Can I be a Tour pro?

[inthehole]

  KiawahConnor said:

Originally Posted by KiawahConnor

Your Open Question: I'm 23 and want to go pro in golf. Is it possible?

Ok so my friend invited me to Charlotte to play The Pointe golf course on Lake Norman and I went and embarrassed myself really bad. I had hit golf clubs and played a few times in my life but never seriously. I didn't even own clubs. But after that day I was hooked and wanted to play and make myself better.

That was February of 2011. I probably shot a 130-140. Seriously. But then my friend got a job at a sports store and got me a nice discount on a new set of Callaway x20's (4-PW) and the Razr hawk driver, 3 and 5 wood and I bought some new vokey wedges (56* and 60*) and I started playing seriously. I kept up with stats from the beginning on my golf app on my phone and have constantly noticed myself getting better. I started out in the 120's and have worked my way to an average round of 88. My low 9 holes is a 3 over par 38 and I'm still getting better. I've always been an athlete playing both qb and pitcher and also playing ice hockey and I have a very flexible shoulder. People at the course will sometimes comment on my swing and say it looks really fluid and powerful and my wedge play is my best aspect but I'm also good at putting averaging 30 putts a round.

Is it possible that if I get some good lessons or go to a golf academy, or get an apprenticeship with a golf pro, is it realistic that in a few years I can work my way into competitive golf and eventually be good enough to make the Tour?

Driver-280

3 wood- 265

5 wood- 245

4 iron- 210

5 iron- 200

6 iron- 190

7 iron- 180

8 iron-170

9 iron 155-160

PW- 140-150

56*-100-125

60*- 85

I am not saying by any means that I can be a pro, that's why I'm asking you guys what you honestly think. I love the game and if I started to dedicate my life to it by finding a job at a country club, as I am a bartender full time, I would hope to at least be scratch in 5 years. I just don't know how hard it really is.

Thank you!

I have about 150 rounds under my belt in the year and a half I've been playing ... went from a 36+ to an 18 GHIN.     I'm an athletic guy and know how much work I've put into it to get that far.   I can't even fathom the amount of work and time it would take me to get to scratch ... no less ever consider pro.    Getting to scratch is something very very few golfers ever achieve - if you ever get the chance to play with a bonafied scratch golfer, it is a humbling experience.   Getting to the professional level is akin to lottery winning odds.

[Kapanda]

  inthehole said:

Originally Posted by inthehole

I have about 150 rounds under my belt in the year and a half I've been playing ... went from a 36+ to an 18 GHIN.     I'm an athletic guy and know how much work I've put into it to get that far.   I can't even fathom the amount of work and time it would take me to get to scratch ... no less ever consider pro.    Getting to scratch is something very very few golfers ever achieve - if you ever get the chance to play with a bonafied scratch golfer, it is a humbling experience.   Getting to the professional level is akin to lottery winning odds.

Do you agree with people that say that 10 to scratch is closer than scratch to pro?

[inthehole]

  Kapanda said:

Originally Posted by Kapanda

Do you agree with people that say that 10 to scratch is closer than scratch to pro?

It is purely conjecture on my part - I'm pretty far away from even a 10 hcp.    I would estimate though that it would be harder for me personally to get to scratch than for a talented scratch player to get to say a +5 or +6 ... just a guess though - I have no insight into it whatsoever.

[MrSandman]

Tour pro? Not likely. That would be like you trying to make the Yankees in 5 yrs after just starting playing baseball. PGA of America/ club pro? Sure. Lots of work, but you could do it.

[MrSandman]

  Kapanda said:

Do you agree with people that say that 10 to scratch is closer than scratch to pro?

Yes

[PLAYHOUSE]

yes you can.

[TourSpoon]

  TourSpoon said:

A 10 handicap is closer to scratch than scratch is to Tour Level.

[quote name="Kapanda" url="/t/59573/can-i-be-a-tour-pro/18#post_729597"] Do you agree with people that say that 10 to scratch is closer than scratch to pro? [/quote] Not pro...Tour Pro. Remember there are guys out there that play min-tour events, shoot in the 60s that can't touch the Tour and never will. Back to the OP, set attainable goals and start putting yourself in competitive situations. Get down to @ 5 and hook up with your local and state amateur associations and start playing with some people who can show you the next level. If and when you get closer to scratch start playing some mini-tour events (you can play as an am) and see that level. You would be amazed how these guys are + golfers on courses they have just seen. Again, much different than becoming a scratch at your home track. I once had my friend come to a club I was working at to play a match. Without seeing the course he peeled off 7 birdies that day from 6800 yards on greens that were slower than what he was used to. He was in between the Canadian and PGA Tour. He played a dozen or so events and went to the Hogan (Nationwide, Nike Tour) and bounced around for a number of years between both Tours. The pros at my course were in awe of what this guy could do. When they heard he was going to the Tour, we really thought he had a shot because he was that good. He was that good, but he never lasted out there even though he could play to a + 4 or 5. This is what I meant by the quoted statement. Getting to scratch is not easy, but getting to a + 5 is really the stratosphere. Playing at a +5 level in competition and surviving is the most rarified air.

[xmanhockey7]

Get to the point where you consistently shoot under par on a course that is over 7,000 yards and we'll talk about playing some mini tours.

[Kapanda]

By the way, I just said "people" because I wasn't sure if I read that comment on this thread or elsewhere.

Just clarifying that, because on second read, my post sounds a little sort of "passive aggressive" to me :p

[meenman]

  KiawahConnor said:

Originally Posted by KiawahConnor

Dude whatever. You're acting like the omnipotent god of golf and you're a 20's handicap at probably 40 years old. Am I a "jet setter" or did I have a father who enjoys golf and always took me to golf tournaments? I live in south Carolina, grew up 2 hours from Hilton head and currently live 45 min from Augusta so I can safely say I've never taken a plane to a golf event. I enjoy the game and I've always enjoyed watching it but I also played other sports my entire life and never gave golf a shot until after high school when my career in other sports ended. I'm sorry you're bitter and upset and have to bring me down with you but It doesn't matter what you say. You don't know me and you can just keep living your negative life with a 20s handicap while I continue to improve. Quit replying if all you want to do is talk sh1t the whole time. D1ck.

This shows that you dont have the maturity to be much of anything.

Now do a search on this site of *going to be a tour pro* and see why you bore us to tears.

[TourSpoon]

  Kapanda said:

By the way, I just said "people" because I wasn't sure if I read that comment on this thread or elsewhere. Just clarifying that, because on second read, my post sounds a little sort of "passive aggressive" to me :p

Not an issue, I just wanted to clarify.

[Mordan]

Based on USGA handicap statistics, around 25% (1 in 4) of golfers who maintain a handicap make it to a 9 or better.

Less than 1% make it to scratch, so say 1 in 100.

If we say there are 250 PGA tour pros at any one point in time, and 26 million golfers with a handicap, that means about 1 in every 100000 golfers make the tour. This completely ignores the international aspect of the PGA tour, so the odds would be much lower in reality.

So while 1 in 25 single handicappers plays to scratch, only 1 in 1000 (at best) scratch golfers plays on the tour.

I think that gives an idea of how much harder scratch to tour is, than single figures to scratch.

[CraiginKSA]

Totally agree with Mordan. Scratch is really insignificant. It's not even the same game. The difference between scratch and a touring pro is like the difference between beer league softball guy and Albert Pujols. Tom Coyne breaks it down really well in his book Paper Tiger. Shooting par at the local muni or even Riviera or Sawgrass is nothing compared to holding it together for four rounds on a tricked up 7,400 yard meat grinder. Which, btw, the winner shoots 18 under. Also, just having unbelievable skills is no guarantee. The guy who is 125th on the money list right now with earnings of $361,000 is Stewart Cink. You may remember him - he won the freaking Open in 2009. Now he's struggling to make cuts. Further proof that golf is witchcraft. There are millions of golfers out there, but only a handful are making a living at it. There are guys who are + HC who are what they call Nationwide tour philanthropists. Which means their entry fees make up the prize money for the winners. It's really hard to exaggerate how good these guys are. I would NEVER tell someone to forget about their dream, but have a backup plan. And start practicing all the time. Good luck! Keep us posted on the progress.

[Infamous 273]

  KiawahConnor said:

Originally Posted by KiawahConnor

Dude whatever. You're acting like the omnipotent god of golf and you're a 20's handicap at probably 40 years old. Am I a "jet setter" or did I have a father who enjoys golf and always took me to golf tournaments? I live in south Carolina, grew up 2 hours from Hilton head and currently live 45 min from Augusta so I can safely say I've never taken a plane to a golf event. I enjoy the game and I've always enjoyed watching it but I also played other sports my entire life and never gave golf a shot until after high school when my career in other sports ended. I'm sorry you're bitter and upset and have to bring me down with you but It doesn't matter what you say. You don't know me and you can just keep living your negative life with a 20s handicap while I continue to improve. Quit replying if all you want to do is talk sh1t the whole time. D1ck.

ha, ok clown.  toughen up.  originally, i suggested you attend a tour event, and then conduct a self assessment; i fail to see where the negativity is there?  apparently, that struck a nerve.

as for my age: i've been golfing for 2 years.  I started when i was 28, so you do the math.  my last 3 rounds were 88, 92, and 89, so maybe it's time to say 19's, or 18's?  my point is, i don't play enough, or have time to practice enough to keep an official handicap.  i'm satisfied with where my game is in relation to the amount of effort i put into it.

if you want an honest, wholehearted critique of your potential, then post a video.  there are several qualified people here who would be more than happy to give you advice.  if you do, post one of your 125 yard 56* shot...to the best of my knowledge, only god, jack nicklaus, and a troll can hit a 56* 125 yards, but i'll give you the benefit of the doubt as long as you take your tampon out first.

[Harmonious]

With this thread, the OP becomes approximately the 8th beginner who has come here with grand plans to become a tour pro, because he really, really wants to become one.  And, to my knowledge or recollection, none of the previous pro tour dreamers has ever returned to these forums with an update on the tournaments they have won (or even participated in). Nor have any come back to say they have given up their dream.  Perhaps they are all out practicing, and are too busy to comment at this time.

[mck]

  KiawahConnor said:

Originally Posted by KiawahConnor

Your Open Question: I'm 23 and want to go pro in golf. Is it possible?

Ok so my friend invited me to Charlotte to play The Pointe golf course on Lake Norman and I went and embarrassed myself really bad. I had hit golf clubs and played a few times in my life but never seriously. I didn't even own clubs. But after that day I was hooked and wanted to play and make myself better.

That was February of 2011. I probably shot a 130-140. Seriously. But then my friend got a job at a sports store and got me a nice discount on a new set of Callaway x20's (4-PW) and the Razr hawk driver, 3 and 5 wood and I bought some new vokey wedges (56* and 60*) and I started playing seriously. I kept up with stats from the beginning on my golf app on my phone and have constantly noticed myself getting better. I started out in the 120's and have worked my way to an average round of 88. My low 9 holes is a 3 over par 38 and I'm still getting better. I've always been an athlete playing both qb and pitcher and also playing ice hockey and I have a very flexible shoulder. People at the course will sometimes comment on my swing and say it looks really fluid and powerful and my wedge play is my best aspect but I'm also good at putting averaging 30 putts a round.

Is it possible that if I get some good lessons or go to a golf academy, or get an apprenticeship with a golf pro, is it realistic that in a few years I can work my way into competitive golf and eventually be good enough to make the Tour?

Driver-280

3 wood- 265

5 wood- 245

4 iron- 210

5 iron- 200

6 iron- 190

7 iron- 180

8 iron-170

9 iron 155-160

PW- 140-150

56*-100-125

60*- 85

I am not saying by any means that I can be a pro, that's why I'm asking you guys what you honestly think. I love the game and if I started to dedicate my life to it by finding a job at a country club, as I am a bartender full time, I would hope to at least be scratch in 5 years. I just don't know how hard it really is.

Thank you!

Hard work and good instruction are great but the most important thing you need is freakish talent for the game.  My guess is that if you had that natural talent you'd be shooting much lower scores after over a year of golf.  It's not meant as an insult, but not everyone gets to be the best in the world

[Topper]

I'll assume for a moment that this is not a troll post. You seem to be in that "I'm-23-so-what-do-I-want-to-do-with-the-rest-of-my-life" phase.  You have a passion for golf (don't we all) and then experienced a "Eureka" moment where the obvious answer to your dilemma rushed to the forefront of your conscious, "play golf and get paid."  It's time to go pro.

You live in a prime golf area so have breathed the same air (potentially) as many of the world greatest golfers and drank the same water.  You love to watch golf. You've seen pro golfers up close (right?).  You have passion....desire.... and a do what it takes attitude.   All it will take is tens of thousands of dollars in coaching fees, range balls, equipment, greens fees, tournament fees, and travel costs.  And thousands of hours of practice.    It will be kinda hard and expensive, but it's definitely possible.

You don't mention whether or not you have the natural talent (genetics) that give professionals in any sport the edge over thousands of people who are just really good athletes who can hit the ball a "country mile."  No matter.  Hard work and tenacity can compensate for any gaps in sheer physical and mental prowess needed to be a professional athlete.

I say go for it.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Getting from beginner down to 18 handicapper IMO is the easiest jump in golf.  I'd say most people who put their minds to it and spend the time can do this within 2 years.  Consider yourself lucky if you play for the rest of your life and drop 10 more shots off your handicap.  As far a going pro, pretty much no chance.  Enjoy the game though.