Golf Tournament Productions

The owner hosted a golf tournament with advertised prizes for winners of contests. I won a contest, but the owner has defaulted on payment.A golf tournament [redacted] on the [redacted] Golf Tournament) was hosted by GTP LLC on Jun 9th, 2014 at [redacted] & [redacted] Club, [redacted] SC. Each participant paid $250 fee and the check was payable to GTP. The event's flyer clearly advertised contests with defined prizes. As per details on the flyer (copy available), payout for the chipping contest winner was advertised as $10,000. I was one of roughly 80 contestants that won the chipping contest, whereby I holed a chip shot (have witnesses, video footage and owners email) for $10,000. The owner of GTP took my information, and promised payment in a few weeks. Not having received it in four weeks, I began contacting him through phone calls/texts and emails. Finally, the owner emailed July 2nd, stating that my share of the winnings was only $2500. Additionally, he also suggested that I evade paying the IRS, by avoiding the 1099 process and simply take the $1500 he was willing to offer. Confused by his response, I emailed my foursome asking for clarity on the contest. The feedback was as that as per the flyer/event advertising, the winner was to receive the full $10,000 upon chipping-in. Let me share one such response - "That was not my understanding at all. At no point did I hear them say it was team oriented and each person was chipping for $2,500. It was portrayed as $10,000 for the person who chips in. Seeing as there was going to be only one person closest to the pin, then only one person would be eligible to try for the $10,000 chip. If that was the case, it never could have been for $10,000"In order to resolve the situation, I sent the owner a certified letter dated July 3rd, detailing my expectations as per the advertisement and a payment deadline of July 14th. As of today July 14th, I have no communication or payment. I request Revdex.com to contact this company and to resolve the matter. As a resolution I expect to receive my winnings as advertised.Desired SettlementPayment of advertised prize of $10,000Business Response Contact Name and Title: [redacted], President/CContact Phone: (XXX)XXX-XXXXContact Email: [redacted]On the document in question, we did advertised a $10,000 chipping contest along with a $100,000 putting contest, a $1,000,000 shoot out and $500 on each of the Par 3's for any Hole-In-Ones. Prior to the start of the tournament, we explained how each of the events would work. We stated that on the chipping contest that each of the four team members participating in the contest was covered for $2500 which is a total of $10,000 and that each person will have to go through the qualifying round with only one person actually chipping for their covered $2500. The person that won the right to chip for the prize did make the chip and a certified check in the amount of $2500 was sent by certified mail to the address we were given on July 17, 2014. As far as we are concerned, we have honored our obligations and have considered the matter closed.Consumer Response Hello - we are not satisfied with the response. The explanation does not make sense at all. The owner has used fraud advertising and has not kept his word. He will be reported to all golf and charity associations in the state of North and South Carolina so he does not defraud others in the future. He still owes $7500 per his advertising. Business Response My company Golf Tournament Productions was and is responsible for all of the prizes and events that were held at the tournament in question. In the advertisement for the tournament we stated that each person that register to play in the tournament will get Roundtrip Airline Tickets for two plus a 3-day/2-night vacation in Las Vegas along with having a chance to participate in a Million Dollar Shot Out, $100,000.00 Putting Contest, $10,000.00 Chipping Contest and $500.00 Hole-In-One contest on all par 3 holes. At the very beginning of the tournament and before any shots were taken I explained how the airline tickets and vacation would be handled along with how each of the events would work. On the Chipping Contest we stated that the team value is $10,000.00, but each of the four team members will be chipping for $2500.00. There was no cost to participate in the event so by voluntarily participating each team member automatically agreed to the terms as stated. If you did not agree with the terms as stated, the recourse was to not participate. As of this date, all of the airline tickets and vacation vouchers have been issued to those requesting them and a certified check in the amount of $2500.00 has been sent to the winner of the Chipping Contest. At this point, everything that Golf Tournament Productions agreed to do is done, and we are moving on.