Second Career Tour Pros

[Toby_LeRhone]

Like so many healthy sports, golf has its share of incentivised programmes for the recruitment and development of junior players. This is wonderful.

As a relative newcomer to golf, my knowledge is thin. So, I have a question about accessibility to the higher echelons of the game for late starters.

My assumption is that there are no phyical or political barriers preventing it but are there many examples of individuals who have actually found success as a touring professional having started playing later in life as, say, a second career in their 30s; ie, having never played golf before?

If a supremely talented junior has a flash to bang time of, say 10 years from picking up his first cut-down sand iron to turning pro (eg, 8 to 18 years old), why should a more senior player not achieve the the same in a similar length of time? Surely the relative benefits of disciplined maturity (not to mention the potential for greater disposable income) might outweigh the enthusiasm of youth?

 

[Farneyman]

I would see no reason why with dedicated hard work its not possible to make a living from the game.

The timescale this would take would depend on the amount of time spent more than money spent.

 

[RGDave]

If a supremely talented junior has a flash to bang time of, say 10 years from picking up his first cut-down sand iron to turning pro (eg, 8 to 18 years old), why should a more senior player not achieve the the same in a similar length of time? Surely the relative benefits of disciplined maturity (not to mention the potential for greater disposable income) might outweigh the enthusiasm of youth?

Forget it. Optimum physical and mental learning takes place between 8 and 16 years old. Trying to compete with this over 18 is not possible. Lots have tried and lots have failed.
However, if you have DONE the thing as a youngster, the rules are slightly different i.e. you can build on previously ingrained skills but it's still a long, hard road.

 

[Farneyman]

Forget it. Optimum physical and mental learning takes place between 8 and 16 years old. Trying to compete with this over 18 is not possible. Lots have tried and lots have failed.

If you dont stop growing until your 21 (for guys) surely at 16 you havent reached your phyiscal optimum. I for one was a lot stronger at 21 than at 16.

As for the mental aspect I believe an older person could work on this just aswell as a young person. I still think it woul;d be possible but a hell of a lot of hard work and time.

 

[RGDave]

Forget it. Optimum physical and mental learning takes place between 8 and 16 years old. Trying to compete with this over 18 is not possible. Lots have tried and lots have failed.

If you dont stop growing until your 21 (for guys) surely at 16 you havent reached your phyiscal optimum. I for one was a lot stronger at 21 than at 16.

As for the mental aspect I believe an older person could work on this just aswell as a young person. I still think it would be possible but a hell of a lot of hard work and time.

Of course, nobody has reached their physical optimum at 16. That's why youngsters with flawless technique get better.

I take your point, but the only way it could be achieved is with a relatively easy game...is golf easy? Maybe it is compared to the stuff I was reading about for my degree.

There have been late developers, of course, but that's a different story.

This book would suggest learning from scratch over a certain age is impossible.

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/matthew+syed/bounce/7292488/

 

[Toby_LeRhone]

This book would suggest learning from scratch over a certain age is impossible.

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/matthew+syed/bounce/7292488/

I havent read that book but to be honest I didnt get that from reading the book's synopsis. Indeed, to me it appears to support an idea that social constraints are as prevalent as perceived physical or cognitive developmental barriers. Perhaps one key reason why it is 'impossible' is because we are indoctrinated to believe that to be the case...

 

[RGDave]

This book would suggest learning from scratch over a certain age is impossible.

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/matthew+syed/bounce/7292488/

I havent read that book but to be honest I didnt get that from reading the book's synopsis. Indeed, to me it appears to support an idea that social constraints are as prevalent as perceived physical or cognitive developmental barriers. Perhaps one key reason why it is 'impossible' is because we are indoctrinated to believe that to be the case...

The book does indeed make the claim that we become what we believe we can become i.e. that top sportsmen (and the others) never stop in the belief that they will get there.

What is also says categorically is that that there are a minimum amount of hours that one must work, and that those have to be done before a certain age.

 

[Andy]

I for one was a lot stronger at 21 than at 16

5 years of ******* done that m8

Andy

 

[Farneyman]

I for one was a lot stronger at 21 than at 16

5 years of wanking done that m8

Andy

Its not even 9o clock yet and ur using such language. You should know better ....

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I guess it could be done but getting down from whatever level you are now to scratch and beyond in order to compete on any sort of pro tour is going to take a lot of time, coaching and dedication. I read the "Dream On" book about the guy who wanted to play one scratch round within a year and although I get the feeling the whole thing was dramatised up to make a good read, the underlying theme seemed to be a long slog, putting golf before family, and a lot of heartache for little reward. Magnify that again to play a pro event and whilst I don't see to many problems providing there is a decent level of fitness (most the senior pros are still ultra fit) and a core level of competence but can't really see too many making it a reality

 

[Farneyman]

What is also says categorically is that that there are a minimum amount of hours that one must work, and that those have to be done before a certain age.

Having not read the book I find that hard to believe. I am not doubting that its in the book, I just dont believe its tru, for no other reason than that I believe "people" are capable of it.

 

[MashieNiblick]

I think this is a really interesting topic especially as golf, unlike many other sports, allows competition at the highest levels at a more advanced age, so should provide more opportunities for late starters than sports that have a greater emphasis on athletic ability.

As another post said there have been late developers, e.g. so called journeymen coming good and winning majors late in their careers and the advent of the senior tour has allowed some club pros and even a few ex-amateurs to make a good living and even win senior majors.

I couldn't think of any late starters (i.e. starting after 25) who have excelled but a bit of a dig in an old golf record book turned up Babe Zaharias the famous American golfer of the 1940's and 50's. She won gold and silver medals at the 1932 Olympics for hurdles, javelin and high jump. She took up golf late in life (mid 20's) and won over 40 professional tournaments and 3 US Opens. Clearly she was an athlete of considerable talent to start with and that must make a difference I suppose.

Still can't think of any recent examples. Bit of research needed maybe.

 

[goldenbare]

i think that you may find more players on the Senior tour have made this move rather than the regular Tour but I think this will become less possible as the Tour grows older and more ex regular tour players join it.
We all have to have a dream (that man Bob Rotella again)