is a Wednesday Night Poker Game after the scramble but since the club makes nothing off of the pots, just drink sales, then it is legal also.

 

Apparently, this club was keeping some for themselves.  Of course they will not admit to it because that would be admission of a crime so they are going to say they are singled out unfairly, but if there was no evidence of this then the police would not be pursuing this. 

[RoverRick]

If you are collecting money for bets and making money for your trouble than yes you are guilty of this.  If all money goes to the winners it is not illegal.

[BIG STU]

Just wow! It goes to show that that the freedoms of this country are going to Hell in a handbasket. Wow can they not catch any crack dealers?

[RookieBlue7]

It is pretty simple, individuals can bet any amount of money on what ever they want as long as the winners get all of the money. It is perfectly legal for everyone to put $10 (any amount) of money into a pot and the winner gets to take the pot. It does not matter who holds the pot. It is another matter if the winner does not make all the money. Say they win $9 per person, and the person that held the pot keeps a buck. If the proshop is keeping even a penny then they are running a gambling house and must be licensed and fall under the jurisdiction of the states gaming commission.

 

We have a Wednesday Night Scramble. It cost $15 to play. $5 goes to the club for dinner. $10 goes to the winner. However, if you do not play in the scramble, you can still have dinner for $5. All the money is paid to the same people but they divide it up but since the person collecting the money is not making anything off of it then it is not illegal. There is a Wednesday Night Poker Game after the scramble but since the club makes nothing off of the pots, just drink sales, then it is legal also.

 

Apparently, this club was keeping some for themselves. Of course they will not admit to it because that would be admission of a crime so they are going to say they are singled out unfairly, but if there was no evidence of this then the police would not be pursuing this.

If you read it, they were doing exactly what you described. Taking up $20 and paying all money out. They're being investigated for it.

 

My course does the same thing. Weekly men's golf league $10 for the points game, $10 for skins. Divided to top 3 and skins depends on how many were awarded as to how many ways it splits. It'd be illegal even if all money is paid out because of state laws.

[RoverRick]

 

 

If you read it, they were doing exactly what you described. Taking up $20 and paying all money out. They're being investigated for it.

My course does the same thing. Weekly men's golf league $10 for the points game, $10 for skins. Divided to top 3 and skins depends on how many were awarded as to how many ways it splits. It'd be illegal even if all money is paid out because of state laws.

 

I did read it and what is being investigated is whatever was alleged by the former employee.  That is the problem.  We do not know what Moxem said happened, only that he reported something to the police and they investigated it.  They then turned over their findings to the prosecutor, who may or may not choose to act.  This coincides with my understanding of how the process works.  The police investigate an allegation and the prosecutor decides what to do with it.  Even if the allegation is BS.   

[revkev]

Every club I've ever been a part of arranges some sort of game - they normally don't handle the money but they arrange the game - regardless this is an impossible waste of resources.  You have to think there is way, way more to the story than what we are seeing.  At least you have to hope that there is.