roccokj
Head Pro
I'm wondering what handicap level is the normal for people to get onto the European Tour, challenge tour and europro tour. How do you qualify for the challenge tour and europro?
Handicap level for going on tour!
- Thread starter roccokj
- Start date
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
No idea, but a kid from my club turned pro off plus 5, qualified from tour school on the second attempt, survived one year on tour, but got booted out the next year and has dropped down a level. If you can't make any money off plus 5, I think you need to be pretty good. Mind you, I don't think his swing changes in the second year helped.
RGDave
Money List Winner
Used to be 4 (approx) to turn pro.
Currently way under scratch (realistically) to get on a tour.
Got to be a "plus" h'cap for starters....or run out of money darn quick!!
+2? something around there.....maybe +3.....what do folks think?
Currently way under scratch (realistically) to get on a tour.
Got to be a "plus" h'cap for starters....or run out of money darn quick!!
+2? something around there.....maybe +3.....what do folks think?
T
thecraw
Guest
Mark Roe was talking about this a few months ago on Sky and he was basically saying that on todays Tour unless you are playing off of +4 then forget about a life on the European Tour.
Says the standard of player if far higher now.
Says the standard of player if far higher now.
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
Its still 4 to try and get on the PGA course and take your exams to be a qualified pro but as others have said its way into the + handicap to truely stand a realistic chance on the tours
That said I guess if you can survive a season or two on the Europro tour and get to know a bit about grinding out results etc and can qualify (I'm sure there is a Q school now) for the Challenge tour then experience and knowing how to play MAY be a factor in being able to compete from a lower level.
I think from watching the coverage of Challenge tour and from features from programmed like European Tour Weekly the standard of this tour is becoming much higher and a lot close to the main event which is probably why a lot of the graduates are beginning to hold their own more readily and not quite as many have to return to Q school after the first year.
That said the gulf between Europro and Challenge is increasing and so it makes the inital jump much harder. You have to admire the financial lengths these guys go to to fund their dream which sadly for many will not come to fruition
That said I guess if you can survive a season or two on the Europro tour and get to know a bit about grinding out results etc and can qualify (I'm sure there is a Q school now) for the Challenge tour then experience and knowing how to play MAY be a factor in being able to compete from a lower level.
I think from watching the coverage of Challenge tour and from features from programmed like European Tour Weekly the standard of this tour is becoming much higher and a lot close to the main event which is probably why a lot of the graduates are beginning to hold their own more readily and not quite as many have to return to Q school after the first year.
That said the gulf between Europro and Challenge is increasing and so it makes the inital jump much harder. You have to admire the financial lengths these guys go to to fund their dream which sadly for many will not come to fruition
bobmac
Major Champion
Roccokj,
In case you do get down to +3 or 4, you start by entering the Europro qualifier after turning pro.
If you do well, you will get to play in some events that season. The higher you finish in the qualifier, the more events you get to play with higher prize money.
If you do very well, then you get a few starts in the Challenge tour. If you do very well there, then you get some starts on the European Tour. Sounds easy enough.
But be warned. Entry into the Europro Tour events is around £280 per event, plus flights, hotels, food etc.
Not for the fiscally challenged.
Good luck with getting your handicap chopped
In case you do get down to +3 or 4, you start by entering the Europro qualifier after turning pro.
If you do well, you will get to play in some events that season. The higher you finish in the qualifier, the more events you get to play with higher prize money.
If you do very well, then you get a few starts in the Challenge tour. If you do very well there, then you get some starts on the European Tour. Sounds easy enough.
But be warned. Entry into the Europro Tour events is around £280 per event, plus flights, hotels, food etc.
Not for the fiscally challenged.
Good luck with getting your handicap chopped
Doh
Journeyman Pro
You have got to be playing and winning off solid plus figures at least +2 and then making progress.
Its all about reaching different levels consolidating and then moving on.
Its all about reaching different levels consolidating and then moving on.
Wildrover
Tour Rookie
You don't even get into the top amateur events unless + 1 or 2.
B
birdieman
Guest
Richie Ramsay played off +5 at Royal Aberdeen. Went pro after winning US Amateur but took some time to get going in the pro ranks. He is doing ok and has some ok results on Europen Tour now.
Paul Lawrie was off 5 (worse than me!) when he turned pro so there are no rules on this. As long as you keep improving.
Paul Lawrie was off 5 (worse than me!) when he turned pro so there are no rules on this. As long as you keep improving.
stevek1969
Money List Winner
There's a guy at Carnoustie Keir McNicoll who plays of +4 or 5 and cant get on the Walker Cup team just shows how high the standards are there never mind on tour. I think Rory McIroy was +5 when he turned pro , saw his card at Portush when he had a 61 scratch that just beggars belief how good this kid is.
JustOne
Ryder Cup Winner
I've heard it said that unless you can shoot 5 under par around your own course EVERY TIME you play then don't bother. It's the one course where you know exactly where to be off the tee, which side of the green to be, what to avoid, what the green speed is, what subtle breaks there are, where every single piece of rough is, exactly what the yardages are, what kind of a bounce/check you might get on the greens etc etc etc.... if you can't do it when you know all these things then don't bother.
If I could put a figure on it then I too would say +5 or get a proper job
If I could put a figure on it then I too would say +5 or get a proper job
Robobum
Money List Winner
The guy at the top of the order of merit has won just over £23k this season in seven events.
7 x £280 = £1960 (Entry fees)
7 x £150 = £1050 (Very cheap expenses for each week)
So the guy at the top of the tree has earned (at best) less than £20k.
As Bob said you have either got to be flush before you start out or have been clever/ lucky enough to get some kind backing behind you. That's a really tough school especially considering that the 54 hole winning total is regularly in double figures under par!!
7 x £280 = £1960 (Entry fees)
7 x £150 = £1050 (Very cheap expenses for each week)
So the guy at the top of the tree has earned (at best) less than £20k.
As Bob said you have either got to be flush before you start out or have been clever/ lucky enough to get some kind backing behind you. That's a really tough school especially considering that the 54 hole winning total is regularly in double figures under par!!
colint
Tour Rookie
I suppose it depends on your current lifestyle / career. If you're in a position to be able to take a chance on it ie either loaded or able to walk back in to the same level of job at the same wage, then I admire people for having a go.
If it's something that's going to jeopordise your security, then you really need to think long and hard.
If I had the cash and ability, I'd love to do it for experince alone. Unfortunately I have neither in sufficient quantity
If it's something that's going to jeopordise your security, then you really need to think long and hard.
If I had the cash and ability, I'd love to do it for experince alone. Unfortunately I have neither in sufficient quantity
DCB
Well-known member
I knew a guy who was a very good club player and in his late teens he thought about going to train as a PGA Pro at one of Scotlands main resort courses. He got through an interview and a playing inteview and was offered a post. He had to make a decision based on what he was doing and where this might lead. He decided to stay where he was. Sods law, some months later, he was made redundant from his job. Ended up going to Uni and is now working as an Engineer elsewhere. He still a county player and still playinjg off +2 at his club last time I saw his name in the results in the paper.
I often wonder if he thinks back and thinks "if only" Mind you that all happened 20 years back and a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then.
I often wonder if he thinks back and thinks "if only" Mind you that all happened 20 years back and a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then.
stevie2722
Medal Winner
i think +4 is almost a minimum now.
If you look at the scores at tour events bearing in mind the courses are set up to be a bit tougher for those weeks i think anything less will really struggle.
I knew a few good scratch golfers who tried the europro tour and got nowhere.
Its a huge step form good club golfer/amatuer to a pro who can make a decent living
If you look at the scores at tour events bearing in mind the courses are set up to be a bit tougher for those weeks i think anything less will really struggle.
I knew a few good scratch golfers who tried the europro tour and got nowhere.
Its a huge step form good club golfer/amatuer to a pro who can make a decent living
stevie2722
Medal Winner
just to add a bit more this is the reason i abandoned my golfing career ambitions playing off 5 at 16 and seemingly stalling handicap wise i knew i was a long way off.
Oh well nice dream but reality is often very different.
Oh well nice dream but reality is often very different.
drawboy
Tour Winner
I know a guy that has just had his H'cap reinstated as an amateur after playing the Europro tour (not even the European tour)and not making it. he has been given +3 to play off.
