Auction Sweepstakes

[Length]

My main concern is that it appears to me quite common that golf clubs allow organised auction sweepstakes for their competitions.


Am I correct that if a Club officially organises an auction sweepstake with promotional notices, emails etc., encouraging members to bid on participants in an official club competition, it is against the rules, regardless of how much money is involved (see below).


R&A Gambling Appendix says: Unacceptable Forms of Gambling
Organised events designed or promoted to create cash prizes are not permitted.

Golfers participating in such events without first irrevocably waiving their right to prize money are deemed to be playing for prize money, in breach of Rule 3-1 Playing for Prize Money.


R&A Guidelines on Gambling says:
An auction sweepstake or calcutta can often involve considerable sums of money and such gambling or wagering may be considered by a Governing Body to be contrary to the purpose of the Rules (Rule 7-2 Conduct Contrary to the Purpose of the Rules) and may endanger a golfer’s Amateur Status.


So if a winning participant had bought back a percentage of the winning bid from the buyer, it would not endanger but definitely be a breach of their Amateur Status Rule 3-1 Playing for Prize Money?

 

[duncan mackie]

The answer to your question lies in the (double) use of the word "may" in the guidance.

So as you word your question the answer would be no.

 

[Length]

The answer to your question lies in the (double) use of the word "may" in the guidance.

So as you word your question the answer would be no.

I had noticed that using the word ’may‘ does seem to make it questionable.

But see definition of Event: ’[FONT=noto_serif_devanagari]A thing that happens or takes place, especially one of importance’[/FONT]

Surely an organised Auction Sweepstake would be classed as an ’Event‘, so therefore:

Unacceptable Forms of Gambling: Organised events designed or promoted to create cash prizes are not permitted would apply?

 

[duncan mackie]

I had noticed that using the word ’may‘ does seem to make it questionable.

But see definition of Event: ’[FONT=noto_serif_devanagari]A thing that happens or takes place, especially one of importance’[/FONT]

Surely an organised Auction Sweepstake would be classed as an ’Event‘, so therefore:

Unacceptable Forms of Gambling: Organised events designed or promoted to create cash prizes are not permitted would apply?

Another principle in the interpretation of the rules is that a more specific reference takes precedence....here you have one.