Governor irons out participation in golf ball club

Wednesday, Oct. 8, 1997 | 10:50 a.m.

But few golfers, including Miller, reacted with much alarm when asked about the chain letter and whether it was a proper activity.

Miller got involved in the club after getting one of the chain letters a few months ago. He said he was motivated to participate only because he collects golf balls and enjoys the game.

"I saw it as a group of friends participating in a common interest," he said. "In hindsight, I can see that there could be a negative perception of this kind of activity. It was probably a foolish decision on my part, and I won't choose to participate again."

Miller said most of the few golf balls he got from the club have already been launched into course water traps and lost forever anyway.

Another occasional participant, Las Vegas advertising executive Billy Vassiliadis, laughed at the idea that the chain letter was anything other than innocent.

"Sometimes I responded if it was a close friend, but most of the time I didn't," he said. "But there's good news if we're prosecuted. The list of names is a veritable who's who. There won't be anyone left to hold a legislative session."

Also on the list were Maddy Graves, a member of the Board of Regents with the University and Community College System of Nevada.

Graves said he participated a couple of times. He added he had no idea the letter might be illegal, saying he participated only for fun.

Bob Harmon, a spokesman for the attorney general's office, said the letters didn't appear to rise to the level requiring serious inquiry.

Chain letter recipients were instructed to send acquaintances a copy of the form letter asking them to mail a package of "three quality golf balls" to the name at the top of the letter. They were then to omit the top name, add their name to the bottom and send the letter to eight acquaintances.

"Within three months, you should receive 192 golf balls. Seldom does anyone drop out because most golfers can use 192 balls for the price of three," the letter states.