Who doesn't want to be a pro?

[David in FL]

Yes. Absolutely yes.

Again, assuming we're talking successful tour pro, I don't know that I really believe any answer but this! :beer: I just don't buy the argument that golf somehow wouldn't be fun any more if I made a lot of money doing it. When talking to McDowell last year he made a comment that summed it up best. He said that his dad always complained that while he was in college, he never did anything but play golf and drink beer. Then he grinned and said........"and you know what? Now all I do is play golf and drink beer! It just doesn't get any better!" Tough to argue with the voice of experience!

[Fourputt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin007

Yes. Absolutely yes.

Again, assuming we're talking successful tour pro, I don't know that I really believe any answer but this!

I just don't buy the argument that golf somehow wouldn't be fun any more if I made a lot of money doing it. When talking to McDowell last year he made a comment that summed it up best. He said that his dad always complained that while he was in college, he never did anything but play golf and drink beer. Then he grinned and said........"and you know what? Now all I do is play golf and drink beer! It just doesn't get any better!"

Tough to argue with the voice of experience!

But for every Duffner there are several Andrew Loupes who are battling at Monday qualifiers, not earning enough to make up the travel expenses.  Those who are nearly ruined by the daily grind of just trying to survive on Tour.  It may sound like a dream, but for most that's all it ever will be.

If a person wants it and has the talent and desire to do it, then I say go for it.  Chase the dream, but it's not something that I was ever interested in attempting (of course I was, and still am, a talentless schmuck ).

[colin007]

Again, assuming we're talking successful tour pro, I don't know that I really believe any answer but this! :beer: I just don't buy the argument that golf somehow wouldn't be fun any more if I made a lot of money doing it. When talking to McDowell last year he made a comment that summed it up best. He said that his dad always complained that while he was in college, he never did anything but play golf and drink beer. Then he grinned and said........"and you know what? Now all I do is play golf and drink beer! It just doesn't get any better!" Tough to argue with the voice of experience!

"Oooh, look at me, I'm a name-dropping douchey name-dropper, me and my buddy McDowell, we're besties and we braid each other's hair and lip-sync into our hair brushes..." Lol ;-)

[David in FL]

But for every Duffner there are several Andrew Loupes who are battling at Monday qualifiers, not earning enough to make up the travel expenses.  Those who are nearly ruined by the daily grind of just trying to survive on Tour.  It may sound like a dream, but for most that's all it ever will be.

If a person wants it and has the talent and desire to do it, then I say go for it.  Chase the dream, but it's not something that I was ever interested in attempting (of course I was, and still am, a talentless schmuck   ).

You'll note, that due to the ambiguity of the OP, in both my posts, I was very specific in talking about being a successful tour pro.  Given that no one here has anywhere near the talent needed to make it in the Bigs, I think that it's safe to infer that the OP was asking us to assume that we actually did have the talent to do so.

"Oooh, look at me, I'm a name-dropping douchey name-dropper, me and my buddy McDowell, we're besties and we braid each other's hair and lip-sync into our hair brushes..."

Lol

[billchao]

Again, assuming we're talking successful tour pro, I don't know that I really believe any answer but this!

Yea, that does change things. If I knew I was going to be as good as Tiger Woods, then absolutely. I'd be doing myself and my family a great disservice by not pursuing that which I do best (and so much better than anyone else).

If it means being Bhavik Patel, then **** that.

I guess, since I have never declared myself a professional golfer, that pretty much answers the question right there.

[David in FL]

Yea, that does change things. If I knew I was going to be as good as Tiger Woods, then absolutely.....

Good God, I'd want to be better than that these days.....! ;-)

[Golfingdad]

Yea, that does change things. If I knew I was going to be as good as Tiger Woods, then absolutely. I'd be doing myself and my family a great disservice by not pursuing that which I do best (and so much better than anyone else).

If it means being Bhavik Patel, then **** that.

I guess, since I have never declared myself a professional golfer, that pretty much answers the question right there.

Sure, if you can tell me ahead of time that I would be as successful as Tiger or somebody like that and that I "had enough talent to get by on talent alone" (RIP Herb Brooks) then, yeah, I'd want to do that.  Then, of course, I'd be like Steve Stricker or somebody who only played some of the time and would pack it in occasionally if it ever got to be too tedious.

[Fourputt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fourputt

But for every Duffner there are several Andrew Loupes who are battling at Monday qualifiers, not earning enough to make up the travel expenses.  Those who are nearly ruined by the daily grind of just trying to survive on Tour.  It may sound like a dream, but for most that's all it ever will be.

If a person wants it and has the talent and desire to do it, then I say go for it.  Chase the dream, but it's not something that I was ever interested in attempting (of course I was, and still am, a talentless schmuck   ).

You'll note, that due to the ambiguity of the OP, in both my posts, I was very specific in talking about being a successful tour pro.  Given that no one here has anywhere near the talent needed to make it in the Bigs, I think that it's safe to infer that the OP was asking us to assume that we actually did have the talent to do so.

Unfortunately, I can't separate myself that far from reality.  I honestly think that even if I had the talent to play on Tour, I still wouldn't want that sort of a grind for my life.  I'm a confirmed homebody, and while I enjoy traveling on vacations, I would hate it as a lifestyle.  I think that right now I'm the happiest I've ever been, living in a tiny town that nobody ever heard of outside of about a 50 mile radius.  I visit with neighbors the way it used to be when I was a kid, but which modern suburbia has destroyed with 60 hour work weeks and 6 foot privacy fences.  This town has only a few zoning laws, but one of those restricts fencing to 5 feet max (and I haven't even seen one that high).  I love that rule.  It makes neighbors neighborly.

Any way, that's my take on it, and why I think you are wrong in saying that there is only one possible honest answer.

[Golfingdad]

and while I enjoy traveling on vacations, I would hate it as a lifestyle.

I agree with that ... if we're talking about airport lines, TSA, coach seats, hailing taxis and renting cars, lugging around bags, mediocre hotels, fast food, etc.

But if we're skipping past the "grinding" stage of a Monday qualifer and mini-tour guy to a successful tour pro, then we're talking about private jets (or worst case, first class), limos, valets, luxury hotels and luxury food.  I'm pretty sure I could get very used to that.

[RFKFREAK]

Don't get me wrong, if I'm a Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson level of successful and have earned the money they have earned, then, I'm sure I would do it not only for the good parts of that lifestyle (providing for my family, private plane, limo, etc.) but also because I think that would be easier to open doors in the other pursuits that I'd want to take.

But such a small percentage of people that want to play professional golf make it to that level so even if I were a talented golfer, I'm not sure I'd dedicate my life to that because for every Tiger or Phil, I'd imagine there are hundreds or thousands of guys who are struggling to make it.  Since the chances are that if I had talent, I'd be one of those struggling guys, I doubt I'd want to pursue that lifestyle and would rather the one I have now.

[DrvFrShow]

If I woke up in the morning with the sudden ability to play phenomenal golf for the next 7 or 8 years or even 3 years, good enough to be on the LPGA tour and get top 10 finishes, then do you even have to ask? They'd be covering the old lady from Washington on TV. I could have a pretty cushy second retirement, and have lived the dream.

[lumpuckeroo]

QFT.

You turn it into a job and now, all of a sudden, you're doing it 10 hours a day, 7 days a week ... no way could it possibly remain as fun as it is now when it requires that much work.  Obviously, I wouldn't mind more money and less work but that not at the expense of my love for golf.

I have to think that the Pro's aren't going at it 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, I would even question that they are going at it 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, but I have no idea.  I guess the deciding factor for me would be, am I happy being a pro?  Since I'm not one and have nothing to related to I can't answer that question, I do know that the grass is NOT greener on the other side of the fence.  I know 30+ years pounding on a computer has made me a decent living, but not sure I'm been happy doing it.  Maybe someday I'll be able to ask one of my grandson's if he likes being a Pro!

[Fourputt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

QFT.

You turn it into a job and now, all of a sudden, you're doing it 10 hours a day, 7 days a week ... no way could it possibly remain as fun as it is now when it requires that much work.  Obviously, I wouldn't mind more money and less work but that not at the expense of my love for golf.

I have to think that the Pro's aren't going at it 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, I would even question that they are going at it 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, but I have no idea.  I guess the deciding factor for me would be, am I happy being a pro?  Since I'm not one and have nothing to related to I can't answer that question, I do know that the grass is NOT greener on the other side of the fence.  I know 30+ years pounding on a computer has made me a decent living, but not sure I'm been happy doing it.  Maybe someday I'll be able to ask one of my grandson's if he likes being a Pro!

Have you never seen Tiger's work schedule even when he isn't playing a tournament?  His entire day is planned out between practice, meals, and sponsor or media obligations.  Then occasionally he takes a few days off to watch Lindsey compete and get a toof knocked out.

[Avalanche]

Yeah, I'd take a stab at being a pro—if I had the talent, that is.  And by talent I don't mean NCAA champion level of talent.  If I was as talented as, say, the #500 golfer in the world rankings I would make a run at it.  First though I'd get a college degree, paid for by a golf scholarship.  Then I'd gladly devote several years towards trying to make it as a pro.  I don't think I knock around for ten years on the mini-tours.  But maybe five.  It would be an experience of a lifetime.

[Shorty]

No for me. The press would chew me up and spit me out when I pointed out how stupid there questions are.

As long as they didn't see your writing, you might get away with it.

[cipher]

As long as they didn't see your writing, you might get away with it.

I don't get it.  There not going to notice anything.

[Golfingdad]

I don't get it.  There not going to notice anything.

Me two.

[CarlSpackler]

As long as they didn't see your writing, you might get away with it.

Dang it! :~(