Should I consider trying to make it as a professional?

[x129]

There a jobs out there for collegiate grads. Sure it isn't like 2005 where everyone got jobs. Now you have to be in the top half of your class and you have to apply yourself. Believe what you will but all the studies have demonstrated not getting a job for even 1 year has a huge negative effect on the average lifetime earnings.

If he was close, it would be one thing to take the gamble. He isn't. Maybe he can get there but probably (statically speaking there are what about 400 guys in the US that make a reasonable living playing golf?) not. Should he try? Sure. But there is no need to put off the rest of his life.  If he can't get down to scratch with 4-5 hours a day practice after a normal job, he isn't going to get to +4 with 10 hour days. That first hours give you 90% of the benefit. The rest get you those last couple of strokes. And if your are not willing to practice 4 hours around work , you don't want it bad enough.

[shades9323]

The saying, "if you have to ask" comes to mind in this situation.

[SoCal Blade]

I played Saturday with my usual gang of hackers and the group in front of us was a 4some of 2 father-sons..... Talking with the fathers in the grille after the round I discovered, this;

both boys shot in the high 60's,

they both played from the BLACK Tee's, and on this course it is intimidating and 7,100 yds.

Both boys had 1 eagle each during the round....

both boys were 14 yrs old

What was the question you asked again?

[x129]

I would also wager that neither one of them make the PGA tour.  Top 200 or so in the country is a very high bar.

Originally Posted by SoCal Blade

I played Saturday with my usual gang of hackers and the group in front of us was a 4some of 2 father-sons..... Talking with the fathers in the grille after the round I discovered, this;

both boys shot in the high 60's,

they both played from the BLACK Tee's, and on this course it is intimidating and 7,100 yds.

Both boys had 1 eagle each during the round....

both boys were 14 yrs old

What was the question you asked again?

[normdamarine]

Having spent the last 18 years searving my country (Which I have never questioned as to why) I will tell you this...

I never thought I was ever going to be on TV playing golf (I gave up that reality when I decided to serve my country for a 20 year career)... People will always question your chances but YOU JUST NEVER KNOW...

As I sit here in Afghanistan once again let me tell you one thing, LIFE IS SHORT! It can be taken away in an instant, this skin only comes once... If it were not for my wife telling me "You will be kicking yourself if you do not even audition for the show while you are in Afghanistan", I might have not done it (i almost did not take the trip to Orlando to audition)... Sure the results were not what I wanted, I did not play well but you know what, I did it... I went for it! And now I am here in Afghanistan with a smile on my face because I still won if you look at the big picture....

3 types of people on this planet... Those who watch things happen... Those who make things happen and Those who wondered WTF Just Happened! Which one are you...

Just my 2 cents...

[motteler621]

Originally Posted by normdamarine

Having spent the last 18 years searving my country (Which I have never questioned as to why) I will tell you this...

I never thought I was ever going to be on TV playing golf (I gave up that reality when I decided to serve my country for a 20 year career)... People will always question your chances but YOU JUST NEVER KNOW...

As I sit here in Afghanistan once again let me tell you one thing, LIFE IS SHORT! It can be taken away in an instant, this skin only comes once... If it were not for my wife telling me "You will be kicking yourself if you do not even audition for the show while you are in Afghanistan", I might have not done it (i almost did not take the trip to Orlando to audition)... Sure the results were not what I wanted, I did not play well but you know what, I did it... I went for it! And now I am here in Afghanistan with a smile on my face because I still won if you look at the big picture....

3 types of people on this planet... Those who watch things happen... Those who make things happen and Those who wondered WTF Just Happened! Which one are you...

Just my 2 cents...

just out of curiosity, who did you think was the best golfer out of the bunch? besides you,lol

[rsamsing]

Thank you for your service!

[clubchamp]

I always try to be realistic so I would see this in 2 ways,

1. You take a shot at it but if it doesn't work out you will probably struggle financially for years to recover from all the expenses. Especially since having a gap in employment will have some bearing with companies.

2. You could try to find employment that allows you to work on your game maybe get a job at a club or find something that works nights. I mean if you are that dedicated you can always find time to practice and this will help you with further endeavors outside of golf.

[normdamarine]

What I will say is almost all of those guys could go out and post a low score...

Originally Posted by motteler621

just out of curiosity, who did you think was the best golfer out of the bunch? besides you,lol

[Bo the Golfer]

My guess is Carl is not included in the "almost all of those guys" cataegory. To get back on topic I say go for it. You never know what life will bring you and you don't want to wake up 40 one day saying I sure wish I had tried this or that. Good luck to you and keep us posted!

Originally Posted by normdamarine

What I will say is almost all of those guys could go out and post a low score...

[x129]

I am sure Carl can go low on certain courses and certain day. If I remember the author in Paper Tiger was like a +1 and was putting up high 80s/low 90s in a bunch of tournaments. I must admit I can't believe a plus player could have so many blow up holes.

You will have regrets at 40. You just have to make sure they are the ones you can live with.

Originally Posted by Bo the Golfer

My guess is Carl is not included in the "almost all of those guys" cataegory. To get back on topic I say go for it. You never know what life will bring you and you don't want to wake up 40 one day saying I sure wish I had tried this or that. Good luck to you and keep us posted!

[bunkerputt]

I say go for it.  I would even say drop out of school, move to Florida, and focus on it every day for a couple of years if you have the opportunity.  Your school credits won't expire if you need to head back and finish.  Needing something to fall back on is just part of the commitment problem you mentioned.

Quote:

My thing is I have never really had the ability to practice and commit to the game the way you need to in order to be great.

If you are married and have a family, finish school and forget about golf.  Otherwise, stay away from the girls and move to Florida right away.  I'd also stay away from anyone who tells you to try to be the best amateur you can be first.  You have to commit to something to succeed at it.  Deciding not to commit until you see how it plays out will just waste time.

[x129]

The number of people that leave thinking they will go back and never do is pretty high. Golf will be there in 18 months and you can play a ton of golf over the next 18 months to get ready.

Going pro early gains you nothing. It will close a lot of doors (you can't play any of the amateur tournaments ) and open pretty much zero (you could play the US Open qualifer once and go on big break I guess). If you can win money on the minitour circuit then think about it. Even then it sounds like being an amateur has some advantages (lower entry fee in some).

Originally Posted by bunkerputt

I say go for it.  I would even say drop out of school, move to Florida, and focus on it every day for a couple of years if you have the opportunity.  Your school credits won't expire if you need to head back and finish.  Needing something to fall back on is just part of the commitment problem you mentioned.

If you are married and have a family, finish school and forget about golf.  Otherwise, stay away from the girls and move to Florida right away.  I'd also stay away from anyone who tells you to try to be the best amateur you can be first.  You have to commit to something to succeed at it.  Deciding not to commit until you see how it plays out will just waste time.

[mgolfer167]

Let me say this: If you are not totally, 100% committed to playing golf before you start on tour, you do not stand a chance. To play golf competitively, you must not just be determined.

The steps to becoming a professional (in my opinion)

1. A love of the game. If you are not head over heels about playing, you do not have the drive.

2. Starting at an early age. Not just whacking balls. Working with a teacher on both the physical and mental aspects of the game. Look at Tiger.

3. Tournaments. Testing your game. You need to know where you stack up with everyone else. Frankly, I think tournaments tell you about all you need to know. You learn if you crumble under pressure or excel in spite of it.

4. Golf school. One of the final steps. There, you will probably see your competition. It's like your first day at school: kill or be killed. Establish yourself as the best, and earn your card.

Here's how I look at it: even if I failed at making the tour, I could never live with myself if I knew that I could have gotten there if I had tried. But if you feel that way about academics, then that's the route I think you should take.

Best of luck.

[WilsonWedgeMan]

Originally Posted by x129

Power beyond a certain point is not as important as control. It gets a bit tougher (but not impossible) to have that coordination when you are tall. I am not saying height  is going to prevent you from going pro, but I wouldn't list it as an asset they way being 6'2 with the lanky frame might be.

Yes some guys start golf later in life and are sucessful. Larry Nelson took up the game at 21. He also broke 70 with in 9 months of starting to play. But those guys are not you. You are a guy that has been playing forever and are at a 4.5 handicap. You need to get ~8 strokes better to have this conversation. How long did it take for you to get from a 12 to 4? The effort to get from 4 to +4 is at least 1 order of magnitude harder than that.

Again you have ~18 months before having to deal with this. See how good you can get over that time period and then reevaluate.  If your sitting at +1 or +2 that is a heck of a lot different than if your a 3.

I started the game in my mid-40s..I didn't break 70 in 9 months..... or 9 yrs either for that matter....