Is it too late to turn pro?

[zalj]

I'm 14 and have been playing for about a year and a half and have a handicap of 17. There are a few players that are younger than me who are better however they have been playing since a very young age. If I were to dedicate all my spare time to golf would it be possible to turn pro? Bare in mind next year I will have GCSE's and then after that I will have my A levels so I will need to spend the majority of my time studying. Please give your honest opinions.

[logo]

It is definitely not too late. Play golf and have fun. Join your high school team and see how you grow into a golfer. You are going to change a lot between the ages of 14-18 and that includes your body, mind, interests, etc. You will grow, get stronger, and may or may not turn out to be a great golfer. Having said all of that if I were you I would invest my extra time in studying and get into a really good college and then work on getting a really good job that you enjoy. If you can make it in golf that is awesome but remember its extremely difficult so make sure you have other options that will lead to a lifestyle that you will enjoy (as in having a job that gives you the time and money to play golf)

[Pretzel]

If a majority of your time is spent studying, the answer will be no in virtually 100% of cases barring some phenomenal talent that likely would have already manifested in some way. If you meant going pro as a teaching professional, there is nothing that would hold you back there.

[rkim291968]

I am assuming by turning pro, your goal is to reach PGA tour.

My honest opinion is no.  There's untold number of others who started earlier than you, much better than you, have more resource than you.    Please don't take it the wrong way.   I have personal experience of starting at age 10 in another sport to be world class competitor, taught by national coach, etc.   At the end, it comes down to how early you started, how much god given talent you were born with etc.. .  For vast majority of us, reaching a world class in anything is a fantasy if you didn't start early, don't have a lot resource/backing, god given talent, luck, etc..   Those who says nothing is impossible and give it a try does not know what it takes to be a PGA tour member from where you are at.    This is really true for any sport, any profession.  That's reality and life.

[Truegolf]

if you are thinking tour pro there is less chance. Jordan was already a +4 at 14 years old i m sure you can make as a teaching pro if you work on your game

[chspeed]

Read this: http://www.shmoop.com/careers/professional-golfer/

Then go study ;)

[disco111]

I am assuming by turning pro, your goal is to reach PGA tour.

My honest opinion is no.  There's untold number of others who started earlier than you, much better than you, have more resource than you.    Please don't take it the wrong way.   I have personal experience of starting at age 10 in another sport to be world class competitor, taught by national coach, etc.   At the end, it comes down to how early you started, how much god given talent you were born with etc.. .  For vast majority of us, reaching a world class in anything is a fantasy if you didn't start early, don't have a lot resource/backing, god given talent, luck, etc..   Those who says nothing is impossible and give it a try does not know what it takes to be a PGA tour member from where you are at.    This is really true for any sport, any profession.  That's reality and life.

Good information and opinion offered here, but I'll offer this to the equation. There's probably nothing more disheartening when someone looks back at their life and says "What If". It's a heck of a lot more satisfying to say, "well I gave it my best shot"............

[Pretzel]

Good information and opinion offered here, but I'll offer this to the equation. There's probably nothing more disheartening when someone looks back at their life and says "What If". It's a heck of a lot more satisfying to say, "well I gave it my best shot"............

The problem is that pursuing a career in professional golf has quite literally ruined many people. Their bodies, bank accounts, and relationships are all destroyed by the rigors of the mini-tours that only a select few can advance past.

Trying is fine, but studying would be a lot more important for the individual in question at the moment since it can guarantee a better future as opposed to taking a chance at which he would have a 99.99999% chance at failing. 1 in a billion might be able to do it, but the odds are not in his favor.

[rkim291968]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkim291968

I am assuming by turning pro, your goal is to reach PGA tour.

My honest opinion is no.  There's untold number of others who started earlier than you, much better than you, have more resource than you.    Please don't take it the wrong way.   I have personal experience of starting at age 10 in another sport to be world class competitor, taught by national coach, etc.   At the end, it comes down to how early you started, how much god given talent you were born with etc.. .  For vast majority of us, reaching a world class in anything is a fantasy if you didn't start early, don't have a lot resource/backing, god given talent, luck, etc..   Those who says nothing is impossible and give it a try does not know what it takes to be a PGA tour member from where you are at.    This is really true for any sport, any profession.  That's reality and life.

Good information and opinion offered here, but I'll offer this to the equation. There's probably nothing more disheartening when someone looks back at their life and says "What If". It's a heck of a lot more satisfying to say, "well I gave it my best shot"............

Many of us here raised children and faced this situation many times over.   Most of those instances, being good parents that we are, we most likely offered encouragement.   But there are times when a child is totally out of touch with reality and we must set/guide him in the right path.  Some call it tough love.   This is that case IMHO, having been a father to a son.   And I would have offered the same advice to my son if he was the one asking.   Of course, YMMV.   It's now up to the OP to gather these opinions he asked for, make some sense out of it, and do what he needs/wants to do.

[Shorty]

Please give your honest opinions.

The honest truth is that no-one here has a clue, so any advice is really  pointless.

When you can beat everyone you play against in your county you might consider asking the question.

There are people who dedicate every spare hour they have to golf and can't break 90.

There are others who pick it up quickly and get to a low handicap within a few years and then play to it for 50 years.

Your best bet is to go and find out yourself. Play  a lot, get lessons and work on your game.