I just returned from a 4 day member-guest golf tournament in Beatrice, NE with a college buddy. I went in with a 15 and the the course handicap was a 17 due to the course difficulty. (This course is hosting the Sectional USGA US Amateur Qualifying next month after hosting US Open Qualifying last year). The field played 65% of handicaps (sure favored most of the single digit caps) and I wasn't real sharp the first 3 days but my host played pretty solid, not lights out by any means so we were out of the overall championship contention after day 3.
But, day 4 is a tournament within a tournament using a Calcutta that auctioned off each 72 teams the night before. 4 divisions/flights of 18 teams each were based on total team handicaps were were sorted into the flights. Free drinks and snacks were served to 'lube' the bids on teams that also creates a circus atmosphere. I had some family to see so I told my partner not to get in a bidding war, we'd buy 50% of ourselves back from our owner, just let me know the next morning and I'd take 1/2 of our 1/2 which was $165 for my share. (I'm not a big gambler so I about threw up in my mouth wagering that amount of money on my/our golf games.) Then before we teed off, the committee announced they were paying 4 places in the Calcutta in each of the 4 divisions with the winners from the player's pool of $52,000 (after the committee's juice of 15%). They were paying back the 4 top teams $5,000 and on down the line 3 more spots. Now I feel some sharts coming on π. After settling down, I ended up with a solid, for me, 84 under the pressure and carried my partner - but again we were out of the hunt in the best ball scoring in this event too.
I confirmed I'm now a recreational golfer and the competitive juices of playing for big stakes are long gone for me.