I'm shooting for the Olympics, advice? Dont shoot me down

[Andy Pate]

EVERYTHING BELOW SUMMED UP (For those that dont want to read the entire thing):
Where can I get the proper training to be the best golfer I can be and/or possibly make it to the 2016/2022 Olympics?  (As explained below, I am willing to train all day, everyday, considering time is not an issue right now for me, and even moving would be an option)
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I am not an avid poster, but I am an avid reader of this forum and was hoping I could use your guys wisdom on this!

This is going to sound insane and such a childish goal, but a recent story gave me hope and whether or not I can make it, I am using it as a long term goal.

I want to be apart of the golf exhibition in the 2016/2022 Olympics so bad, and if I can't make that, I am sure prepping as if I could make it would easily prepare me for the pro circuit to say the least!

THE STORY THAT INSPIRED ME IN SHORT:
On the US Mens Beach Volleyball Team is a man named Gibbs.  He picked up V-Ball at the age of 21, never playing before in his life.  At 22, he decided to shoot for the Olympics.  At 24, he made it to the Olympics in London.

This shows me that with dedication, it is possible!

THE DETAILS:
I have been golfing everyday for the past 2 1/2 months, 3-5 hours a day (played from 6-12 as a kid).  I have gone from shooting a 103 to an 80, and progressively getting better, but I feel like I am not getting the proper training by just going out and golfing.

Considering the recent Olympics, I have been inspired to practice harder, especially after finding out that golf will be apart of it in 2016.  For the past two weeks I have been golfing everyday nothing less than 5 hours.

I live on a golf course with a membership, so access to a course is not an issue and time is not an issue, I am free almost the entire day.

My thing is is this, and I will use gymnasts as an example.  They wake up everyday and go to a gym from 9-5 and practice, and that is what I have been looking for and capable of doing.  I have so much time to dedicate to golf, but don't know where to properly designate my practice to.

I was looking at golf academy's and golf schools, but people say that is more directed to becoming a golf professional rather than vice versa.  I would rather designate my time and money into a swing coach or something similar to however the pros train.

My family is 100% behind me on this, but we havent been able to find the right way to approach this.

Any ideas of what I can do, where to go, etc.?

[Shorty]

Just put your name down.

There'll probably be 7 or 8 people applying and there might only be 2 places, so youll have to beat a couple of the other entrants.

The answer to your question is quite simple. Just become one of the best players in the world. Top 4 in the U.S. will probably do it.

Come on - seriously. Are you REALLY being serious. Seriously?

What you are essentially saying is "I am a beginner at tennis and would like to play at Wimbleon in 4 years. How can I do it?"

Here's an answer:

Get a coach

Play as much as you can.

Become the best player you can be.

Now - if you are three times better than the guy who just won his first two WEb.com tour events, that might put you in the top 300 in the world.

[David in FL]

My advice would be to pick another sport. You're a relative beginner at golf, so starting in another sport won't hurt your chances from that perspective. Look for one that has relatively few participants in the country. Something a little more obscure and talent rich than golf. Then follow shorty's advice to get a top coach and devote your life to that pursuit. I understand the desire. I spent a number of years with the same goal. Never got close even though I was a very high level collegiate/national fencer. Good luck, but realize the level of absolute commitment required, even for the vast majority that don't ultimately get there....

[TourSpoon]

What country? Moving to an obscure country and gaining residence will dramatically increase your chances.

[golf55]

you have to be a pro in order to play the olympics.

"The top 15 ranked players in the Official World Golf Ranking would qualify for the tournament, regardless of which country they come from.

The remaining 45 players would then be selected  based on their world ranking, but only if the country they represent does not already have two players competing in the Olympic tournament ."

If your american you have to be top 15 in world ranking. Can you be one of the best player in the world in couple yrs?

As of current standing in world ranking even phil mickelson, jim furky, ernie eles and dustin johnson  can't play in the olympics. You have better chance winning a major than to play in the olympics.

I also want to say good luck, so many guys are trying to turn pro. Now with web.com and new changes it's even harder to earn a PGA tour cards. Some guys practice a lot but they can never achieve their goals. If your really serious about this than you need talent + hard work.

[nevrino]

You might get some inspiration from reading this about K.J Choi.

He didn't start playing golf until he was 16 and now he is one of the best.

http://www.pgatour.com/golfers/024357/kj-choi/

[jamo]

I'd shoot for team handball. Seriously. Unless you can beat Tiger, Webb Simpson, Jason Dufner, Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, any number of superstars that'll debut between now and 2016, etc. (getting the point yet?), you're not making the team. This isn't like one of those "I'm Making the PGA Tour, and That's That!" threads. You legitimately have to be one of the best 15-20 players in the entire world to make the U.S. Olympic golf team. 250 (or thereabouts) play on the PGA Tour every year (in one event or another) and another few hundred play on the Web.com Tour. The amount of people making the U.S. Olympic golf team will be in the single digits. To use nevrino's example right above mine, even KJ Choi wouldn't make the U.S. Olympic team (if he was American), and he's about the most extreme "picked up the game late and turned into a star" example you could come up with. Here's another one: Ian Poulter would struggle to make the British team.

[sean_miller]

If he's generally extremely athletic and has a throwing arm worthy of a starting pitcher, then you might be on to something!!

Originally Posted by jamo

I'd shoot for team handball.

[Shorty]

Originally Posted by jamo

I'd shoot for team handball.

Seriously. Unless you can beat Tiger, Webb Simpson, Jason Dufner, Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, any number of superstars that'll debut between now and 2016, etc. (getting the point yet?), you're not making the team.

This isn't like one of those "I'm Making the PGA Tour, and That's That!" threads. You legitimately have to be one of the best 15-20 players in the entire world to make the U.S. Olympic golf team. 250 (or thereabouts) play on the PGA Tour every year (in one event or another) and another few hundred play on the Web.com Tour. The amount of people making the U.S. Olympic golf team will be in the single digits.

To use nevrino's example right above mine, even KJ Choi wouldn't make the U.S. Olympic team (if he was American), and he's about the most extreme "picked up the game late and turned into a star" example you could come up with. Here's another one: Ian Poulter would struggle to make the British team.

Man, you are such a hater. Stop killing the kid's dreams.

Seems to me that he's got what it takes and I wouldn't bet against him making the team.

[poser]

Pretty sure he is just desperate for attention. He has this exact same thread on some other golf forums.

[tiger187126]

Originally Posted by poser

Pretty sure he is just desperate for attention. He has this exact same thread on some other golf forums.

why not just do that 10,000 hour thing that other guy is doing?

[showtime583]

Here's what you need to do:

Step 1 - Watch the Olympics for a few hours

Step 2 - Watch golf on TV for a few hours

Step 3 - Take an Ambien or some other sleep-inducing drug

Step 4 - Sleep

The sleeping drug will undoubtedly give you some of the wildest dreams you can imagine - qualifying for the Olympics in less than four / eight years probably being the wildest dream you could possibly come up with.

[newtogolf]

I won't shoot you down, but I will suggest you review what's required to qualify for the Olympics.  If after you review it, you still believe that it's a goal you can achieve then I wish you luck.

[Shorty]

Originally Posted by poser

Pretty sure he is just desperate for attention. He has this exact same thread on some other golf forums.

Kickstarter of the month?

Not again.

Over and out on this one.

[bplewis24]

I congratulate the OP for putting a new spin on an old topic.  I did not see this coming.  This is great.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by poser

Pretty sure he is just desperate for attention. He has this exact same thread on some other golf forums.

Thanks for the heads up. Lame.

[onesome]

Personally I wish they would only allow amatuers, of course there are gonna bee those that want only the worlds best but the days of having to compete against the soviet unions professional athletes is over,.

[Jon Robert]

Originally Posted by Andy Pate

EVERYTHING BELOW SUMMED UP (For those that dont want to read the entire thing):

Where can I get the proper training to be the best golfer I can be and/or possibly make it to the 2016/2022 Olympics?  (As explained below, I am willing to train all day, everyday, considering time is not an issue right now for me, and even moving would be an option)

I am 100% behind anyone with a dream but I see a serious deficiency in what I read. Correct me if I have been mistaken.

YOU MUST GET A HANDICAP http://www.usga.org/handicapping.aspx?id=7792

This will be your one and only meaningful  measuring stick for a great many things.

a) your mechanical full swing skill

b) your short game touch

c) your course management skills

d) your emotuional mental abilities

I will confidently say that you could be the greatest player in the world but with out a handicap you will go nowhere.

For example:

Question: How Can I Qualify to Play in the U.S. Open?

Answer: Any professional golfer, or any amateur with a USGA men's handicap index of 1.4 or lower, can attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open golf tournament.

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