TheWookie

Here is my reason for asking....great course in my area has amazing short game area with 3 putting greens and 60 yard and in w bunker short game area. They may build a full range in the future but now it is just a cage. I am not a range rat but since I have dedicated my self to putting and chipping mainly it has made a huge difference. Could you live with essentially a warm up cage if you felt the short game area and course were worth it?

If you were designing an ideal facility....If you had to choose on whats more important a great full driving range facility and a somewhat serviceable short game area or a somewhat serviceable driving range and great short game area? Don't say both because that's obvious.

The US AM was for private club members up till the late 70s. So the PubLinx was neccesary as far back as the 20s. It has been a defacto NCAA event for the longest time. 99% of top college programs and players have very nice private club privledges 3/4 of the year and some are manipulating the rules to play and have a path to the Masters. Keep in mind these are top amatuers...the next big thing types not muni hustlers. I recall growing up in SoCal playing against Tiger who was a muni/navy course kid....but he also had access and honorary membership to some of the best clubs around (as long as his crazy dad stayed away). There is also an economic issue here. PubLinx has to be at a public facility and it is becoming harder and harder to for a course owner/operator to give up control to the blue blazers for a year to host a championship. There isnt any money in it for the course (unlike an open at Torrey or Bethpage). I think there is an aspect of this that is appealling to the mid am/club player. The four ball is our game and I will be looking forward to the qualifier. The SCGA four ball is one of the most popular of the year. This will keep the college kids out due to the spring schedule and the fall qualifiers that prevent the collge kids from signing up due to NCAA and USGA rules.

Cats way out of the bag on anchoring the putter. This was an argument for the mid 80s. I think Mike Davis knows that he is too far behind the 8 ball on this one. A few things to consider; 1. The fact it has been around for way too long (oh yeah, the Al Gore of Golf, Johnny Miller, said he invented it in the 70s) 2. Manufacturers are making a killing off it (the grooves issue was a joke and the USGA lost that one as the players adapted to a non-issue and only spun the golf worlds wheels for no reason) 3. The game needs players and the tech for drivers, hybrids, and especially balls (switched from ProV1 to ProV1x recently..the ball is seriously juiced) has made golf more manageable for the masses. 4. any change at this point would have to make the argument for Bifurcation(sp), separate rules for pros and amateurs, a road the USGA and R&A; really do not want to go down. 5. Look at the leaderboard, don't see a huge impact (Kuch uses it a different way). It only makes a horrible putter average (yours truly), a great putter will not like the lack of feel. Just my two cents.

We Ko Pa Cholla is awesome, Saguaro is overated...also check Kierland. good courses

I am interested in seeing more of your cross pics!.....but golf in the "normal" obsession right?

resurrecting an old thread here...but when you say "serious" amateur you could be looking at some of the collegiate am circuits, the mid-am/senior am (AKA cocktail circuit), or the private club top player am circuit. The collegiates might have some subsidized entries and travel but it is big money for the parents usually (i include top notch junior, ajga type, in this area). The mid-am/senior circuit is where the biggest cost is. These are the best of the best who played in college, played professionally and got their am status back, and those who might just end up on senior tour when they turn 50. These are tournies like the Gasparilla (tampa), Crump Cup (Pine Valley), Coleman Invitational(Seminole), Stocker Cup (Monterey), etc. These are the USGA execs and probably run your local golf association. Big money entries and invite only with a few qualifying spots. A subset of these are the private club cocktail circuit. These are hand picked by the club committes and are based on your reputation as a player and who you know and the club you belong to. Entries are usually upwards of 1k and buys in para-mutuals etc are gonna run you more money. Long story short.....a real serious amateur golfer is going to spend ALOT of money to run their year.

I work right up the street and drive by it every day. I play Tijeras and love Ted Robinson courses. Let me know if you need a 4th and i would be happy to join you.

I graduated with Resort and Lodging Mgmt major and in interviews all I could talk about was golf. I started sending resumes to courses explaining my background and career ambitions. The way to get into golf management is to become an assistant...which means you start where you start...shop, outside services,whatever.....Work your way into the PGA GPTP and get going. Hopefully you have a course that will support you educationally and financially through the program. Get your PGA membership and work your way up through the buisness. Thats what I did. There is a lot to the golf biz besides playing and teaching. Yes the tie to play gets limited when you are workign to keep the course running but you will find time. But if you want to get into to play more or make a ton of money than manage your expectations. Its is a good thing to do if you can pass the playing test and complete the program. Get it done before wife and kids pull you into the "real world"....let me know if you need anymore insight.

Perfect example is Hunter Mahan...dude chili dipped on the biggest stage in golf....when asked about it he said he would die to be in the same situation again. Would he enjoy rolling up to the muni and joining three randoms for a non-competitive game? maybe, maybe not...but his "enjoyment" is obviously being in the shot with the whole deal on the line.

Weak refers to the left hand (for a righty golfer) being less dominant in the swing....now for you that might be different than me. I tend towards a strong grip and to weaken it would still be a lot stronger than your normal neutral grip. check this out http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instr...n-smeltz-power

does an NFL QB have fun during a game? Does an MLB pitcher enjoy being a starter in the playoffs? The thing about golf is that we can play on the same or similar fields that the top pros can....that's about as close as we will get.....these top pros are freaks...competitive animals......you can not just say they are a "good golfer"...something happens in the head to make a good golfer great....that is where enjoyment comes in. Are you competing, is the adreniline flowing.....is your livelihood on the line of a 5 foot putt....to them thats fun...if it isnt they wont be around long.

There is a tendancy to weaken the grip when chipping etc. Makes it more like a putting stroke. You have to be real carefule when you flirt with grip changes. Eveny human is created different and how your arms hang can mean a lot. It is a common issue particulary when people read Hogans 5 Lessons and take it for gospel.....you can swing like Hogan unless you are built and desgined like Hogan....Remember that he always said "his" secret was what worked for him....If your 5'5" and have a flat swingf than you hang will be different that someone who is 6'5". Golf Digest always lived by the "Neutral" grip is king....but reality doesnt work that way. strong works for some and weak works for some...Check the newest GD and they compare Duval (strong), Tiger (Neutral), and Price (weak) and discuss why you should swing based on your normal tendancy

i had a friend that played on tour and he had a very significant individual sponsorship form a very significant hollywood personality. You see the guys on the Nationwide, Q school, etc....they all have backers beyond equipment and apparel endorsements. You see a lot of top local talent that is sponsored (until they make it big) by a gorup of members at the local club. the costs of entry is huge and game is a very small part. Q school is around 4500 entry fee. as far as tour...cars, food, most amentities are covered..airfare and hotel are usually taken care of by the players management company. Most , even B players have a management company at that level.

I am right outside the gates in RSM....not in the business anymore. Coto is a great course though.

Definitely next year! I was a pro at Oakmont for about 4 years. Great club and awesome course. It is tough as hell and they made it even tougher. Considering the scores I can imagine it was a tough playing condition.

an assessment of what is causing the initial over the top move will also give you an idea of how to ingrain the fix. Is it a premature lower body move that is pulling things across the line? If you have an over active lower body than the step back drill is very helpful.

The obvious job is a PGA professional. Important to be sure you are looking to be a working professional not a playing professional. I had the opportunity to work at a number of clubs and had a lot of opportunities to play. Money is tight in the golf biz. If you really want to be affiliated with a club mfg company than realize the good jobs are very hard to come by.....you would start by slinging at demo days etc. In al honestly the PGA route is the best based on the info. The role of a PGA pro is changing these days. There were only a limited number of roles for a pro in the past but they have expanded to a lot more. Go to http://www.pga.com/pgaofamerica/classifications/ and you can see the variety available.

I think there is a very big difference between going to the range with a buddy to set up your own lesson tee, and going to the range with a buddy to beat some balls and exchange some tips. Having been on both sides of the line I can tell you that there is a good way for the pro to handle it and a bad way. I agree with Iacas...most driving ranger pros split their lesson income 70/30 with the facility. If there is a threat to that income than the rule has to be inforced. As an operator would you blindly trust people to help a friend or loved one with tips and advice vs. taking advantage of the situation and setting up a little lesson tee? I take friends to the range and help them with their swing but I do it in a professionally courteous way or go somewhere where I know the staff. I am purchasing theirr product as is the other person and we are just watching each others swings. Most pros will not say anything (this guy mustve had a chip on his shoulder) if you are there with a junior or just hanging with your spouse you will rarely fall into the "teaching" category.

It depends on how important the education aspect is to you. If your were going to go to a JC anyway with the intent on getting an AA, than why not. If you just want to get in the business, than find a course that is looking for someone that has golf biz aspirations. Start at the bottom and prove you are capable and serious. After completing the golf college you still need to complete the PGA GPTP. You can ask Iacas or others who are currently going through it or have been through it, it is an intensive education program that takes time and money. So if you are looking at the golf college just to get your foot in the door of the biz, find a cart barn or shop to work in until you pass your PAT. Many DOGs or Head Pros take great pride in mentoring and developing talented apprentices. If you are serious about the education than the college can do that for you as well as help with placement. I went to New Mexico State out of high school in their PGM program and decided after a semester that the program...and the golf business...wasnt for me. Well 5 years later I wasnt really qualified to do anything else and found myslef sending resumes to local pros saying I wanted to get into the business. Whatever you do go in with an open mind.

There is no membership fee for the tour but each tournament (one day events vs. two or three day) are $300. THey have a cool deal where if you win the first event of the month you get your fees paid for for the rest of that month. Of course you need to win and the competition is very strong. COngrats Ben, taking money home in these events is an accomplishment. It is amazing to see some of the names up there consistenly for the last 10+ years. I played w/ Mike Ruiz in my very first junior tournament a long time ago. he was awesome then as well. Jeff Hart has been winning money out there forever.

COngrats...it is truly an accomplishment! I was so excited after passing that I briefly left the scorers table without signing my card because my friends and "caddie" had a couple pitchers waiting. Good luck in the GPTP.

You are young and if you have the ability go for it. You will be hard pressed to get a gig in the business right out @65k. Think more around $10/hr. There are also lessons which bump up you income but you really have to work the line to get some substantial income. I was a PGA pro for about 5 years out of college and I am extremely happy I was able to have that experience. You might also look into jumping into a shop assistant job, pass the PAT and get going on the GPTP. We recruited from the SDGA and they do have some good club and PGA connections. You will also get that by participating in local events as pro from your club...do what you can while your young...opportunities get slimmeras you get older.

that's a good point....have you seen interviews with some of these top players? it like watching grass grow. Having a good eye, good communication skills, and the ability to adapt to different learning styles often doesn't have to coordinate with a tour quality game. Oh yeah...try practicing or going to a tournament after working 12 hours behind the counter and on the lesson tee....not easy.

there is no real way around nerves and a thats a good thing. First tee jitters mean your alive. Good story...back in my PGA days i was playing on the So Cal side of the Nor Cal/So Cal Apprentice Cup matches. With the bulk of both teams, friends, family, and random spectators watching, I topped my drive into the trash can next to the ladies tees. Dohhhhhhh. Happens to everyone and you just learn from it. The next shot is a new game. I think most people get too fast when they are nervous. I know i do. I try to really stretch and smooth it out to combat it. Think Freddy Couples. The more you put yourself in the competition zone, whether it is a tourny or a $2 nassau, the more youll be able to take advantage of the nervous energy.