What Is A Calcutta? Is It Like A Pool?

ACOUSTIC · Jun 30, 2006

HOW DO THEY WORK AND WHAT DO THEY PAY?:smoker2:

bullets · Jun 30, 2006

I know of calcuttas for golf tournaments. It might be the same thing.

You have an auction where bidders can buy teams or individuals (usually teams). Highest bidder obviously buys the team. Do this until all the teams are bought.

Example: (dollar amount is the selling price)

Team A: $500

Team B: $200

Team C: $600

Team D: $300

Team E: $100

Total Calcutta Dollars: $1700

Usually the host of the calcutta will take a rake, say 10%. So now you have a total purse of $1530.

1st place pays: $918 (60%)

2nd place pays: $612 (40 %)

This money would go to the person(s) who bought the team. This is a small example but it should clarify it.

WorldNumberOne · Jun 30, 2006

and you are usually allowed to purchase a % of your own team..

bullets · Jun 30, 2006

Yes. The most I have heard of is 50% of your team. The standard is 20%.

viking611 · Jun 30, 2006

we have one of these "auctions" back home for the NCAA tournament...#1 seeds go for upwards of 6 and 7 thousand. Big money to be made with sleepers!! Can't remember but I think George Mason was bought for less than $400 last year. Money payouts after every round.

bullets · Jun 30, 2006

I've played in 4 or 5 golf tournaments that have calcuttas. The formats are usually 2 man best ball (not scramble) and the pot is usually above 50 grand.

My buddy who I play with is a birdie machine. He'll make 6 or 7 birdies in 18 holes but he will also have lots of bogies.

I am a par machine. I might make 3 birdies in a round but I will only have 1 or 2 bogies.

We won one of these tournaments a few years ago and it paid us around 9 grand for the team.

Calcuttas are a pure form of gambling. Especially for us degenerate golfer/gamblers.