andywap

Hey John, Welcome to the forum. I am a professional golfer from Manchester, England. I will be coming to West Palm Beach in Feruary to compete on The Minor League Golf Tour. Maybe we could arrange a game together during my visit? Kindest Regards Andrew

Hey Ben, when is your next event? I was lucky last week, as all my tournaments have finished for the season, the golf club I work at allowed me to play in a club competition last Saturday, as it was just a winter special they said I could play but off a unofficail handicap of plus 5 lol! It was all 4 scores to count strokeplay. I played in a team with my dad and a couple of his mates. Its par 67, my dad shot 77 less 11 handicap nett 66, our friend Pete shot 84 less 12 nett 72. I played well and shot 4 under par 63 plus 5 handicap nett 68. So we only needed Terry to have a half decent round....he finished with 89 gross!! Less 7 handicap nett 82! Fair to say we didn't win anything lol. I was playing quite steady, I was 2 under par after 9, everything was going to plan but then i 3 putted the 155 yard par 3 10th and then 3 putted the 235 yard par 3 11th hole from about 50 feet to go back to level. I felt a little disappointed but knew I had some good chance for birdie coming up. I made a nice birdie 3 on the 310 yard 12th hole, another birdie 3 on the 270 yard 13th and then made it 3 in a row with a nice 2 on the 215 yard par 3 14th. Hit a solid 3 iron to about 20 feet there and rolled a nice breaking putt in. The 15th is the toughest hole on the course its 466 par 4, I hit a poor drive out to the right which left me a long way back, I hit a good 3 iron that came up a little short, hit a poor chip to about 12 feet and held a really good left to right putt. The 16th is 130 yard par 3 that runs alongside the river, i hit a nice pitching wedge to 3 feet and sank the putt. I made 2 poor pars on 17 and 18 from good positions but all in all very happy with the score. I don't have anything to play in til February so i'm just working on my swing mechanics, strenght training, fitness and short game til then. Sounds like your on the right track with your game Ben, just need a bit of luck on the greens. As we all do Keep positive mate.

That is a great idea, not very mainstream though for a reality tv show lol! I played my last 2 events at Fulford Golf Club and Bradford Golf Club. I finished 4th at Fulford with 72 and 15th at Bradford with a 72. I've never played Ripon before but I've played a few courses over that side like Fixby, Selby, Alwoodley. Very nice

Hey, I work at a golf course 3 days a week so when I get a full day to practise, thats the plan I stick to. I don't drink alcohol anyway so that saves me a bundle!

This was just a money match with another pro from my town. Took £20 off him, think thats about $35. My next event is on Thursday in Yorkshire. I'l let you know how I get on. Wish me luck

Are you confident enough to play me for money?

Hey played at Springfield Park golf Club this morning. We've had so much rain the last couple of weeks so the course was perfect for scoring. I didn't hit it great but managed to shoot 3 under par on the front 9 and level on the back side. The highlight of the round was on the 13th hole. Its a 270 yard short par 4 with a tall tree guarding the green. It was into the wind so I tried to cut a driver round the tree and onto the green. As I started my downswing my right foot slipped and I hit a massive hook into the trees. No chance of finding it. So hit 3 of the tee and tried to play the exact same shot. I hit it perfect and it finshed 1 inch from the hole. I tapped it in for par and walked off the green wondering how I got away with it lol! Can't wait for my next event.

Are you a pro or an amateur? What events do you play in?

Who ever thinks the Nationwide Tour is a higher standard than the European Tour needs to open there eyes. What is your thinking behind that statement?

Clueless!! Absolutely clueless!!

Thats a brilliant idea, you should push it and suggest to a few big name companys, promoters, players.....anyone who will listen. I'd love to see that one day, maybe even play in it

Man, i'm switching to your routine! Much more fun

Hey a couple of years back I was playing a 36 hole amateur competition in my home town. I will never forget it, I made a par 4 up the first and then I bogeyed the second hole. After that I made 25 pars in a row. I played the last 9 holes in 2 under for a one under par total of 143. Although I never made 18 pars in the same round it still felt pretty special.

Hey this is my typical day of practise. I have been doing this routine for about 3 weeks now. 6.00am Wake Up 6.30 Breakfast 7.00 Short game 8.30 Range Work 10.30 Putting 12.00 Lunch 1.00 9 Holes 3.00 Short Game 4.00 Putting 5.30 Gym 7.00 Dinner. My plan is to do this 5 days a week for the next 5 years. I should be pretty good by then hopefuly

Whats is your handicap mate? And what events do you play in? Just be looking at you swing. Interesting!

Here is some graet advice for you. If you wanna stay at a 20 handicap for the rest of your life then keep doing what your doing. Don't take any advice and keep taking on those stupid shots. If you have no desire to improve then your doing exactly the right things. I'm pretty sure what you ain't told us is how many balls you've dunked into the lake from a simular position. You need to lose your ego to be a good golfer, afterall its all about scoring. Who gives a F you can hit it 300 if you can't break 80, 90 or 100 Anyone can hit it long, but it takes something a little extra to be good at this game.

Hey a couple of years ago I was playing in an amateur 36 hole tournament at a local club. I started with a nice par on the first, then made a bogey 5 up the second. I then made par on the next 25 holes. I finished one under par in total for 36 holes but I will always remeber that crazy run of pars! Good times

Hey so does anyone know much about The minor league golf tour in Florida? Thats in my winter plans hopefuly.

Wow man if you can play off a 20 handicap you obviously don't need any advice! Good job

Yeah thats what i usually do for my caddy, I buy him lunch. I'm lucky really, he enjoys the day out watching some good players. Thanks man, i'l check out those tours. Do you have a sponsor? I just pay for myself, I have a part time job at a golf course. Hey did you check out the players tour I play on? I'm building up to play on the Euro Pro Tour, thats 2 tours below the European Tour.

Thanks man, its called The Players Tour. Its based in the north west of England. They don't provide caddies, its just my friend Tony who enjoys doing it for some strange reason lol! He's good at reading the greens!! Yeah I remember how good it felt winning my first scratch tournament, I can't wait to win again. What do you play in? I've heard there is some pretty great stuff to play in over there?

If a golf course is par 72 and the winning score is 62, what is the par of that golf course? 72, it doesn't change!

My first pro check!! I made my first professional check of my career last week. I turned Pro in April and this was my 10th event. I have come close in 6 events but just missed out so I am very pleased. It was a real wet and windy day last Wednesday, I got to the course a little too early so me and my caddy went in the clubhouse for a drink. I had a Hot chocolate for some reason, don't ask me why. I got on the range and warmed up with some wedges, i gradually worked down the set to the longer clubs til I finished with a few drives. I then hit a few pitch shots and chips. Then onto the putting green. Despite this good warm up session I found myself 3 over par after 9 holes. This included a very poor wedge shot on the 9th that found a deep greenside trap. I made par on 10 and a poor par on the par 5 11th. I then made birdie on 12 and 13 to get back to one over. At the back of the 13th green was a leaderboard, and I could see level was the best score though 13 so I knew I had a chance. I made a great par save on the par 3 14th but then a poor bogey on 15. I made good pars on 16 and 17. So I was 2 over par stood on the par 5 18th tee. I thought if I could make a birdie I should be in for a decent finish. I hit a good drive which left me 192 to the hole. I hit a great five iron and it finished 3 feet from the hole. I tapped it in for eagle and a back 9 holes of 3 under 33, which was a level par round of 72. I was leader in the clubhouse when I got in but eventually slipped down to 4th position. It was only a check of $493 but its the start I needed.

I've been reading lots of threads on turning pro and mini tour play and I just have a few thoughts. Imagine you shot level par in every round you ever played. Sure, you would miss a few cuts but you would also win at least 1 major per year for the rest of your life! Now theres a thought. I turned Pro when my handicap was plus one. Now at the moment I am not good enough to compete on the main tour or even the nationwide or challenge tour. But there is no reason why someone can not keep improving once they have turned pro. Who is anyone to say that if someone puts the work in that in five years time they can't get to where they wanna be. I think the question of is someone good enough to turn pro is to vague. ts needs to be broken down. Someone who turns pro for example could be happy just playing mini tour golf and making a few bucks whilst also working a real job. There are guys who make a good living from some of the mini tours. Then there are the ambitious pros who wanna play on the main tour. Now this is the biggest jump. I believe that if you work hard, work smart and have an excellent frame of mind you can achieve your goals.

Honestly, i'd be looking for any kind of work. Just something to pay my way whilst i'm over there. Bar work, waiter, picking up balls on the range. Anything basically. I'm in the process of applying for my visa. Wow thats quite expensive, didn't think it would be that much for Asian Q school. Thanks i'l check out the link. Over the last couple of years i've been going to winter training with the Lancashire squad. We got to play some graet courses like Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham and Southport and Ainsdale. But when its -1 degree, freezing cold wind and you can't feel your fingers for the cold its not much fun!! I hope golf in the states is as much fun as it looks from here!