turning pro

[naylor77]

i started up golf in january 09 i started my first membership in april and was given a handicap of 22. i am now off 10 but shooting scores of 6 over and better regularly . a bad score is 6 7 over
could i turn pro
if yes
at what level e.g coach, tour level euro pro challenge etc

 

[Owen_Thomas_14]

Hi and welcome to the forum, dont know if you can turn pro at your level at the moment but if you can still wont be worth it until your off a plus 4 or 5 handicap to make a desent living.

 

[sneakyweeone]

Agree with OT, you need to be at least +4 to turn pro these days to play on the tours. But with the progress your making it may not be long away.
Good luck chasing the dream!

 

[drawboy]

If I were you I would be trying to get a position as an assistant pro at a golf club. You would have to be showing real promise however and probably have a playing handicap of around the 4-6 region. You are up against stiff competition though these days ads there are many god golfers out there chasing the same thing.I wish you all the very best in getting what you seek though.

 

[USER1999]

My club probably has about 80 cat 1 players, so handicaps of 4 or 5 are not that unusual. We have a couple of plus 2 handicaps too, and they aren't even thinking about it. We had a plus 5, and he did turn pro, played on the euro pro tour for a year, got his tour card through tour school, european tour for one year, lost it and is now back at q school for another go. Even off plus 5, he isn't good enough to make any money.

 

[Robobum]

How old are you Naylor??

Whilst the above examples are good to show you how tough it is, don't be put off just because you don't get to +5. Plenty have turned pro earlier than that and flourished under the pressure that pro golf brings. It just suits some people rather than others.

You need to be at least off of 4 to even think about the PGA pro route. If you want to be a playing pro, you'll need to get to close to scratch and then I'd recommend entering some regional satelite tour events (Jamega Tour in my area) where you stump up your own cash to play for. It will give you a very good idea of whether you are cut out for that life.

If you are a "youngun" then the best way is to keep cracking on with getting your h'cap down and try to get picked up for County coaching etc and hopefully progress to a National squad where the coaching and training is as good as it gets.

Good Luck.

 

[Ethan]

naylor

You sound like a fast improving player, and good luck with continued success.

To be a Tour pro and make a living you would need to be off a very respectable plus handicap and be able to regularly beat the best players in the county like a drum. A lot of players have good handicaps at their own club, but can't travel.

To be a club pro is a bit easier in terms of playing ability, but a plus handicap would be wise. Also, you will need to study for PGA exams and pass playing tests.

 

[freddielong]

Hi Naylor
As already mentioned your age would be a good indication of where you are at the moment, but I think the most important thing is how quickly you can improve from your 10 handicap

I have been of 0 or less since I was 17 (now 37) I started last season at + 2.8 (finished it at + 1.3) and I havn't ever seriously considered it, mainly because I like eating food and living in a house in other words I am nowhere near good enough to make it pay.

If I were you I would get to a standard were you are able to enter county and national competions that have age groups, you need to be good enough IMO to be winning these or at least putting your self in contention to even consider yourself, good enough to become a tour pro (these are the other guys in the country thinkng of turning pro)

 

[drawboy]

naylor

A lot of players have good handicaps at their own club, but can't travel.

Wise words Ethan, I always play rubbish away from home. I cant play well first time on any course.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I was an assistant back in the 80's when arguably there wasn't quite the competition there is today. Even so when I went out to local assistant events it became apparent very quickly that even though I was a decent player at my club, I wasn't anywhere near the standard of some of these guys and they couldn't make a living.

OK I accept the game has moved on and there are more local tours with a tad more money to compete for but the standard has rising as well. Depending on your age, I think that even with plus handicap credentials its something you'd need to think long and hard about. That said if you can get an assistants job and qualify as a PGA pro then there is still a decent living to be made if you are prepared to put some effort in.

 

[Dodger]

How long did it take you to get your Amatuer status back Homer,I have heard some horror stories as to the time it can take.

As a few have said I would say that unless you wish to go down the coaching road or the marsbar salesman road plus something at the age of 18 at the latest would need to be a goal before turning.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I never actually made the jump into professional golf and never rescinded my amateur status. I was taken on with the view to going onto take my PGA exams and become qualified but as my parents couldn't find the cash and the pro and club wouldn't sponsor me I jacked it all in. Even playing in the few events I did though was an eye opener.

There is a big golf centre in the middle of Sandown Park and they had three assistants at the same time as me and they were regularly playing under par but the only way they were making any money on top of their basic wage was by giving lessons. These guys were a different class even then to me which is why I knew if I was going to do anything it was going to be via getting qualified, finding an assistant post somewhere and waiting for a pro opportunity at a club somewhere. One of the assistants down the road at Royal Wimbledon left and it took him just under five years to get his amateur status back. He wasn't too fussed to be honest as he knew in his heart he didn't want to make a living from the game.

To be honest there are a lot more opportunities now. There are more practice facilities, more clubs and more retail outlets so anyone qualifying as a pro has a chance to at least make some sort of cash. Its not pretty at the bottom of the ladder and money is tight but if you have the application and dedication you can progress. I'm sure if you eventually end up as a head pro at a top end course the salary/income must be comfortable

 

[Dodger]

Ah,so in reality you didn't actually play in any 'assistant' events just amateur ones then.Was it county events that made you realise it?Coming up against some of these boys can indeed be an eye opener and many are better than many Assistants anyway.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

No I played in assistant events. In those days you could enter and get the club pro to counter-sign your entry form. I only did three or four and hacked my way round each and every one so gave that idea up pretty quickly. I think my best effort was something like 79 at Royal Wimbledon and an 81 at Tyrells Wood. I think I was last or near to last in my other outings.

 

[Dodger]

So as an amateur you could play with pro's.....havn't heard that before,my pro who turned around then always said it was one or tother and he chose the Pro route.

 

[bobmac]

Naylor, if you want to turn pro, you HAVE to be working at a golf club as an assistant that has been approved by the PGA as a training establishment.
You need to be off 4 or less
You need at least 5 GCSEs which must include maths and English.
You need to pass the playing test
Spend 3 years studying for the foundation degree and pass all 8 modules.
This will cost you over the 3 years(assuming you pass everything) between £3000 and £4000 (depending on how much you drink in the Bel Air at the Belfry)

 

[walesandproud]

You dont have to be any handicap to turn pro, that is to go the PGA route and get a proper qualification. Any one can inform the R&A that they are turning pro. It will take a few years to revert back howver when you find you cant cut it. You are regarded as a pro if you win a hole in 1 car in a charity day if you accept the prize, even if you play off 20