Who doesn't want to be a pro?

[MiniBlueDragon]

Not a chance, although the rest of the "No" answer doesn't apply.  I play golf for fun and relaxation, and I have never had an interest in turning it into just a job.  I have one other hobby (photography) that I love and have been involved in for as long as I have golf, but I have had no desire to make that a profession either.  I view both hobbies as recreational, not vocational.  Both require a great deal of talent and dedication, as well as a little luck, to make them successful occupations, and I don't have any desire to work that hard at either.

I've taken up cooking more recently (mostly the last 10 years or so) as a sort of a hobby too, and while I love it, I have no desire to take it any farther than just in the home.  I've done some reading up on it, and the thought of cooking in a professional kitchen seems like the stuff of my worst nightmares.

Too often, turning a fun recreational activity into a vocation sucks the fun right out if it.  It sounds like a great deal until you find out just what is actually involved.  Pro golf is not all hot women and playing golf and rubbing elbows with the guys on Tour.  It's working hard on our game, for most it's just about a 24/7 job.  I'ts never really having a home, always on the road, living in hotels and eating in restaurants.  Very few pro golfers even make it to that point - most end up in club pro jobs if they stay with golf at all, playing mini tours for chump change - and fewer still reach the point where they can take enough time away from touring to somehow make a semi-normal family life.

Thanks but no thanks.  I have a good retirement from other pursuits, I can play as much as I want or don't want, and I still love the game after 40 years.

This.

Becoming a professional golfer is akin to becoming a professional gambler; with a lot of hard work, dedication and patience there's a possibility it might all go well for you and if it does you might be minted for life. There's also a very high chance that you'll invest a large amount of money, hard work, dedication and patience just to watch it all crumble around you and you'll end up working a job solely for money, bitter about how you "nearly made it" and how you missed the opportunity to meet the right partner and build a normal life.

Beautiful wife? Got.
Beautiful baby boy? Got.
Plenty of spare time for family? Got.
Earning enough money not to struggle? Got.

The only thing I'd change would be the specific job I do and that's this year's goal. The rest of my life I'm happy with.

[Lihu]

Given the two choices, I chose professional golfer rather than ring up sales at Dick's. What kind of poll is this anyway?

[Shorty]

Given the two choices, I chose professional golfer rather than ring up sales at Dick's. What kind of poll is this anyway?

It was started by someone who, like Dan and the "want to turn Pro" types think that "pros" are rich and famous.

He doesn't understand that most sell drinks and chocolate bars and play once a fortnight if they are lucky.

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lihu

Given the two choices, I chose professional golfer rather than ring up sales at Dick's. What kind of poll is this anyway?

It was started by someone who, like Dan and the "want to turn Pro" types think that "pros" are rich and famous.

He doesn't understand that most sell drinks and chocolate bars and play once a fortnight if they are lucky.

Or teach First Tee kids. . .I actually have met a few CPGA and mini-tour players teaching the kids. I think one of them is a current Champions tour player, I'll need to check on that.

[golfbarefoot]

I am secure. I started my career as an architect, then took time off for law school. Don't get me wrong.. But after all the school, etc... I'd be a touring pro in a NY minute. Anyone that says otherwise, that is posting here, is lying.

[Lihu]

I am secure. I started my career as an architect, then took time off for law school. Don't get me wrong.. But after all the school, etc...

I'd be a touring pro in a NY minute. Anyone that says otherwise, that is posting here, is lying.

The answer depends heavily upon whether you have the talent to do so as well.

It should probably be stated that "Anyone who is or was scratch or better who is posting here probably had at least some inkling to become a pro."

So, I have no aspirations at professional golf, but that come as no surprise given my handicap.

[isukgolf]

As long as it involves my money for nothing, and chicks for free you can count me in!

[Lihu]

As long as it involves my money for nothing, and chicks for free you can count me in!

Unless it involves putting you in "Dire Straights". ;-)

[iacas]

I'd be a touring pro in a NY minute. Anyone that says otherwise, that is posting here, is lying.

Uhm, no.

[CarlSpackler]

Uhm, no.

+1

[golfbarefoot]

Uhm, no.

Ok. I am dying to hear this one. Assuming you're obviously scoring well... Right? You would not want to be a touring pro? Can I ask this? Or

[golfbarefoot]

Uhm, no.

Ok. I am dying to hear this one. (The question is fantastic...and is assuming you're obviously scoring well..and family no questions.. Strings..etc.... Right?) That being said, you would not want to be a touring pro? Why? You rather run a website? Really? The activity you have the most passion for, you don't want to take to the highest level if it was possible..... Uhm no...

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iacas

Uhm, no.

Ok. I am dying to hear this one. Assuming you're obviously scoring well..and family etc.... Right? You would not want to be a touring pro? Why?

I read somewhere that if you're not in the top 100 of any of the tours, you essentially make no money. There is a book called "Tin cup dreams", written about Esteban Toledo. A really amazing prodigal Mexican golfer, who got his card and lost it. It was a story about his slow and painful climb up into the top 100, where he could finally be "noticed". Even then it seemed like he was just able to make enough for his family and a comfortable retirement.

It sounded like a lot of work and worry.

Side note, Esteban was known as a short hitter at 260 yards average tee shot, but could easily hit balls into the window of a shed 300 yards away when having fun with his family. He has the most amazing short game and a strong iron game to make up for his lack of distance. It's written in the book. You should read it, and understand how difficult a life it appears to be.

[golfbarefoot]

The question is obviously assuming youre at the top.. Or else why ask it...very few would want to be lonely grinder.. If the question is asking do you want to be a run of the mill pro, or club pro only... I agree.. No. But I thought this meant successful?? Obviously personally and professionally... The whole question was asked I thought get to get those kooky no answers to hear why. I simply said. I'd love it under successful circumstance, anyone that says no is lying to themselves... That's my point.

[Lihu]

The question is obviously assuming you're at the top.. Or else why ask it...

I'm not sure this is obvious, unless you read about all the people who are not at the top.

I know you are a very good golfer, but I think a golfer in the +5 HC range would think of you in the same way you think of people in the 10-30HC range. The top golfers are probably something like +8 to +10?

[golfbarefoot]

Then let me rephrase.. Successful winner = YES Unsuccessful grinder= NO I know what it takes to be a touring pro. Yea I can almost shoot par from courses tips... but I couldn't even make it on a mini tour, not even close. I laugh when people told me to try to play pro. My brother is a touring pro. Really. It's a whole different ballgame. But of I could be a successful pro at the highest level? Why would anyone say no? (Remember excluding family, strings etc like I already said a few times)

[Golfingdad]

..., anyone that says no is lying to themselves...

That's my point.

Your point is dead wrong.  How the **** do you know that everybody else in the world has the same desires and priorities as you?  Clearly everybody is different and it stands to reason that some may like it while others may not.

[Lihu]

Then let me rephrase..

Successful winner = YES

Unsuccessful grinder= NO

You should have phrased it as being the best golfer in the world rather than "a touring pro". That would have made it clear, and yes, I agree we can all dream about having a talent we don't have.

Quote:

Originally Posted by golfbarefoot

..., anyone that says no is lying to themselves...

That's my point.

Your point is dead wrong.  How the **** do you know that everybody else in the world has the same desires and priorities as you?  Clearly everybody is different and it stands to reason that some may like it while others may not.

So, true. I would rather be a robotics engineer who can on occasion knock balls long and far. That's fun. Scoring low all the time? That's not so fun, and a lot of work.