New poker-golf combo fits gamblers to a tee

There's nothing extraordinary about friends getting together for a game of poker following a round of golf. How about a game of poker during a round of golf?

No cards or chips -- just clubs, golf balls and, of course, money. Instead of keeping score, players make poker-style bets on their shots. The player who wins the hole takes down the pot.

Sound crazy? Not to Terry Leiweke, who envisioned how the popularity of Texas Hold'em Poker could be applied to the game of golf and went on to create the World Series of Golf.

Following its successful launch last summer, the second annual World Series of Golf, pitting outstanding amateur players from around the country, will be held Monday through Thursday at the Paiute Golf Resort in Las Vegas. First prize is $250,000.

"Gamblers golf and golfers gamble," Leiweke said. "One of the funniest comments I heard from a competitor last year was: 'If I don't have a bet when I play, golf is a little insignificant'."

Last year's inaugural competition spurred a great deal of interest among the nation's top amateur golfers, including a few in the Chicago area.

One of them, Bert Kaulen from Naperville, is a perfect fit for the event. He has played golf for 20 of his 26 years, plus he's a gambler and avid poker player.

"I'm looking forward to this being a fun experience," Kaulen said. "I mean, four days in Vegas, I can bring along a buddy, and there's a party every night."

Northbrook resident Brad Walker is looking forward to it, too.

"I've been caddying and playing golf since I was 12," said Walker, 36, who also participated in the event last year. "The gambling aspect of the competition may be my shortfall [though]."

Participants buy into the tournament with $10,000. Wagers are made on every shot. Players ante up before each hole, then, depending on the outcome of their tee shots, they raise, call, check or fold their "hands" on all subsequent strokes.

Bets are made contingent upon each player's position relative to the positions of his opponents. Players are eliminated when they go broke or when they're unable to come up with the ante for the next hole. The ante doubles every three holes.

Visit the Web site www.worldseriesofgolf.com for more information.

John Brokopp is a local free-lance writer.