Can i do it!?!?

[miniTIGER95]

MiniTIGERS95 - I was once in your position and worked as an assistant pro. Sadly my parents couldn't afford the fees to put me through the PGA course and I drifted away. I got down low enough and wasn't a natural golfer and so it can be done. However it took a lot of sacrifices in terms of my free time and hanging around with my mates. I also bunked off most of the 5th form having taken and passed my English a year early to work at the shop (not a recommended practice and stay and get as many qualifications as you can).

I was lucky that my pro was very gracious with his time and knowledge and we had a strict practice regime plus the freedom in summer to work in the shop and then play in the evening. I think if I was going to be pragmatic I'd say you need to be down much lower very quickly this season and then continue chipping away to have any chance of making 4 by the time you want to start the course. If you don't get there don't panic. Poulter was a late starter and he has done OK. I think if you can focus equally between school work, getting down low enough and be strong enough to ignore invites out from your mates then you can definitely do it. Good luck to you

Okay thankyou, and that sounds good, working in the day playing in the evenings, i just want to have a job inside golf, just something to do with it. And i've ignored some invites recently to go out and instead play golf. And during sixth form next year i have a lot of free time and its relaxed, so i will probably be playing friday saturday sunday, nearly all day. When did poulter get into tour school etc? I thought that you had to be like 18-19 to go through tour school? im silly. And its just depressing that if i had the short game i did when i was 11 and was striking the ball like i do now id be single figures, although its a positive because i know if my short game was good once it can be again. Cheers.

 

[miniTIGER95]

But who's telling you that YOU are doing it right. In my opinion you need someone to be telling you what to do with your swing. I can almost guarantee that you aren't doing what you think you are doing (I'm speaking from experience here). Youtube videos are great for general tips but aren't necessarily specific to you. There may be things you are doing right that you inadvertently change by trying to do something else. Doing it the way you are doing it and practicing as much as you are will get you down a to a certain level but in my opinion, unless you have a massive amount of natural talent, it won't get you where you need to be.

I wasn't going into anything complex but surely if i was hitting it 200 with a massive slice before, and am now hitting it 230-240 straight with a slight fade i have done something right? im not going to do anything huge by looking at the clips but this is just in the meen time, till my first lesson on the 13th.

 

[pbrown7582]

I wasn't going into anything complex but surely if i was hitting it 200 with a massive slice before, and am now hitting it 230-240 straight with a slight fade i have done something right? im not going to do anything huge by looking at the clips but this is just in the meen time, till my first lesson on the 13th.

But the real answer will be what it's like under pressure of a medal round on 16/17 4 under looking a cur in the face a genuine fix will see you right a manufactuer one after bashing balls on the range will let you down! It's all about opinions though we all have then! /-)

 

[miniTIGER95]

But the real answer will be what it's like under pressure of a medal round on 16/17 4 under looking a cur in the face a genuine fix will see you right a manufactuer one after bashing balls on the range will let you down! It's all about opinions though we all have then! /-)

Don't get me wrong, im not saying i hit 250 balls and the slice is now fixed, but if i keep practising with it, have lessons on it, it will go, more range sessions, more lessons, more medals etc it will all help.

 

[SGC001]

At the moment im 16, shooting around +20 consistently, and within 2.5 years time i want to get down to a 4 handicap ( the requirements for a golf college) even if i dont become a tourpro, i would like to become a proffesional. I will soon be getting lessons, and entering comps etc. Can i do it? Cheers. Also what other ways are there to becoming a golf pro, teaching assistant etc if i couldn't go the college route? cheers.

http://www.pga.info/AboutThePGAPro/31851301.htm

It also has links to the foundation degree and studies that some colleges carry. I guess the other courses that involve golf may be a little different to the one at Birmingham which is linked with the PGA.

You can always turn pro if you get good enough playing, the vast majority of the guys and girls on tour would not be PGA qualified.

As said earlier if you go through a PGA training establishment you need to work certain hours, pass certain tests, play, train and complete what is a foundation degree in your spare time over the 3 years. Cost wise I think it's more like £4000 a year, which you should be elligible for a loan for that wouldn't need paying back unil you were earning a certin amount.

It looks like the entry requirements in terms of grades (to get on the course) may be slightly lower if you go the PGA route as opposed to through a college.

 

[SGC001]

my daughter had pretty much the same dreams as yourself, got accepted to Golf College but didn't get the grades, worked so hard to get the grades needed for this year & is on target to be told, well even though you have achieved what is required we are still not letting you on the course as the work will be to hard. Pretty much because she has bad Dyslexia she's not even going to be given a chance. So with Teaching Pro route seemly blocked off forever she will probably have to get some kind of job she has no passion for which has enough free time to still practice golf.

have you tried phoning the PGA and see if she could get on the course there if she got a training job.

 

[miniTIGER95]

http://www.pga.info/AboutThePGAPro/31851301.htm

It also has links to the foundation degree and studies that some colleges carry. I guess the other courses that involve golf may be a little different to the one at Birmingham which is linked with the PGA.

You can always turn pro if you get good enough playing, the vast majority of the guys and girls on tour would not be PGA qualified.

As said earlier if you go through a PGA training establishment you need to work certain hours, pass certain tests, play, train and complete what is a foundation degree in your spare time over the 3 years. Cost wise I think it's more like £4000 a year, which you should be elligible for a loan for that wouldn't need paying back unil you were earning a certin amount.

It looks like the entry requirements in terms of grades (to get on the course) may be slightly lower if you go the PGA route as opposed to through a college.

Okay thanks for that il give it a look, whats the route for someone that is not PGA qualified then?

 

[miniTIGER95]

my daughter had pretty much the same dreams as yourself, got accepted to Golf College but didn't get the grades, worked so hard to get the grades needed for this year & is on target to be told, well even though you have achieved what is required we are still not letting you on the course as the work will be to hard. Pretty much because she has bad Dyslexia she's not even going to be given a chance. So with Teaching Pro route seemly blocked off forever she will probably have to get some kind of job she has no passion for which has enough free time to still practice golf.

Thats so wrong in my opinion, some of the greatest sports people and coaches, are not up to scratch in reading, writing etc but it does not get in the way of their job.

 

[connor]

Okay thanks for that il give it a look, whats the route for someone that is not PGA qualified then?

To be an elite amateur eg Rory macs

 

[Birchy]

Best thing to do is find a pro who you enjoy be taught by and have lots of lessons with them. Its the fastest and best way to get good at golf. They wont cut corners and will teach you properly. I was hopeless then after just 5 lessons with the pro at our course my game is now respectable. I cant believe how much i got out of the lessons, having a good pro teaching you is a must imo.

 

[miniTIGER95]

Best thing to do is find a pro who you enjoy be taught by and have lots of lessons with them. Its the fastest and best way to get good at golf. They wont cut corners and will teach you properly. I was hopeless then after just 5 lessons with the pro at our course my game is now respectable. I cant believe how much i got out of the lessons, having a good pro teaching you is a must imo.

Thats exactly why I am as soon as the pro gets back off holiday, out of interest how much did the lessons cost?

 

[connor]

There isn't a set price for lessons every pro is different

 

[HomerJSimpson]

my daughter had pretty much the same dreams as yourself, got accepted to Golf College but didn't get the grades, worked so hard to get the grades needed for this year & is on target to be told, well even though you have achieved what is required we are still not letting you on the course as the work will be to hard. Pretty much because she has bad Dyslexia she's not even going to be given a chance. So with Teaching Pro route seemly blocked off forever she will probably have to get some kind of job she has no passion for which has enough free time to still practice golf.

Thats so wrong in my opinion, some of the greatest sports people and coaches, are not up to scratch in reading, writing etc but it does not get in the way of their job.

Not sure they can get away with that (might be proved wrong) under the DDA or whatever the latest version is. Not sure they can discriminate based on your daughters dyslexia especially as it wouldn't be critical to core parts of the course like playing, club repairs and teaching. I can see how it may be hard for her with the amount of course work required and even doing the exam part but as I say not sure they could turn her down flat like that.

 

[Birchy]

Thats exactly why I am as soon as the pro gets back off holiday, out of interest how much did the lessons cost?

I think i got 5 for 4 which worked out at about 100 quid or something, cant remember exact price tho. If you book a block of lessons you might get them a bit cheaper. They will be well worth the money though.

 

[HickoryShaft]

I think that you have every chance of achieving your goal provided you are prepared to put in the effort which it sounds like you are.

What I would say is that you should enjoy it as well - and must be passionate about it. grab a couple of books from bob rotella to look at how to approach the game and think about your performance in real terms.

There is a junior at our course that went from 18 to 4 in 1 season and down to 1 the next season - currently working with our Pro to try and follow this same route. Now down to 0.4 I think. So yes it can be done - stick with it as long as you have got the passion for it.

 

[miniTIGER95]

I think that you have every chance of achieving your goal provided you are prepared to put in the effort which it sounds like you are.

What I would say is that you should enjoy it as well - and must be passionate about it. grab a couple of books from bob rotella to look at how to approach the game and think about your performance in real terms.

There is a junior at our course that went from 18 to 4 in 1 season and down to 1 the next season - currently working with our Pro to try and follow this same route. Now down to 0.4 I think. So yes it can be done - stick with it as long as you have got the passion for it.

Okay thanks for the advice everyone, and to the guy that said about block lessons, thats what im gonna try and do. Anyway im off out to practise haha.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

miniTiger

I'm not trying to put you off but it's important that you realise what you are up against in your quest to turn pro.

There are literally dozens of kids your age playing off scratch or better that will go to tour school in the next few years and not even come close to making it. That is the reality of how tough it is out there. But, there are exceptions to the rule (Poulter being the best known) who have got there purely through determination and hard work so if you are as committed as you say, who knows what will happen.

If you just want to go down the teaching route then this may be an option for you............

http://egtf.co.uk/

Good luck :thup:

 

[bobmac]

If you just want to go down the teaching route then this may be an option for you............

http://egtf.co.uk/

I thought about and made some enquiries.
EVERY SINGLE club/range I spoke to insisted on the PGA Qualification and were not interested in the EGTF.
Having said that, I didn't speak to them all so there may be some who would.

 

[miniTIGER95]

miniTiger

I'm not trying to put you off but it's important that you realise what you are up against in your quest to turn pro.

There are literally dozens of kids your age playing off scratch or better that will go to tour school in the next few years and not even come close to making it. That is the reality of how tough it is out there. But, there are exceptions to the rule (Poulter being the best known) who have got there purely through determination and hard work so if you are as committed as you say, who knows what will happen.

If you just want to go down the teaching route then this may be an option for you............

http://egtf.co.uk/

Good luck :thup:

Yeah i realise that, but people like poulter make me realise its possible. and that site looks promising, although i have never seen a teaching pro which isn't PGA qualified? surely a PGA qualified pro would be more succesful? And I saw on there that you need to shoot an 83, i could do that by the end of the summer, but my course is a par 71 so what happens there..?

 

[miniTIGER95]

I thought about and made some enquiries.
EVERY SINGLE club/range I spoke to insisted on the PGA Qualification and were not interested in the EGTF.
Having said that, I didn't speak to them all so there may be some who would.

Thats what i thought, is there anything to stop you doing the EGTF, then if that doesn't work out do the PGA aswell?