New Guy From Colorado

[ViktorHovlandFake]

Howdy! 

I'm a big Viktor Hovland fan, hence the name, and got back into golf during Covid after a 10-yr hiatus. Kicking myself for taking the time off since I played for a Community College and was simply much better back then. Looking forward to breaking 90 before the end of the year! Also, hit my first hole-in-one on my 2nd round returning to the game! I'm simply hooked for life now 🙂

Was curious if anyone here is or knows someone who has become a Golf Professional? I'm obviously a ways away with my handicap, but am curious if they've enjoyed the career? Or even a caddie at a nice golf club? I think a career change may be in order.

[mcanadiens]

28 minutes ago, ViktorHovlandFake said:

Also, hit my first hole-in-one on my 2nd round returning to the game!

My goodness. You are supposed to build up to those sort of things. I hope the rest of it isn't too disappointing for you.

29 minutes ago, ViktorHovlandFake said:

Was curious if anyone here is or knows someone who has become a Golf Professional?

We got a few people that fit that description. I am definitely not one of them.

Welcome back to the game.

[iacas]

I know a few, yes.

[ViktorHovlandFake]

2 hours ago, iacas said:

I know a few, yes.

Do you have to work full-time in one of these positions first? Can part-time be sufficient? I couldn't find a definitive answer.

[Shorty]

24 minutes ago, ViktorHovlandFake said:

Do you have to work full-time in one of these positions first? Can part-time be sufficient? I couldn't find a definitive answer.

You need to find your own path. It is not a "job" with a defined path.

If you want work, attend interviews and promote yourself.

If you want to be a professional, step one is to become a decent amateur first.

I know quite  a few professionals. Some hardly play at all, others wish they had their amateur status, others are essentially shopkeepers and some have realised that shooting a few under par most of the time is not enough to earn you a cent. Some make a lot of money, or did for a little while. Others couldn't break 70 if their life depended on it.

I also know guys who shoot low 60s frequently and know that they couldn't compete on any tour.

Some are teachers and, like every job, some enjoy it, some don't appear to. What you could experience has little to do with how someone else feels/felt.

All of them got where they ended up by playing the game, being good at it and not speculating about being professional before they could break 100.

Edited July 9, 2021 by Shorty

[Vinsk]

You live in Colorado…a golf job can only be part time.😃

[Shorty]

11 minutes ago, Vinsk said:

You live in Colorado…a golf job can only be part time.😃

Is SkiGolf a thing?

[iacas]

1 hour ago, ViktorHovlandFake said:

Do you have to work full-time in one of these positions first? Can part-time be sufficient? I couldn't find a definitive answer.

I went through the PGA "associate" program. Colleges offer them as the "Professional Golf Management" program, but you can also self-study and go through three levels (after pre-qualifying).

58 minutes ago, Shorty said:

If you want to be a professional, step one is to become a decent amateur first.

That's not necessary. In the U.S. you have to pass a PAT. Probably true in other country's PGAs as well.

The first post there tells a bit of the history with links to a few relevant topics.

58 minutes ago, Shorty said:

All of them got where they ended up by playing the game, being good at it and not speculating about being professional before they could break 100.

Thank you for your anecdotes @Shorty. While they may be common, they're not 100% representative.

[Shorty]

25 minutes ago, iacas said:

 

That's not necessary. In the U.S. you have to pass a PAT. Probably true in other country's PGAs as well.

 

I don't mean have a decent amateur career. I mean be a decent amateur player. You don't get poor players passing PATs.

Edited July 9, 2021 by Shorty

[iacas]

1 hour ago, Shorty said:

I don't mean have a decent amateur career. I mean be a decent amateur player. You don't get poor players passing PATs.

It's not too tough. And you can certainly enter a PGA program before you've passed the PAT.

But… you'd want to be awfully sure of your chances before it gets to the point where you have a year or less left to pass or the work and $ you've put in so far goes to waste.

[Shorty]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

It's not too tough. And you can certainly enter a PGA program before you've passed the PAT.

But… you'd want to be awfully sure of your chances before it gets to the point where you have a year or less left to pass or the work and $ you've put in so far goes to waste.

Not too tough for an experienced golfer like yourself who went into it being pretty sure of shooting within a couple of par in the playing test having followed a highly organised and rigorous program to get there. And 10K.  Don't sell yourself short. I know you're being supportive and are simply passing on information, but desire can only get people so far. You got to a point in your game and your interest in teaching the game where it became a logical and organic expression of who you were as a golfer at that time. I am very aware that false modesty has never been your thing, but ......the odds were in your favour for a reason. Planning and pure pragmatism. Those are rare attributes.

[Nave]

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