Would you turn pro if you were good enough?

[muttleee]

A friend of mine was playing off +1 at 16 and briefly considered a career in golf but decided against it because a) he felt he would never be good enough for the European tour and b) he didn't want to be a club pro. It got me thinking...would you want to be a professional golfer if you had the ability?

I know it sounds like the ideal life but would golf as a career be as much fun as it is as a hobby? Would it be worth the stress of struggling to make another cut, just to know that you're doing what you love for a living? Or do the likes of Gary Wolstenholme and Garth McGimpsey have the right idea?

 

[GB72]

If I had been good enough at age 16 I would have taken the Luke Donald/Paul Casey route and applied for a golf scholarship to an american university. At least I would get a feel for the competitive side whilst having an education to fall back on.

 

[BunkerMentality123]

I think that the knee-jerk reaction would be as you say to jump at the chance, but I think that the real issue would be to consider just how good you were.

If for example you were a good club player at +1, would the situation be different if you added all the pressures of pro-golf.

Also I guess it would depend upon your personal drive, would you want the ultimate and become a tour player, or would a club pro be enough.

My grandfather (Aldeburgh), Uncle (Berkhamsted) and Cousin (Tring) have all done fairly well out of club pro golf.

I'm not sure what the money is like, but that is obviously another factor.

WE have one of the lads at our club who has set himself a target of 2yrs to qualify for the Tour (i believe he plays off +3). It does help that his father is absolutely minted, as the early stages are quite tough financially.

It's an interesting question, and not as easy to answer as one may think!

Deep down I'd love to, but unfortunately ability (and an early career in rugby) put paid to any chances for me!

 

[birdieman]

Club Pro -NO. European Tour standard Pro -YES.

 

[muttleee]

Club Pro -NO. European Tour standard Pro -YES.

That in itself raises a question. No doubt plenty of people would willingly play on the European Tour if they could have the levels of success enjoyed by Monty, Casey, Harrington et al but would it still be tempting if you were "only just" a tour-standard player? Fighting to keep your card year in and year out must be serious stress.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Fuuny enough I tend to disagree. Having been fortunate enough to be an assistant pro for several years and knowing my current club pro quite well it is the pro side of the game I'd definitely choose.

There is more contact, far less stress and if you are good enough and dedicated enough to work at your business it can still be a rewarding path.

Happy golfing

Homer

 

[Teetotal]

If I was a club pro at a club where there was more teaching then selling mars bars then that would be rewarding and at £25-30 a hour that's not bad money. If I was 16 and off +1 unless I had financial backing don't think I would bother. Need to be off about +4 these days.

Out of all the sports I would definitely be a golfer because of the longevity and the massive prize money.

 

[viscount17]

If I was 16 and off +1 unless I had financial backing don't think I would bother. Need to be off about +4 these days.

Teetotal, I don't understand your logic, please explain

 

[rgs]

It depends on his mental toughness-is he mentally strong to take the falls which will occur- Look at Justin Rose turned pro at 17-21 missed cuts in a row-he managed to come through it and is now a top class golfer.
Teetotal has a point about the handicap situation-McIlroy was +5 before he turned pro this week and hes only 18.

 

[John_Findlay]

I don't think a golfer who's off +1 is likely to have any chance of making a living as a touring pro until he improves dramatically.

I once watched a program which tried to work out what a top class tour pro's handicap would actually be. With the difficullty of the courses and the standard of the CSS and general scoring they worked out that Ernie Els would be off at least +12. This might sound mad, because he never scores 12 under for a round but it was worked out the same way as that of amateurs. The CSS for a tour standard course might be 76 or 77 some days (so a +1 golfer is expected to shoot say 75 or 76) The top pros are shooting 64's.

+1 and +12 is a big gap.

 

[birdieman]

I would so love to play off +1 but I agree in the general scheme of things you'll find at least two or three players at that standard in every club across the UK.

 

[Teetotal]

Being only 16 he could take a couple of years practicing really hard and trying to knock a few shots of his game but as john_findlay has pointed out there's a league of difference between scatch and the tour pro's. They make every shot look so easy. I also don't think its a good idea turning pro so young. I think the experience of playing on the amateur circuit can improve your mental strength and then there's the hell of Q school too where the best of players can just crumble under the pressure.

 

[Junior]

Wow ! ernie off +12 , that's really interesting, wonder what Tiger would be off ???

 

[ForeThought]

Why not go for it? You might not succeed but at least you wouldn't die wondering. And - just maybe - you might succeed, and what fun that would be!

 

[AceOfClubs]

Talking once to a pro golfer, he said he hated playing golf unless it was in competition - if he played a good shot, he wished he had done it instead in a competition where it counted, and if he played badly then that was even worse!

 

[xander]

YES....but i am not good enough!

The TRUTH is that 99% never will be good enough.

Even if you get down to scratch your still going to struggle to make a cut.........most pro's play off big+ handicaps now.

Listening to sandy lyle comentate recently he was talking about how he played off PLUS 18 in a comp..........and lets face it Sandy's best days are behind him now!

So unfortunately most of the guys who think the are good enough simply aren't!!!!

 

[Lloydy84]

xander don't be so negative, the pro's are bound to play off +12 ect, THEY DO NOTHING BUT PRACTICE. I don't see why someone off scratch at say, 20 yrs old couldnt have a crack at it, if all you did every day is play golf then of course you'll get good.