Can I be a Tour pro?

Your Open Question: I'm 23 and want to go pro in golf. Is it possible? Ok so my friend invited me to Charlotte to play The Pointe golf course on Lake Norman and I went and embarrassed myself really bad. I had hit golf clubs and played a few times in my life but never seriously. I didn't even own clubs. But after that day I was hooked and wanted to play and make myself better. That was February of 2011. I probably shot a 130-140. Seriously. But then my friend got a job at a sports store and got me a nice discount on a new set of Callaway x20's (4-PW) and the Razr hawk driver, 3 and 5 wood and I bought some new vokey wedges (56* and 60*) and I started playing seriously. I kept up with stats from the beginning on my golf app on my phone and have constantly noticed myself getting better. I started out in the 120's and have worked my way to an average round of 88. My low 9 holes is a 3 over par 38 and I'm still getting better. I've always been an athlete playing both qb and pitcher and also playing ice hockey and I have a very flexible shoulder. People at the course will sometimes comment on my swing and say it looks really fluid and powerful and my wedge play is my best aspect but I'm also good at putting averaging 30 putts a round. Is it possible that if I get some good lessons or go to a golf academy, or get an apprenticeship with a golf pro, is it realistic that in a few years I can work my way into competitive golf and eventually be good enough to make the Tour? Driver-280 3 wood- 265 5 wood- 245 4 iron- 210 5 iron- 200 6 iron- 190 7 iron- 180 8 iron-170 9 iron 155-160 PW- 140-150 56*-100-125 60*- 85 I am not saying by any means that I can be a pro, that's why I'm asking you guys what you honestly think. I love the game and if I started to dedicate my life to it by finding a job at a country club, as I am a bartender full time, I would hope to at least be scratch in 5 years. I just don't know how hard it really is. Thank you!

Start practicing 5 days a week, hit 200 balls minimum on each of those 5 days. Play on the toughest course you can.

No, you cant, especially since you wasted valuable practice time asking that question on here.

If it takes you 5 years to get to scratch, it would take you another 15 to get to the tour (not likely!!!). A 10 handicap is closer to scratch than scratch is to Tour Level.

Can you make it to scratch? Maybe. Can you be a club pro? Absolutely (easier than being scratch). PGA Tour member? Slim to none and slim just left town.

If you seriously want to see how good you can get, go for it. The Tour is the stratosphere and beyond comprehension for most of us (and I have played with PGA Tour players, mini-tour players, competitive club pros, local elite ams).  I would suggest that you set some attainable goals and see how it goes.

Pro golfers (PGA, European Tour and few others) are literally the top 200-300 golfers in the world. They are generally fine athletes with great hand/eye coordination who are extremely determined and driven, have been playing and taught professionally from a very young age and have strong financial backing. Your chances of getting this far are slim to none and I think if you really have a lot of talent and love the game, you might want to become a club pro or just a very good amateur golfer.

Ok so I realize it is a really really difficult goal to attain but how difficult is it? Like what are the percentages of golfers who actually make it on Tour? Or even to scratch? I do recall reading the differences between Tour pros and scratch golfers but my whole thing is if I'm dedicated enough and I find a coach to help me, I believe I can at least start being a decent competitive golfer. The only issue is the financial aspect and the fact that I'm a full time student and bartender. But every off day and all summer I play golf and most days I play 36 holes because it's 20$ for all you can play at my home course after 2pm. I just want to be the best and I'll do whatever it takes.

One step at a time. Get your handicap to <5 and start playing big-time amateur events. Then get it <2 and try for the US Amateur. You'll find out if you are on a track to make it toward the PGA.

I am not one to stomp on a dream, but Tour Pros play a game unlike anything we even see up close. They are not just better, they play a different game.

You CAN become a very good golfer. You CAN become better than most. Worth doing as the game is awesome.

Thank you for explaining it without crushing my dream and trying to be as negative as possible. I appreciate it. Golf is my favorite thing in the world and hopefully I can get my handicap to <5 and go from there

do you plan on going to the ocean course for the pga in august?  hang out at a par 5 tee box.  the ball speed, and trajectory will blow your mind.  then ask yourself if you can be a pro.

To expand on what Rusty stated, Becoming a pro is not something you can focus on as a short term goal until you're a scratch golfer.  I'm not trying to discourage you but you need to establish some short term and long term goals with hurdles and evaluate your progress against those goals.  Playing golf for enjoyment and playing it for a career are very different things.  Once you get to scratch you'll be in a better position to decide which route you want to take.

You ask me that without even knowing how many times I've gone to Tour events. I've gone to the Masters 3 times and the Heritage my whole life and I have been up close and personal when the players tee off. You don't know my ball speed or club head speed or attack angle, and have never seen me hit a golf ball or swing a club, so how can you just assume I must swing like a child or something? Im not asking if y'all think I can be a NFL linebacker or an NBA power forward. If I couldn't already do things that I felt were on the level of golfers who are much better than I am then I wouldn't even ask about the possibilities of becoming a professional golfer.

that's quite a resume for someone who, up until 2011, never owned a set of golf clubs.  so...seeing the majesty of augusta never prompted you to want to play before?  if you're the pga tour event jet setter you claim to be, i think you're more than capable of answering your own op.

call me old fashioned, but when someone says they bought their first set of golf clubs in 2011, it's safe to assume they haven't been to several tour events prior.  maybe your're just the benjamin button of golf, and are progressing in reverse order.  are you sure you haven't won a major yet?

in addition, no one else (myself included) knows your, "ball speed or club head speed or attack angle, and have ever seen you hit a golf ball or swing a club..."  so how can anyone give an honest assessment of your potential professional aptitude?

Dude whatever. You're acting like the omnipotent god of golf and you're a 20's handicap at probably 40 years old. Am I a "jet setter" or did I have a father who enjoys golf and always took me to golf tournaments? I live in south Carolina, grew up 2 hours from Hilton head and currently live 45 min from Augusta so I can safely say I've never taken a plane to a golf event. I enjoy the game and I've always enjoyed watching it but I also played other sports my entire life and never gave golf a shot until after high school when my career in other sports ended. I'm sorry you're bitter and upset and have to bring me down with you but It doesn't matter what you say. You don't know me and you can just keep living your negative life with a 20s handicap while I continue to improve. Quit replying if all you want to do is talk sh1t the whole time. D1ck.

Hey, I'm sure you're a great athlete.  Based on the distances you listed, you're already hitting it as far as a tour pro, so who knows if you can get there or not?  Like Erik said earlier, the odds are certainly against you.  Then again, google "beer man" and the Champions Tour...

I do have to say something though, which is to suggest you not be so damn sensitive when interpreting people's responses to your original post.  Your profile suggests you're an 18 handicap, and by your own admission you've only been playing for a short while.  It's perfectly reasonable to assume you're new to watching the game as well, and there's no reason you should take offense at the comments that were listed above.

I was a really good athlete too (played D1 college baseball), and took up the game about 11 years ago.  I've played with and against scratch and "+" handicap players, and even though I'm no slouch myself (currently a 3.9, low for 12 months is 2.7) I recognize there is a large difference between myself and those players, and another between those players and the Tour.

Until 2009, every year I played I improved noticeably from the year before, and eventually realized that improving further is just going to take more practice and time than I could put in.  There's no way to force it.  Guys who have played for 20 years just have a certain "golf wisdom" and an array of shots that don't translate when compared to your stock 180 yard 7 iron.

I really don't mean to sound like a jerk, but if you've been to 3 Masters and all the Heritage events you should appreciate just how precise and remarkable the best players are.  Personally, my first PGA event was an eye opener, not because of the amazing ball speeds or incredible driving distances, but because of the sheer number of players, all of whom are (by any objective standard) GREAT players.

I wish you the best of luck, of course, and hope that you can make some magic.

Next time you go to the Masters or Hilton Head, why don't you ask some of the participants? They are available before or after practice rounds, to or from the driving range or after their rounds, etc. Give them your bio (started playing last year, 18 handicap, and so on).  Ask them just how easy it would be, and see what they say.

Like my 5th grade teacher told me. You have a better chance of becoming an astronaut then playing professional baseball. For this situation we will switch baseball with golf lol. Well that guy was an  f'in a'hole

, but he had a slight point lol. Just kidding, he was wrong and of course you can. That's why my grandmother went to the school and cussed him out right in front of me, it was awesome haha.

So....which did you become?