Behind the scenes: betting on the golf course
First tee photo! (OK actually 10th tee as we were on the back nine this week) It's the 2nd to last regular league night of 2024
As much as I love golf in August and into September, I’m feeling a little sad that there are only two more weeks left in the Hickory Woods Ladies League. One regular play week, and then after Labor Day holiday, we will have the end of season scramble followed by a celebration dinner.
Yeah baby! Another win in the weekly games. Um this envelope should actually say "longest putt" with a date of August 12 - looks like I took a pic with the wrong envelope whoops
The evenings are getting cooler and so I now need to take out my sweatshirt (that I pack in my golf bag) when we sit out on the patio after playing golf. It is crazy how a beautiful 75 degrees and full sun at 5PM can turn super chilly when the long shadows come out by 7:30pm.
You can see it was a little breezy this past week
I shot a 54. Overall I was happy with how I played. The first hole and the last hole really did me in - but otherwise I did OK. My par three performance was not as good as previous weeks. BUT a nice thing that happened at the end of this week’s round: I received my payout of longest putt from the week before! So that’s another winning of $15. I bought our turkey wrap tonight.
The infamous cigar box at our ladies league - collector of scorecards
So each week we have different games. Golf has a pretty strong betting culture. I have NEVER been one to place bets… It doesn’t naturally appeal much to me and I have never been drawn to betting… BUT I have grown to love a low stakes bet on the golf course. Each week, our league captain collects $2 from any of us who want to play in the weekly games. We usually rotate though a few games - closest to the pin, longest putt, least # of putts and poker hand.
Our league is 16 weeks long, and I’ve bought into all the games. This is my third season - so that’s $2 X 16 X 3 or $96 invested in the weekly games. I think I have won once last season and twice this season - with a roughly $15 payout each time. So I have won back roughly $45 or half of my money that has been sunk into it. I figure it is worth it to buy into the games because I am really working on improving and - hey - you never know you might win!
Seriously though I think buying into the games make me just a little sharper when I’m standing over the ball to possibly get closest to the pin, or when I’m lining up my putt for a longest putt. Do you feel the same way?
Do you place friendly golf bets with your golf buddies? What do you play for?
With the end of ladies league, cooler nights and September right around the corner, I am looking forward to fall weather and football. I had a ladies fantasy football league draft this weekend. And you guessed it - we play for money in the fantasy league. I won 3rd place two years ago!
Do you do a fantasy football league? Drop me a comment if you do - what is your team name? I feel like there is a lot of pressure to be creative and have a great team name, in addition to actually managing your team.
Aren't these water bottles cute? Our ladies fantasy football league had them made with each individual team name printed on them.
I also did some shopping at my favorite little boutique in Loveland which has a ton of orange and black spirit wear for my home town football team. If you are local, hit up Lemons and Limes. Actually, even if you are out of town you can order from them - they ship all over! Check them out on their website.
