Tour Prospects - Let's get real

[Shorty]

A lot of people seem to be in the mood to contemplate whether they, or someone else, has the potential to play on the Tour.

In Tales from Q School, by John Feinstein, there is a section about Brian Henninger.

One year he played the final two stages of Q school in a combined total of 38 under par.
He was 25 under in Stage 2 and 13 under in Final stage.
That's an average of almost 4 under par for ten rounds.

He missed getting his card by one shot. 38 UNDER PAR WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. And that is not an unusual story.

I suppose what irks me about the (apparently) endless discussions about turning pro and BS handicaps etc. is what seems to me to be a complete lack of appreciation for how good really good players are and how incredibly good the top players are. If you haven't seen these guys in the flesh, you haven't seen them, no matter what you have seen on TV. Five minutes on the practice tee will convince you that they are playing a different game.

So next time someone says "I've just started playing piano and think I can pick out most of the notes in Chopsticks. Do I have the potential to become a concert pianist?" .....................you'll know what to say.

[RocketSauce]

lol, i know exactly what youre talking about. maybe you've seen the thread by the guy who just started playing, shot a 41 on a executive course (9 holes of course), and thinks he can go pro too? they just have no idea....

[anthonykim3]

i saw that one that was a good laugh yeah no one realises how hard it is i get guys my age thinking there going pro all the time when realilty is there only a 4 handicap at age 15 lets hope they play college golf lit alone pga tour

[Prairie Golfer]

I think going from a 36 handicap to a scratch golfer means you are about halfway to the PGA tour. Good luck on that second half, it's a doozy.

[RMD]

In the mid-90's I had a guy work for me that spent spent 3 years on the Nike (now Natiowide) Tour. Playing with him was truly humbling...and he had no shot.

[Stacey_E]

As with ANYTHING on the face of the earth, the difference between being a really good amateur and a mediocre professional is huge. At some point, the improvements needed is exponentially greater as the skill improves.

We all know a great musician that gigs local clubs. They are light years behind the paid studio and touring musicians. We all have a favorite local resturaunt. If you put that cook's dishes against a Gordon Ramsey or Jacque Pepin their dishes would taste like dog food.

In a nutshell, when it comes to the PGA, these guys really are that good!

[uttexas]

I've been to several tour events (PGA, LPGA, Canadian Tour, Nationwide, European). The sound that these guys and girls make when the club face strikes the ball is pure heaven, and they make this sound almost every time. With the irons, the sound is a crisp "click". I don't hear that sound anywhere else (and I've played with several "scratch golfers")

[Prairie Golfer]

If I remember correctly, Lee Trevino once said you could think about turning pro if you played ten courses from the back tees that you had never played before and broke 70 on each of them. And that was decades ago, the standard has probably been raised a bit since then.

[NorCalGolfer]

We all have a favorite local resturaunt. If you put that cook's dishes against a Gordon Ramsey or Jacque Pepin their dishes would taste like dog food.

being a chef, i can honestly say it'd be easier to replicate a meal of said chefs than to replicate a round of ANY PGA Tour Pro.

[jrode]

We all know a great musician that gigs local clubs. They are light years behind the paid studio and touring musicians. We all have a favorite local resturaunt. If you put that cook's dishes against a Gordon Ramsey or Jacque Pepin their dishes would taste like dog food.

You can't really compare being a musician to a golfer.

In golf, most people just don't have the skills to become a professional. For musicians, there are plenty of people who gig local clubs that are much better musicians than a lot of highly successful artists, they're just never discovered.

[Stacey_E]

You can't really compare being a musician to a golfer.

Oh but you are assuming that all the skills involved in being a successful professional musician pertain to musical performance skills. There are song writing skills, PR skills, people skills, marketing of oneself...the list is infinate. Trust me I agree that skills on the fretboard, keys, skins (whatever) are often greater among the amateurs than the pros. I have to totally agree on that one. But it takes the total package to be successful. That's the same thing I see in pro golfers, the total package. They don't just hit long, they have great short games, mental tougness, putt well, can deal with touring pressure, deal with the press, etc.

[golf_junkie27]

Like most professional athletes, golfers dominate the nuances and small intracies that make up the huge gap. Case in point, three foot putts. How many times have you read or heard someone say "So and so is 97 out of 100 inside three feet his last five tournaments." You then go to the putting green, putt from 3 feet and proceed to make 80 or 85 out of 100. Sounds great, right? The difference is then 12 strokes. Those 12 strokes are not just the difference between winning and losing. They are the difference between missing a cut and making a little bit of money.

As a kid, I always thought I would play MLB as a catcher. When I was about 13, I had the opportunity to go to a clinic where Dave Valle, who caught for the Seattle Mariners, was putting catchers through some defensive drills. After about an hour, I asked him how often he did these. He said every day and that these were the easiest drills. Right then, I knew: I was nothing more than a pimple on a catcher's ass.

[Prairie Golfer]

As a kid, I always thought I would play MLB as a catcher. When I was about 13, I had the opportunity to go to a clinic where Dave Valle, who caught for the Seattle Mariners, was putting catchers through some defensive drills. After about an hour, I asked him how often he did these. He said every day and that these were the easiest drills. Right then, I knew: I was nothing more than a pimple on a catcher's ass.

a catcher with a .237 lifetime batting average

[Big_M]

Wait a second guys... I'm 29, but I have mad crazy ass skills... shot even par for 9 holes earlier this year. I have a video camera and some time on my hands. If I practice every day this summer, and play 250+ rounds of golf... do you think I can get my handicap from 8ish to +3 and give it a go on the Nationwide... not the PGA, just the Nationwide or maybe Canadian Tour.

Oh... I just got some new PING irons and a G10 driver... sooooo... whadya think?



While I'm at it I might try out for the Redwings... they'll need a good defenseman next year. Or, maybe I could run for President, or make myself disappear.

[uttexas]

How long has it taken you to get to 8.2
I remember hearing or reading somewhere that Greg Norman started golf later than most and was scratch within a year. My general feeling is that unless you start golf very young or you have incredible god-given talent, the odds are against you from making a living playing golf.

A good short-term goal might be qualifying as a PGA teaching professional.

A: In order to become a PGA teaching professional, you must first become eligibly employed, pass a playing ability test, enroll and complete the Golf Professional Training Program while working under a Class A PGA Golf Professional. This apprentice program usually takes three to five years to complete and is quite difficult; however, upon completion you will have passed a world class training program that will have provided you with the necessary skills to become a successful teaching professional. From here, continued education and lots of time in the "trenches" (giving lessons) will be needed in order to realize your potential.

[uttexas]

Qualifying as a PGA professional is done via two routes. The first, and most popular, is by becoming a registered assistant at a PGA recognised golf facility where trainees complete a three year Foundation Degree in Professional Golf Studies, accredited by the University of Birmingham. The degree involves working through study guides, assignments, residential weeks at the National Training Academy at the PGA's Belfry headquarters, exams and attaining coaching awards. Among the subjects studied are golf coaching, sports science, equipment technology, business management, marketing, golf rules and tournament administration.

The second route into the PGA is via a three year BA Hons Degree in Applied Golf Management Studies at the University of Birmingham. The AGMS is the first degree of its kind in the UK and is ideal for golfers interested in pursuing senior managerial roles in golf.


Oh, didn't see the punch line.

[MiniMoe]

Being a golfer that is able to shoot under par on any given golf course if I play well, I might have a shot at being a pro.... but I know deep down inside that it takes more than I have right now. The mini tours are full of guys like me that think they can make it some day. Some do and some don't... some are still out there living on sponsor's money having the time of their lives, knowing full well they will never make it on the big tour. What most people don't understand is the difference between me making it or not is very, very small. Experience is the key to gaining confidence. Once you have confidence, the sky is the limit. It is not really about ball striking. Most of the guys hit the ball the same. It is about the ability to grind and turn a 74 into a 70 or better. It's all about getting the ball into the hole in absolutely the fewest shot possible. Think about it. Over the course of a season, the difference between #1 on the money list and someone fighting for their card is probably only 1 shot per round.. or less.

What it really takes to be a pro golfer is giving up everything and turning your hobby into a job and making it a personal responsibility to give it everything you have, holding nothing back. Do I have the skills to do it? I think I have a shot. Do I have the desire to make a passion into a burden.. a responsibility? I cannot sacrifice that so easily. Besides, my wife would kill me. heheheh

Oh, it takes a lot of money. Better find a sponsor.

[uttexas]

All the best to you M.M. truly inspirational.

PS I was just in SA with the family (also brought down office staff and their SOs) to visit your great city (The incredible SA zoo, Sea World, IMAX, river walk, Alamo, Fogota)

Drooled while flying over and driving past the many great courses of SA. Just couldn't bring the clubs down (business trip/conference + all the family activities)