I'm Rich!

First of all, I'd like to say thank you to all my supporters, especially my wife Ashley who never stopped believing in me. I couldn't have done this without you.

36 holes of miniature golf this past Saturday and I'm $700 richer. That's my kind of weekend. It would have been even better if I had won the playoff for third place ($1300). And even better yet if I had shaved three strokes off my score of 76 for a 73 (the winning score). There's always next year.

Fourth place means two things. First, it means I've got to practice a bit more when next year's GOLFLAND Tournament of Champions rolls around again. Second, it means I don't lose my amateur status with the United States Golf Association. Seriously, I looked it up. If I had won just $50 more in this putting exhibition it might have qualified me as a professional golfer. Funny isn't it.

"An amateur golfer must not play golf for prize money or its equivalent in a match, competition or exhibition.

An amateur golfer must not accept a prize (other than a symbolic prize) or prize voucher of retail value in excess of $750 or the equivalent, or such a lesser figure as may be decided by the USGA. This limit applies to the total prizes or prize vouchers received by an amateur golfer in any one competition or series of competitions. "

Am I kidding? I'm not sure. But I do plan to be eligible for the U.S. Amateur Championship next year. It is a real golf tournament that requires you to 1) to be an amateur and 2) have a handicap index of 2.4 or less. With my fourth place finish this past weekend I've got number one in the bag. Now I just need to work out the details on number two. I've got a handicap index of 5.6 right now and I think I can do better. Wish me luck.