Can I be a Tour pro?

[Timothy Voyles]

*insert random dream crusher comment*

GOOD LUCK!!! Seriously, everyone has to have dreams.

[carrx]

Originally Posted by Kapanda

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

If you're talking "tour pro", I'd say yes.  A legit 10 can break 80 on a reasonably difficult track on any given day.  The room for improvement between the 10 and the "0" is pretty obvious, a little bit of short game, a little bit of course management, a little bit of technique, a lot of attitude (don't forget talent) and a lot of reps can get you to "scratch".  I personally have never gotten below a 1.7, and even that included the best 3 month stretch of golf I have ever played in my life.

But a touring pro...

Put another way, in my men's club we have two honorary members who play on tour (Paul Goydos and John Mallinger).  Their "low index" for the past 12 months are:  +5 (Mallinger) and +6 (Goydos).  These aren't hall of fame players, but good, journeyman tour pros.

[hendog]

Originally Posted by 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.

Well said. It is easy to drop strokes when they are penalties and duffs and missed 3 footers. Once you get those mostly eliminated, you have to start shaving "real" strokes. Better drives, better recoveries, better approaches, better sand play, better chips/pitches, better putting, better course management, better metal approach, better creativity, better shot shaping, better practice, better swing, and on and on and on.

You may be a phenom, who knows, but imagine the paradox of going half way home, then going half way home again and continuing this until you get home. The paradox is you will never get home, you will only ever get half way there.

The better you get the harder it is to get better. Do as others have said. Work on a benchmark plan. When (if) you get to a benchmark, start working on the next. If you keep knocking them out then great, but when (if) you hit the wall, you'll know it.

I picked up the game @ ~25. Like you I was an athlete growing up (All-American 2nd Baseman). I'm 37 now. Here is a 12 year history of my handicap and I've just recently hit the single digit benchmark and working towards being a 5. Look at the plateaus. Improve, level off, get a little worse, figure it out, improve again and so on. Maybe this is not normal but I imagine it is pretty typical.

Good luck!