What point is it too late?

[OCdude12]

I know I've read a couple threads about this subject on here before, but thought I'd put my own spin on things. Ok, so I'm a 24 year old young professional thats been working for a couple years now and have come to realize WORK SUCKS! I've been playing a lot more golf in the past year, getting back to playing in a couple tournaments for the first time since high school and have been reading golf books nonstop on my lunchbreaks cause I can't get enough. Shooting even par this weekend for the first time really got the juices flowing again too and believing that I haven't lost a whole lot of my game since my peak back in HS.

I could have played golf in college but never really pursued it (was down to a 1 senior year), thinking it would just take too much time and I was never really pushed to keep going. Boy, do I wish I had kept playing now. I've always believed anyone could become a pro golfer also, given enough time and money, and after reading the bios of some of the top amateur players from the NCGA, it got me thinking what it really takes to play high level golf.

Pretty much every one of the guys played in college and went on to have some solid performances in USGA events and even a couple went pro for a couple years. Last year at this time I was about a 7 handicap and have gotten down to a 3 now, however I've played 2 of the best rounds of my life in the past 3 months and I feel like my swing is finally getting back to its original form.

So what would it really take to think about the pro thing in say 3-5 years? My goals are to make match play in the SF city championship in Feb. first, and then hopefully keep playing well in other local qualifiers and have the index low enough to play in US Am qualifying this summer. I've never had a lesson and don't lift weights, so I'm thinking if I go see the local pro for some tips and start some workout routine, things can only improve from there, right?

So I guess my question is, are there people out there that didn't play college golf that have tried going the amateur route and are having success on any tours? I know there is so much more to actually playing golf for a living, but at what point do I quit this damn office job and try for what would really make me happy?

[jrm1493]

Go read Paper Tiger by Tom Coyne. he started as a ~15 and got to + within 9 months or so, but flamed out at all the big tournaments / q schools that he was able to get iinto. Obviously you would be starting from a much better initial position, but he was able to save up enough money so he didn't have to work at all, he just hit balls and played golf 12 hours a day for 9 months, even left his girlfriend behind in another state. Sounds like you don't have the money to do that if you're working but I don't know, maybe you could find some sponsors.

It sounds like you might have the talent, but I think at the highest levels everyone has that; its all drive and mental focus that gets you to the next level.

[OCdude12]

Paper Tiger is a great read and part of the reason why I think about this stuff way too often. But I also thought of another thing on my walk home that kind of relates to the Paper Tiger thing.

I know one guy my age that has tried the pro thing, still lives half the year down in the Palm Desert and has tried his luck at Q-school unsuccessfully. This is also the same kid that only knows golf - home schooled his whole life, not social at all, never played any other sport to my knowledge - which makes me think is he still playing golf because he's naturally that good or because thats all he knows (and his family is supporting him)? I also know another guy that might have one of the ugliest swings I've seen, however he plays golf probably 5 days a week and actually manages to play to a +1. Also not the athletic type by any stretch, which is one of the main reasons why I say anyone can become a scratch player or better given time.

You are correct, I do not have the money to pursue a year off like Coyne and can't see my family putting up the kind of money it would take considering they have no idea what serious golf is all about (I'm the only golfer in the family). If anyone has done it before, what's the first step to committing your life to golf and at what point did you decide to go for it? For the sponsor thing, how do you convince people its a good choice for them?

[DBeane]

Its never too late. Stay away from "examples" set by other people...how did this guy do, how did that guy do. Set your own goals and get the ball in the frickin' hole!!! The best way to find sponsors is to win tournaments. Don't be quick to pull the "pro" lever, there is more romance at the amateur levels (and its affordable). If your making a big enough splash at the amateur ranks, that will open doors. The kid that won the US junior am last year carries a +5 or 6 handicap, he is the real competition, not some egg head trying to fabricate a story for a book he thought might sell. My 2 cents...

-Beane

[kpaulhus]

If I ever win the lottery, Im going to devote my time to making the tour. Even if I dont make it, or never win, it would still be one hell of a journey. I would need about 10 mill to retire at 22 though. :)

[WUTiger]

I had my "chance" when I was 24. I was just out of the Marine Corps, and the head pro at a top-notch St. Louis area country club where I had caddied in HS offered me a job as second assistant pro.

I blew my chance, deciding instead to return to college and finish my degree. He would have given me lessons, and I could have possibly found work in the golf industry, broadly defined. I was about a 10 HDCP at the time - would have been a stretch to even get a permanent job as an assistant pro unless he had worked a miracle on my swing.

What I'm saying is, the golf industry is more than PGA Tour guys who play for $1 million on Sunday afternoon. There are other jobs in golf, if you find something you love. You'll figure out along the way whether you love golf, or just the thought of playing on Sunday. If you make it to the PGA Tour, go for it.

But, you'll never know until you try.

[1UnderU]

I would say it's not too late and seriously if you're going to pursue now is the time, at least before you have a solid career built and walking away is not an option. I do agree with the another poster it's not realistic to compare with others you know and how they go about making it to the next level. Second opinion, have back-up plan and a walk away point.

[Yukari]

  DBeane said:

... Stay away from "examples" set by other people...how did this guy do, how did that guy do. Set your own goals ...-Beane

That is the best advice for anyone in life. As the old saying goes, "you can lead, follow, or get out of the way". If you want to achieve your dream in life, you got to lead not follow. That means forget what anyone else has done. You got to take the bull by the horn and take charge. But that doesn't mean you got to be blind and stupid either. Be realistic and always have a back-up plan.

At 24, you got the whole world ahead of you. This is the time to chase your dream. I say give it a shot and set a goal for the next 5 or 10 years. If it doesn't work out by then, well like I said you should have a back-up plan also.

[ks8829]

Passion goes a long way! ask yourself if you are willing to work harder and longer than anybody like Vijay Singh. The ability to perform or hit a golf ball is one thing but also the ability to perform under pressure, like a putt to win the Masters.

Good luck, you got youth on your side, do you have the finances to keep you golf? you need a plan for yourself.

[telrod11]

I'd say give it a shot; If you don't you will always regret not trying.

That being said, I remember a quote from Davis Love years ago that I thought was pretty good. He was asked "How do I make it on the PGA tour?" His answer: "When you can beat everyone in your state, then you have a chance to make it on tour:.

Best of luck in whatever you decide.

[chingali]

  OCdude12 said:

have come to realize WORK SUCKS!

So does living in your car.

[OCdude12]

Lots of great advice here, thanks guys. I really enjoy hearing other people's experiences and have written down a few of the things said here as reminders to look at every once in awhile. I'm going to start by signing up for as many amateur events as possible for this season to really get my feet wet and commit to actually practicing certain things and not just hitting the ball when I go to the course. And since this is the first year in awhile I can play in the scratch tournaments, this summer is really going to give me an idea of where I stand against the competition and what I'll need to work on.

I've set some goals and made a mini plan so far, so we'll see how that goes and evaluate where to go from there. For now, if I can qualify for match play in the SF city in a few weeks I'll be a real happy camper and then CA state Am qualifying is in April so that'll be the next one I'll be really focused on. Sleeping in your car probably does suck but if I find a big enough one, say a Tahoe (throw an air matress in the back) might not be that bad ;)

[DocWu1948]

Re: Sleeping in car

Mark Hensby from Australia did this and made it to the PGA. I recall reading how he was sleeping in the parking lot at Cog Hill in Illinois (site of Western Open, now an alternate site for the BMW Open sites). The story said he got a practice time deal there but had no place to stay. Someone on the staff took pity on him in the late Fall and took him in. His career is down right now, but he has still earned over $1M playing golf.

[Ben]

I'm about to turn 34 and just tried my first hand at Asian Tour Q School. Been playing professionally for about 4 years now. I work at a club and luckily can devote pretty much everyday to practice, training and playing. I think that's really what it takes, the correct amount of time devoted to improvement. To put a hard number on it, 55 is too late. Other than that, put in your time and make it happen.

When I entered my first event as a pro, I was playing to a 4. I didn't care, I just went for it. I played that day with a local pro that has made a name for himself, actually it was Paul Holtby, who won the Euro Big Break. He gave me some solid words of encouragement at the end of the round that made me want to keep going. Practice, play in all the events you can to build your confidence. You'll play with players that are better then you, but you'll see that their game isn't terribly different than yours. At QSchool last week, I played two rounds with the guy that ultimately went on to win the whole thing (Artemio Murakami). Yeah, so he kicked my butt score-wise. But really, the only thing he and I differed on was the ability to get the ball close to the hole and take advantage of his birdie chances. He was attacking and I was trying to make it through. I learned from playing with him, and back to the point, you will learn from playing with others.

Anyway, start playing in tournaments!

[pittpanther]

  telrod11 said:

I'd say give it a shot; If you don't you will always regret not trying.

Step One: Move to Wyoming, the least-populated state!

[kleraudio]

  Ben said:

Anyway, start playing in tournaments!

Hey Ben, I know tournaments are pretty much out of the question for guys like me, but how does the OP find all these tournaments to play?? Hes amateur status, how can he get hooked up with so many tournaments?

Jim

[Shindig]

  kleraudio said:

Hey Ben, I know tournaments are pretty much out of the question for guys like me, but how does the OP find all these tournaments to play?? Hes amateur status, how can he get hooked up with so many tournaments?

I'm not Ben, but consider club tournaments as a starting point.

[Ben]

  kleraudio said:

Hey Ben, I know tournaments are pretty much out of the question for guys like me, but how does the OP find all these tournaments to play?? Hes amateur status, how can he get hooked up with so many tournaments?

http://www.amateurgolf.com/ Tons of listings for amateur events in there. Plus the mini-tours that I play have amateur divisions as well. COuld be the case in his part of the world.