How much money?

**verse214** · June 1, 2009

OK -

I've heard that Sean O Hair spent about $2mm trying (and succeeding) to do it

Others claim it only costs $100k a year...

My question isn't if it is possible or not -anything is possible as long as you believe- so if you're reading this and planning on responding with negativity, please don't even bother.

My question is how much does it cost to go pro - including hiring a teacher, a trainer, entry fees, food, travel, etc.

How much money do you end up spending a year in order to live comfortably pursuing the ultimate goal of getting a PGA tour card...

Also, at what level do you stop using your own funds and are well known enough to have sponsors and to actually be making a good living off of it? Nationwide? or do you need to get your card in order to be comfortable?

**Uber$winG** · June 1, 2009

Stochastically speaking, there is no way to answer that question.

**Lemay427** · June 1, 2009

It could be free for one guy (Tiger) and possibly $2 mil like you said with Sean Ohare.

So I am going to say $45,687.45

**timwalsh300** · June 1, 2009

It could be free for one guy (Tiger)

I'm a bit of an economics fiend so I need to step in here.

Becoming a professional golfer was anything but free for Tiger. "Money" is roughly interchangeable with time x labor (other things are included, such as scarcity of resources involved and skill level required to do the labor). It is well known that Tiger woods spent an immense amount of time and labor, starting at a very young age, practicing to become the world's best golfer. That time in labor invested in a number of other things could have netted him a fortune. So you have to think of that as his "opportunity cost." In conclusion: becoming a professional golfer costs a lot. Tim

**verse214** · June 1, 2009

I'm a bit of an economics fiend so I need to step in here.

I'm a bit of an economist myself considering I work in finance, however my original question has nothing to do with economic costs, but

accounting costs - so what are all of your estimates excluding opportunity costs, etc. And also, if you technically look at it in terms of economic costs, Tiger still probably chose the path of greatest economic profit since the opportunity cost of him having taken up another profession and forgoing the $1 Billion is definitely higher than what he has forgone by taking up golfing... Thanks

**timwalsh300** · June 1, 2009

And also, if you technically look at it in terms of economic costs, Tiger still probably chose the path of greatest economic profit since the opportunity cost of him having taken up another profession and forgoing the $1 Billion is definitely higher than what he has forgone by taking up golfing...

Oh yes, I absolutely agree with this. He probably allocated his resources (natural talents) as efficiently as he possibly could. I was just pointing out that his professional success was not without a huge upfront investment.

To get back to your original question, have you read Paper Tiger by Tom Coyne? He actually set out to do what you are talking about. He talks in detail about all the costs. However, much of his costs were offset by striking deals with people (i.e. you give me lessons and I'll drop your name in my book). But it gives you an idea of what it might take. Tim

**timwalsh300** · June 1, 2009

By the way, in the end Tom Coyne realizes that no amount of money, time, and effort can buy a PGA Tour card. It sounds all too cliche, but it is what you have inside of you that matters the most. Not to ruin the book for you (it is still absolutely worth reading) but despite having all the physical tools and the best team of people supporting him, he couldn't do it. He couldn't stop psyching himself out and folding under pressure.

Tim

**CarlSpackler** · June 1, 2009

My first thought is "Whoa there big fella" (heisted from Ping commercials).

IMO - it varies from person to person. I know that I have the ability to be a low handicapper, or even scratch, but I am not ready to spend every evening at the range or on the putting green to do so. The biggest hurdle is usually located between the ears. But remember, those guys are good.

**TN94z** · June 1, 2009

I'm just going to say a lot. I don't really see how anyone could put a price on this. There are way too many variants that can come about. Athleticism, experience, opportunity, availability, etc....too many things to consider that would give a very wide range of figures IMO.

**billm408** · June 1, 2009

How much you got?

Did you hear about the aspiring tour pro that won the lottery? He played until he was broke.

**Rob** · June 1, 2009

I think most "great players to be" are already known by enough "money men" to be sponsored.With travel,motels,entry fees,ect., it`s high dollar.I really admire the top pro`s in golf and tennis. It`s all on you,no linemen,pitchers,3 point shooters to bail you out if you have an off day or screw up. You`re out there 5-6 hours a day,doing your job against the best in the biz, plus the practice. I doubt any pro golfer ever gets comfortable.You might have a great year or two, but it just keeps going and going. Call Tiger- his cell # is 5**-***-****. He can tell you,but you will probably hear abundant bad language for asking this question.

RC · June 1, 2009

How much would it cost for me to be 7 feet 8 inches tall and able to shoot over 50 percent from outside the 3 point circle? Questions like this really have no reasonably precise answer.

**verse214** · June 2, 2009

How much would it cost for me to be 7 feet 8 inches tall and able to shoot over 50 percent from outside the 3 point circle? Questions like this really have no reasonably precise answer.

OK- let me rephrase this bc it seems like everyone is trying to be as PC about it as possible.

For example (referencing above quote) you can't pay to be taller, so I'll disregard that. But you can learn how to shoot 50% from outside the 3 point circle by practicing. And practicing for basketball if virtually free, just goto any park... but golf is not free. Also, the question wasn't how much you have to pay a year to become a PGA pro but how much would you have to spend a year on your way to becoming a PGA pro. I don't care if you guys think it's possible or not with money.. just want to know how much money it would take to make it possible. It's definitely not as vague of a figure as everyone is making it out to be.. i just wanted to know if anyone had a good idea on pricing as I, myself, do not. Like, how many tourneys does a pro play a year? And how much are entry fees? How much is a swing coach for a year? These are all figures that can be calculated... does anyone know how much it would cost? I'll even provide a rubric for calculating the figure: 1x Swing Coach (Pro teacher not PGA Tour pro teacher) 30-40x Tournament entry fees per year (if this number is too high, too low, please correct me) Travel for those tournaments (within the States) Hotel for those tournaments and living expenses (this is probably all dependent upon the # of tourneys you enter per year) Range balls, practice greens fees Anything else anyone can think of that i'm missing? So what's the total? I'm sure that someone on here has to be familiar with this. I've heard 100k.. is that about right?

**Uber$winG** · June 2, 2009

I’ll take one part of the query…

As an example for the cost on a swing coach, I just visited Butch Harmon’s School of Golf home page. His instructors (that is, his employees) charge from $200 to $150 an hour.

So, running the numbers out (at ten hours of instruction a month), one could almost spend a quarter of the imagined $100K principal investment on instruction alone.

Needless to say, the cost of “going pro” looks to be a very expensive proposition.

**verse214** · June 3, 2009

Honestly though, isn't that where you'd expect to spend a quarter of your money?

do you know how many tourneys pros try to play in per year? and around how much the entry fees cost for the smaller tours?

**microcrayfish** · June 3, 2009

OK- let me rephrase this bc it seems like everyone is trying to be as PC about it as possible.

A lot of those things would vary in price though.

Tournaments don't all cost the same, hotels vary or you could stay with friends or relatives for free, greens fees will obviously vary depending on the course you play or if you're a member at a course or just play around everywhere, and you never know, some of them might be given to you free depending on your previous success. It seems to me that if you want to know the answer to your question you're going to have to look up 40 tournaments and find out the entry fees and see how much flights would cost to all those places and find out what hotels are in the area and see how much they charge and figure out what courses charge around the country...etc. You're probably right that there is a figure that you could come up with covering all of those things but it could vary hugely and if you're looking for someone to look all that up for you then don't expect to find many answers cause it'd be a hell of job working it all out.

**verse214** · June 3, 2009

Does anyone know the range for tournament entry fees?

Also, in response to the Butch Harmon School fees... around where i'm from it's $60 just to get a 30 minute lesson... golf is just expensive I guess..

I'm just trying to get a feel of whether 100k a year is actually a good estimate or if it's more like $1MM a year... big difference but i've heard both.

i'm sure that someone who knows would be able to narrow it down from that range for me...

**Three Putt** · June 3, 2009

Jason Bohn did it by winning a hole in one for 1 million. I think he took the 50k a year payout. He was a college golfer at the time.

50k sure helped, but he was an elite golfer to start with, says he wouldn't be a pro if he didn't get the hole in one though.

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