Can he do it?

[Hoovedawg]

Heres the deal. I have a 23 year old friend who has done very well in a business that he started (like drives an aston martin well). He decided hes going to take the next few years and try to go pro. Hes planning on getting daily private lessons from a very reputible teacher. Besides these lessons he plans plays/practices for 3-6 hours a day. Hes been playing golf for 5 or 6 years and is a scratch player. The biggest flaw in his game is his short game and he averages 300 yards or so on his drives.

So, do you think he can do it? What chances would you give him, of making the PGA tour, how about on of the smaller tours?

[David in FL]

Given what you've told us, it sounds like he has all the components necessary to give it a good go......

Time, commitment, capital, and basic athletic talent. I wouldn't bet against him.

[IcemanYVR]

I don't want to sound arrogant, but if I was given enough money, I know I would be at Q school within 3 years.

The biggest obstacles beyond the game itself, are time, and money... and if those are taken care of, it removes a great deal of external pressure and allows you to focus on the golf.

Be sure to be supportive of your friend, and wish him luck for me

[Ian]

  IcemanYVR said:

I don't want to sound arrogant, but if I was given enough money, I know I would be at Q school within 3 years.

Iceman is right, time and money are HUGE factors...

[MiniMoe]

If your friend pretty much has the game to go pro, then whether he makes it or not depends on his head. Some guys have lots of talent, but don't make it because they get in their own way. Other guys do make it without a real solid game because they extra fight on the inside. Do I think he can make it.... yes, but it is going to take more than just working on his golf game. Have him read lots of books about golf mentality--- stuff to get him to not think about his swing all the time and free up his imagination.

[Quinn07]

OH MAN...this is my ultimate dream and something I would definitely do if I won the lottery. Like it was previously mentioned, there are hundreds of guys out there that have all the game in the world, but just can't handle it mentally. If he has played college golf and other competitive amateurs, and has done well in them; then YES I say he can. However if he's just a regular amateur and doesn't have much competitive experience, I am going to say that he's going to have a very difficult time being successful. There is a big difference between your local match play and professional tournaments.

I wish him all the best and I sincerely hope he succeeds.

[ks8829]

Money, time, talent might give him a chance but your asking someone who not experience the competition of Q school and day in day playing competitive golf matches.

scale of 1 to 10, I give him a 3 or 4 chance, but I wish him the best, his internal fortitude will certainly show during his process of going pro.

[65withatriple]

For every 5 handicapper who thinks all thats keeping them off the tour is time and money there are 5 rich kids who practice and play and get lessons everyday and they never make it. I consider myself a pretty good golfer and have played with guys who have played on the PGA Tour and its sick how good they are.

Im not saying the friend wont make it, because its definitely possible. Time and money and athletic ablilty are very important but if his head isnt right he wont even get close. I think Bobby Jones said "Golf is played mainly on a six-inch course; the space between your ears." SO TRUE!!!!!!!



I hope he makes it!!!

[golfswede]

I agree with Iceman as well. Time and money will decide if he will make it or not. If this is what he really wants, he must go for it once he gets started and never hesitate. If he gives up, it will just be a waste of a lot of money and time. He must also be prepared to do a lot of training and he have to compete a lot if he becomes a pro. As a result, he will probably get less time to work with his company. Maybe he has to choose between his company and the ••••••••ing, or what do you think? I wish him good luck!

[Shorty]

  Hoovedawg said:

So, do you think he can do it? What chances would you give him, of making the PGA tour, how about on of the smaller tours?

To be honest, statistically you'd have to say that he has virtually zero chance of making it on the PGA Tour. You would know now if he had a chance because he'd be shooting low 60s regularly now. You can not buy a golf game.

As for the smaller tours where players put up their own money to play every week against each others with no gallery, I'm sure he could give that a go. He might find the Aston a bit uncomfortable to sleep in , though.

[DJYoshi]

  65withatriple said:

For every 5 handicapper who thinks all thats keeping them off the tour is time and money there are 5 rich kids who practice and play and get lessons everyday and they never make it. I consider myself a pretty good golfer and have played with guys who have played on the PGA Tour and its sick how good they are.

absolutely true! The game has grown and is commercialized now...but have we stopped to think about how expensive it is straight up?

take raw talent aside.... lessons from a regular instructor is like $100 an hour. if he's a scratch golfer in 5 years of play, that's pretty awesome...that's my goal what he accomplished.... but he'll need to go thru an intensive program put on by 1 of the top programs. don't forget there are junior golf schools now..... haney runs something like this for high school kids. there are kids that have had clubs in their hands, are rich, and have been playing since birth... i've seen some of them...nasty players....shooting in the 60's on the reg like it's nothing when we play.... but they weren't good enough to make it thru round 2 of Q school. i'm not saying sh** to discourage....b/c i really would like to hear a cinderella story where david feherty would say: and can't you believe it..he's only been playing the game for less than 10 years.... that'd be real cool

  MiniMoe said:

If your friend pretty much has the game to go pro, then whether he makes it or not depends on his head. Some guys have lots of talent, but don't make it because they get in their own way. Other guys do make it without a real solid game because they extra fight on the inside. Do I think he can make it.... yes, but it is going to take more than just working on his golf game. Have him read lots of books about golf mentality--- stuff to get him to not think about his swing all the time and free up his imagination.

with that +4 handicap of yours...don't you think you're good enough to try? shoot +4 is awesome.

[Jay-Bird]

  minimoe said:

if your friend pretty much has the game to go pro, then whether he makes it or not depends on his head. Some guys have lots of talent, but don't make it because they get in their own way. Other guys do make it without a real solid game because they extra fight on the inside. Do i think he can make it.... Yes, but it is going to take more than just working on his golf game. Have him read lots of books about golf mentality--- stuff to get him to not think about his swing all the time and free up his imagination.

exactly!!!

[Iowa Hawkeye]

23 and already that well off... Did he have money going in or is it self made?


Also, what are some of the smaller tours where a rook can "cut his teeth"? Is everything funneled through PGA or are there other small time sanctioning bodies that you could use as a stepping stone to Q school?

[TomDonS]

I have repeatedly looked into going pro. Has he won every amateur event around his area. If so. Qualified for the US AM, Pub links, etc..... If he can get through that with out much difficulty......maybe. Its totally different. I played in a mini tour event and was shocked and I've been a plus handicap for years and play in MULTIPLE tournaments successfully.

He's gotta have it above the shoulders.

[lumpuckeroo]

Wasn't this an episode on Friends, he conquered the business world now the physical world.....

[Shorty]

  IcemanYVR said:

I don't want to sound arrogant, but if I was given enough money, I know I would be at Q school within 3 years.

Have a go anyway!

Borrow the $5000 entry fee. Say you'll pay back 200% if you make more than $50000 in your first year. Join the other 1200 players in Q school, all of whom consistently shoot sub par playing for 30 spots in the final stage. Easy. Millions on offer every week. Getting into Q school is the easy part.

[too keen to young]

I think thaat the point everyone seems to be slurring your friend on, the facthe has monet i believe is one of the best thing going for him. lets not forget that he worked hard to make his his money and i think this will set him up because in buissness you need to always be looking to what the next move is and golf is no different your always thinking what your next shot will be.

[jrm1493]

Of course it is possible. I have no chance of going pro in a sport, but I do have a job that only a few hundred people in the world have and that they make movies about, so it is possible to accomplish your dreams.

It takes luck and hard work; If he has been as successful as you say then he knows about both of those so he probably has the right stuff between the ears.