Golfer Denied Amateur Status After Betting on Sport and Poker

Dusty Schmidt is a golfer who was recently denied amateur status by the USGA for issuing a million dollar challenge to anyone who could beat him at 72 rounds of golf and one game of poker.

Because of this denial, Schmidt has filed a complaint seeking a restraining order that would able him to retain his amateur status. This would enable Schmidt to compete in a series of events in the Pacific Northwest. The U.S. District Court in Portland is where the hearing will take place this Monday.

Schmidt commented: “At the end of the day, I’m trying to get my amateur status back. I am trying to fight for my right NOT to make money playing golf, basically. I just want to play golf, and I believe3 I should be allowed to play golf.”

Schmidt’s amateur status was taken away on June 11th when the USGA found out that Schmidt had issued the challenge. In court documents, the USGA stated that “Having promoted his prize money golf/poker contest for two months and having obtained tremendous publicity for himself, his entrepreneurial web site, and his prize money scheme, Mr. Schmidt cannot unring the bell no matter how hard he tries.”