Betting Advice from Money Golf

Manners

Always pay promptly.
Be a good sport.
If someone doesn’t pay up, don’t play with him again.

Negotiating the Bet

Know ahead of time which bets you want to offer.
If dealing with a first-tee betting artist, ask for more than you will accept.
Don’t make lock bets because you won’t be very popular. Seek an edge, but don’t get greedy.
Bet with your head, not your pride.
Avoid games with too many bets.

Bet Size

If the winner buys after the round, make sure the bet will handle dinner and drinks.
Don’t try to raise the size of existing bets with reluctant bettors. Introduce new bets to raise the stakes.
Don’t play friends for a lot of money; they won’t be friends long.
Never wager to hurt a friend.
Never bet outside your comfort zone.
Never play for more than what’s in your pocket. IOUs are lame.
When playing your boss, keep the bet small. If you win, don’t ask him for the money.
If an opponent is having a bad day and not joking about it, don’t needle him.
Keep the size of the side bets to less than 20 percent of the overall bet.
Be a gracious winner.

Presses

Never give an opponent back-to-back double-or-nothing presses. Tell him, "Get out the way you got in."
If you are aggressive, try for a bet when you can press any time.
If your opponent declares a press on one of his stroke holes, decline it. Stupid is as stupid does.
If you agree to a bet with an automatic 2-down press, make sure you have the edge in the match or, at worst, have enough money to cover the loss.
Offer your opponent the chance to start 2-up instead of getting strokes on two holes. That way you can start a press on the first hole if you are playing automatic 2-downs.
If playing poorly, lay off the presses.

Pressure

Pay attention to how your regular opponents play the last three holes.
Don’t play anyone who has a backer for the stakes. He will feel less pressure.

Partners

Pick the best player, and if you are playing away, pick a club member.
Don’t fight with your partner or apologize for a foozle. Always encourage a partner.
If you are an aggressive player, pick a steady player, and vice versa.
Pick up a partner who enjoys betting.

Cheating

If you see someone break a rule, call it then, not back in the clubhouse or behind his back.
Don’t play with people who cheat regularly.

Gamesmanship

Dos

If you outhit your opponent from the tee, pause by his ball as if it is yours. He will be deflated when he realizes that it’s his.
Let the other guy find his stray ball. He will lose his focus.
Tell him you have never seen a backswing like that.
Walk fast to your ball and act impatient as he catches up.
Root for his ball even though it is clearly headed for the water.
Ask "Who’s away?" when it’s clearly him.
Praise your opponent after a few holes. "You’re hitting it great, a lot better than a 14."

Don’ts

Accept another man’s bet. Modify it somehow, and make a counteroffer.
Jangle coins, rip Velcro, zip zippers, or walk to the next tee when your opponent is still putting.
Remind an opponent about hazards or give swing advice.
Make an opponent putt tap-ins.
Show pleasure when he hits a bad shot.
Question his handicap or argue over strokes.
Wear a cowboy hat. It doesn’t intimidate.

Strangers

Don’t trust a stranger to throw up the balls on the first tee. He might manipulate the toss and stick you with the load (poor player).
Don’t gamble with a stranger, and consider everyone a stranger until you’ve played with him at least a dozen times.

Hustlers

"Never bet anyone you meet on the first tee who has a deep suntan, a 1-iron in his bag, and squinty eyes," warned Dave Marr, the late PGA golfer and revered television announcer. In addition, Snead offered the following advice to those wishing to stay out of a hustler’s grasp.

Beware of anyone who simultaneously asks for fewer strokes and a larger bet.
Unless you are impervious to pressure, resist unexpected side bets or do-or-die wagers on chips or putts; the edge usually favors those who offer the bet.
Stick to simple bets, usually Nassaus. Too many bets can be distracting.
Think twice about accepting a bet from a guy with a good suntan. Think again if there are three of them.
If in doubt about a handicap, check the calluses on his hands.
If you are caught in the middle of a hustle, cut your losses and go quietly.