Pro golfer earnings - when is it worthwhile?

[Redwood]

Guys,

Quick observation which raised a question in my mind that some of you may be able to help me with.

I was checking on the Race to Dubai rankings, and noticed that golfers even lower down the rankings still make what seems like good money, or so it seems!!

Take Richie Ramsey for example. This year he earned over 300,000 EUR, which to my mind is a very good little pay packet. That's when I slapped myself on the forehead and cosnidered that all of that isn't sitting in the bank accont at the end of the season for the missus and the tax man to get their hands on. You've got the expenses that go with travelling to all of these tournaments (I think Ramsey played 30-ish this season).

So, my question is, what sort of earnings do you think you need to make as a golfer to make it worthwhile as a carrer, financially?

I would have thought that a young guy like Ramsey would have been happy with that this year, but then again, how much do you think he has in the bank?

 

[RGDave]

So, my question is, what sort of earnings do you think you need to make as a golfer to make it worthwhile as a carrer, financially?

I wouldn't know, but I guess £70-80k minimum. The overheads (travel and accommodation) alone must be quite a bit more than one might first think. I guess you could easily spend £1,000-1,500 a week on flights and hotels.....
If you need to fly easy-jet and live in £30 hotels, it's not going to be much of a life!!!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Seve Benson is 120 on the list and so keeps his card (I think) and made 250,786 euro. I'm sure even with all the deductions and expenses he must clear at least £40k which is nearly double my NHS wage and can't be too bad in anyones books. On top of the earnings there will be sponsorship so I'm guessing his take home won't be far short of £75k so not bad for a year of doing something you love

 

[backwoodsman]

I guess it depends on what you call a good living?

I think I've read somewhere that only about the top 150 players on the tour make a decent living - which from the current table means about £150k pa

 

[stevek1969]

Ramsay would have had £80,000 more but for some reason hit 3 iron of the 18th at St Andrews landed on Granny Clarks Wynd and cost him a bogey 5 ,that holes driver all day or 3 wood over to the 1st tee , a bad mistake or a bottle crash ?.

 

[justhitthething]

Seve Benson is 120 on the list and so keeps his card (I think) and made 250,786 euro. I'm sure even with all the deductions and expenses he must clear at least £40k which is nearly double my NHS wage and can't be too bad in anyones books. On top of the earnings there will be sponsorship so I'm guessing his take home won't be far short of £75k so not bad for a year of doing something you love

With the greatest respect homer your job and his job are not comparable.
A life away from home all year, living out of a suitcase in a different hotel every week? I wouldnt do it for 40k.

 

[Smiffy]

A life away from home all year, living out of a suitcase in a different hotel every week? I wouldnt do it for 40k.

Nor would I.
The wife has suggested I give it a go though

 

[Faldo_Fan]

Surely enough to retain your card.....then worry about the amount being enough for the tax man, your mortgage, food, HID.......

 

[Robobum]

I read that a fullish schedule of around 23 or so tournaments costs about £40 - 45K. That's a "mid standard" player's expenses including his own caddy that comes to all tournaments with him.

A young kid that earns £100k will be like a pig in s**t with that sort of lifestyle. However someone with a family might not consider it worth being away from home for over 6 months of the year.

 

[Mike_j_golf]

Hi,
Played a round with a guy who used to work for the european tour and he was telling me a lot of the players get comped in hotels for a lot of the events so most of the expense is flights which are cheap enough around europe but not if u are heading to the far east or america the cost of a year on tour is between 80 and 120 thousand depending if u like first class and more expensive hotels. The guys on the Challange tour struggle to break even even doing it on a shoe string. I know i would rather be traveling around playing golf for 50 grand a year rather than sitting in a office for less.
Mike

 

[Mike_j_golf]

I read that a fullish schedule of around 23 or so tournaments costs about £40 - 45K. That's a "mid standard" player's expenses including his own caddy that comes to all tournaments with him.

A young kid that earns £100k will be like a pig in s**t with that sort of lifestyle. However someone with a family might not consider it worth being away from home for over 6 months of the year.

Hi,
How much dose a caddy cost i thought it was 1000 to 2000 per tournment plus a % of the winnings anyone know for sure.
Mike

 

[Robobum]

I don't think there is any standard arrangements for caddies, all depends on the quality of the player and the quality of the caddy.

I've heard figures mentioned during TV commentary of between 5 & 8% of the players cheque for the week. Probably more lie 10 - 15% for a win.

Some caddies are payed a retainer regardless of the players finish, don't think that applies to everyone though.

Isn't Steve Williams the 2nd highest earning "sportsman" in New Zealand??

 

[Ethan]

Caddies get 10% of a win, and 7% of other prize money.

Some pros get extra income from their sponsors, for endorsements, advertising, corporate days and suchlike. In Steve Williams' case, he has his own sponsors, whose logo he shows over after taking his caddies' bib and making sure he is standing close to a camera at the 18th.

 

[mjsw13]

Seve Benson is 120 on the list and so keeps his card (I think) and made 250,786 euro. I'm sure even with all the deductions and expenses he must clear at least £40k which is nearly double my NHS wage and can't be too bad in anyones books. On top of the earnings there will be sponsorship so I'm guessing his take home won't be far short of £75k so not bad for a year of doing something you love

With the greatest respect homer your job and his job are not comparable.
A life away from home all year, living out of a suitcase in a different hotel every week? I wouldnt do it for 40k.

-------
I would love it for £40k take home pay. Seeing loads of different countries, sights, cultures, foods, drinks etc., and playing golf minimum 4 days a week.

Where do I sign

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Benson made 250,000 euros and even if you took off 150,000 for tax and expenses then based on the figures given by others he'd have 100,000 in his pocket nett for the year. Thats not bad for anyone. I accept its hard travelling and being away but if you don't like that part of the job don't be a tour pro. I think two or three years of 100,000 nett would see me right for a very long time. That figure is what he earned and when you add on sponsorship endorsements you can probably add at least another 20k minimum onto that

 

[Bunkers]

I would swap jobs and lifestyles in an instant...

...£40,000 take home AND play golf full time...

...come on....i'd put up with living out of a suitcase fulltime in exchange...

 

[Herbie]

Guys,

Quick observation which raised a question in my mind that some of you may be able to help me with.

I was checking on the Race to Dubai rankings, and noticed that golfers even lower down the rankings still make what seems like good money, or so it seems!!

Take Richie Ramsey for example. This year he earned over 300,000 EUR, which to my mind is a very good little pay packet. That's when I slapped myself on the forehead and cosnidered that all of that isn't sitting in the bank accont at the end of the season for the missus and the tax man to get their hands on. You've got the expenses that go with travelling to all of these tournaments (I think Ramsey played 30-ish this season).

So, my question is, what sort of earnings do you think you need to make as a golfer to make it worthwhile as a carrer, financially?

I would have thought that a young guy like Ramsey would have been happy with that this year, but then again, how much do you think he has in the bank?

My answer to your question is simple.....If you make enough money to have a comparable life style to anyone else in the jobs market, then why not play golf for a living? To me it has nothing to do with tour golf or big comps or image, but if you can make enough each year to cover your mortgage, living expenses and a couple of holidays a year by doing a few lessons each week and the odd comp and maybe run a golf shop, what better way to live your life?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I totally agree. Its no coincidence that a lot of club pros stay in place for a good few years. There must be something in it to do so and they must be getting enough to live the way the want.

 

[justhitthething]

I totally agree. Its no coincidence that a lot of club pros stay in place for a good few years. There must be something in it to do so and they must be getting enough to live the way the want.

Ive been doing my job for 25 years. More because theres nothing else I could do rather than theres nothing else Id like to do. Your golf pro is the same.
When a leisure activity becomes a job, it ceases to be a leisure activity.

 

[viscount17]

I totally agree. Its no coincidence that a lot of club pros stay in place for a good few years. There must be something in it to do so and they must be getting enough to live the way the want.

frankly I'm amazed that our course/club can support 3 full-time pros, plus 3 or 4 part-time assistants. I know their fees for lessons are high but they can't be selling that much much kit and the mark-up at their level can't be that high.