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**LowPost42** · 11-02-2005, 02:14 AM

Re: Is it too late to try to turn pro?

Well, like any professional sport, you have two groups of players.

Group 1) Those with a natural gift for the sport, honed over years of work to a high level of skill. This is roughly 95% of all professional athletes.

Group 2) Those who love the sport and are generally athletic, and whose work ethic end up paying off with a shot at the big show. This is the other 5%.

Which group are you?

**pinyo8** · 11-02-2005, 02:38 AM

Re: Is it too late to try to turn pro?

Can you be in between?
I feel like I am natural somewhat at it. When I was 12 and first started swing a club I could hit the ball and make it go pretty well with pretty good direction control. Used to hit it from soccer goals to the other socce goals. Had no lessons at all back then. But at the same time, I wasnt like a genius at it.
I am also generally atheletic. I am decent at pretty much every sports that I play without proper training either. It took me 2 years to go from a handicap 25 to 9, then another year to get down to 5, then another year to get down to 3. All that without really practicing much and just beating balls when I do. I would play more over the summer break and join one of those golf clinics that are held by the course golf pro for juniors (Although there were so many kids I was just bashing balls as well).
And now with a couple of hours every weekend focusing on doing things consistently and grooving the swing, I can already play quite well with more potential if I practice on the fine tuning those 100yards in shots. Obviously, you need the work ethic to be a professional sport play. A trait that I didnt feel I had when I was younger.
I am not aiming to be the number one player or anything like that although I know that the skills level are very high even with the nation wide tour.

**mec** · 11-02-2005, 02:57 AM

Re: Is it too late to try to turn pro?

if i remember it correctly, K.J. Choi first picked up the club around 17, turned pro around 26 in Korea. First attempt to get the PGA card at 28 but failed. Second attempt at 29 and finally got it...

**Ian Hancock** · 11-02-2005, 08:28 AM

Re: Is it too late to try to turn pro?

Pinyo,

There is one question you should ask yourself, if Tiger Woods walked up behing you at the range and said "hit a couple for me" would you be able to hit your best shots for him.

The point is there are amny people that can shoot low but cannot achieve the same standard under extream pressure.

That said it is all about confidence, breaking 90/80 or 70, I suggest you enter yourself into as many different opens as possible at different courses and see how you fair.

Deep down only you know if you have what it takes to make a living out of Golf.

I sincerley hope you do, it would be great for you and your family and of course the first GTO member to make it would be a land mark.

Good Luck

Ian.

**pinyo8** · 11-02-2005, 09:02 AM

Re: Is it too late to try to turn pro?

As for having pressure when someone comes up to me to hit a shot in front of them, be it Tiger Woods I have always seem to do well in front of a crowd. In fact, I think I would quite enjoy the opportunity to show my swing off to Tiger if I had the chance.
When I was young, every match play tournament that I have been in I have been able to hit every shot dead down the middle of the fairway (no kidding) while having all kind of butterflies in my stomach. I like the fact that people are watching and although I am nervous I still manage to do a good swing.

I was also the captain for the club pennant team for quite a few years and had to play a lot of the last few holes where my match would either be a win or lose situation for the team. I have usually been able to come through although I do get very nervous. But because of this I do feel that I can handle the pressure.

I will definitely take it step by step at a time and will enter in as many amateur tournaments first before making that extra step to go for the test to become a pro.

**Mr_Change** · 11-02-2005, 10:03 AM

Re: Is it too late to try to turn pro?

I think it is possible to do anything. You have to beleive in yourself.

**GregJWillis** · 11-02-2005, 11:54 AM

Re: Is it too late to try to turn pro?

Advice on what to expect when you do decide to make the switch to full-time playing:

Golf is your break from work. When golf is work, you will look at the game from a different perspective...basically exactly what it becomes: "work" and not a game anymore. Fun will exist when you win or do well. However, remove as much emotion from the game as you can stand it and that will help you succeed. Yes, get all pumped up after a great shot, and use that energy to your advantage, but also be able to turn it off when you miss. Excessive swings in mood wreak havoc on your ability to perform.

It takes a lot of time to adjust. You can start out all revved up and ready to take on the challenge, and the push to convert is great because of what "could be", but be ready to accept that your passion will change as you get up @ 5AM every day to run, then practice, then work out, then play, then practice and then study. This sport has become a business. A businessman's approach to the game is what is needed to succeed at making it a job where you make enough money to live. You have the business background to help you in that challenge, and that is your only advantage right now, so use it to help you get caught up.

Your skills will eventually catch up. Your mind and the control of it is what will separate you from the field. Trust in your ability to make EVERY shot turn out exactly they way you envision it. This goes for this long-term goal of turning pro as well. Trust that this will turn out exactly the way you see it and you will get there. Doubt in any way can only hinder your progress.

If you want to see what you are made of right now, and want a way to gauge your core abilities, play 1 match against a better player then you for more then you have ever played for...I am not endorsing anything remotely related to betting...but make the stakes something that will get you so upset that if you lost, you will feel the pain for months. This match will get you a little closer to understanding what you will do under true pressure and expose what you need to work on next. Playing in armature tournaments do not expose this truth. There is nothing at stake other then pride. We can hide behind pride. Pride does not pay the bills.

After the match, win or loose, go and work on that exposed weakness and perfect it. Play again. Work on the next one. Play, work, ... until you don't have anything to work on anymore. Then you are ready to begin the transition. 2 years might be pushing it, but it all depends on the amount of time you can put into it. I wouldn't look at 30 as any kind of goal. I would look at your ability to beat anyone at any time for any amount as your goal.

**msklar92** · 11-02-2005, 01:02 PM

Re: Is it too late to try to turn pro?

go to pgatour.com, check out the qualifying scores for qschool. see if you could at least match the top 25 scores, under those conditions and course length.

**SIRCHOPALOT** · 11-02-2005, 02:31 PM

Re: Is it too late to try to turn pro?

Never too late. Do you know who this guy is? Lost his tour card in the 60's. Won on the senior tour in 1988. Had a long layoff spell from golf when he worked as a steel-worker.

Surprised the golf world by winning the Vantage Championship

in 1988. Bested Al Geiberger, Dave Hill and Dick Rhyan by three strokes to claim the $135,000 first-place check, the largest on the Champions Tour at the time...Earned fully-exempt status on the Champions Tour at the 1985 National Qualifying Tournament by finishing third...Had brief stint on the PGA TOUR after earning his card in 1967...Qualified for the U.S. Open in 1978 and 1982...Played by himself in the final round of the 1978 event at Cherry Hills CC near Denver, and had the fastest round in Open history: two hours, 13 minutes...Won 10 tournaments on the 1982 Space Coast mini-tour in Florida...Grew up near Out of Bounds Club in Mahwah, NJ, a public course where his father once caddied for Babe Ruth and where he taught himself to play golf while working as a caddie...Was the only public course player to win the "Ike" Championship, a prestigious amateur tournament in the Northeast, capturing the event in 1964 at Winged Foot GC...Spent several years as a construction worker reinforcing steel beams

**4evrundaparstew** · 11-02-2005, 09:06 PM

Re: Is it too late to try to turn pro?

I'd give it a go otherwise you might regret it in the long run, afterall is said and done you can always go back to your day job. You might even find that by turning pro and playing with better players, will force you to improve as a player

**biggaryT78** · 11-02-2005, 09:53 PM

Re: Is it too late to try to turn pro?

GOOD LUCK TO YOU (us)
I feel Im in the same delema you're facing...
I also want to turn pro on a mini-tour somewhere. Before im 31. Im 26 now. I have set my goal, to get to Q-school of one or more of those tours by the 2010 season School.... um and maybe a "card"...

My main strength in golf, is natural tallent, My short game is my best, mainly putting, its just easy. I have only played seriously for last three years. I used to play while younger, but played Tennis in HS and stopped golfing for years. Got back into it and hit it hard! I practice Various things almost everyday and (do drills to improve specific aspects of my game.) Course management studying, Swing Videos, Chiping, Pitching, Floping, putting etc... I have a make shift "facility" in my backyard. I also track all my statistics methoticly, its easy I only play 20 rounds per year...

here is my HC progress..
2003 GHIN - (24.5-21.3)
2004 GHIN - (15.9-13.3)
2005 GHIN - (9.2-8.5)
(GOAL)
2006 7
2007 5
2008 1-3
2009 0(-1)
2010 -3

Any help would be WICKED!!!
gary

**msklar92** · 11-03-2005, 01:18 PM

Re: Is it too late to try to turn pro?

I would add to above, unless you are financially independent, you will need to get backers. You will have to play well enough to convince investors with bucks that you have high potential to succeed. Keep in mind, this is a high risk investment.

**biggaryT78** · 11-03-2005, 02:41 PM

Re: Is it too late to try to turn pro?

Yeah... I was wondering about that. The cost are Huge with golf. Say someone was playing good enough to clearly have potential... would backers approach you or will they need to look for them? little of both I presume.

g

**ubizmo** · 11-03-2005, 03:18 PM

Re: Is it too late to try to turn pro?

It seems like you would be a natural for the Golf Channel's "Big Break" series. But I like Greg's advice. Try to experience some golf in a context where it's not recreational but something significant is at stake. If you find that energizing, then that's probably a good sign that you should make your move.

From my vantage point of inexperience, the real question is whether you are willing to stake your livelihood on something with a level of uncertainty as high as competition golf. I think some people thrive on that uncertainty; it energizes them. Others don't. And that doesn't just apply to golf, of course. People who decide to make a career in the music business or in acting face similar uncertainty, and not everyone can hack it. And I need hardly add that other personal considerations can be a large factor, such as being married, having kids to raise, etc.

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