Only In Florida Files: Geezer Golf Leagues Under Investigation!

Rodney Page with one of my favorite stories in ages, the wild and morally bankrupt antics of Tarpon Springs Golf Course which is under investigation for harboring weekly golf leagues where the buy-ins are believed to be as high as $20 in gambling pools.

I caution you: innocent until proven guilty!

The "ongoing investigation" was prompted by a letter from a former employee outraged by the rogue gamblers.

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."

And my favorite line...

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."

And...

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 the Tampa 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.