Re: being a profesional golfer

hi PGApayer
i would think the best parts are earning pots of money for doing something you enjoy doing and travelling around the world.

the worst parts are not earning enough money on tour to cover your expenses!

Re: being a profesional golfer

A "friend" of mine plays on the PGA Tour. He certainly enjoys the money and what that provides for his family. He now has two small children and he doesn't enjoy it when he has to travel to some tournament. Not being American he is also subjected to searches and other inconveniences when he travels. Despite that he has chosen to stay in the US. I know he needs to get out of the US a few times a year with his family just to relax and recharge his batteries. Luckliy he has a wife that are willing to make the sacrifices necesary for him to play on tour, a lot of the guys aren't so lucky. A lot of strained marriages among tour pros, but something of a taboo subject.

Re: being a profesional golfer

hi
i agree that being away from your family so much is one bad point and the other is trying to get qualified for to play on tour is really hard, you only have to look at the number of really good player that have to go to Q school each year to get there ticket, once you get it its a learning curve and sometimes can take a few years to to get the experience to keep your ticket.
its a long and hard road and many never make it but some do and love it.
cheers
bill

Re: being a profesional golfer

I am glad some off you think like me, Slats is right the money,glamor and the feeling must be fantastic to play in just one torney.

However in reality these guys are nuts, lets look at the life of a tour player, average 48 weeks a year, there work their butt of in the gym, every week travel Monday, arrive tuesday and practice, pro-am Wednesday, then 4 days of intense golf (if they make the cutt) including practice everyday have you ever tried to play 4 days running........I bet you needed a week off work........every event first day, either early or late tee, early get up at 5am breakfast, short workout, over to the range, tee off play 18, back to range to short out driver etc.........back to your temp flat for hours break, glad rags on for sponsors dinner, even if you knackered your going, next day late tee, get up around 8am breakfast, workout, range, maybe light lunch and tee off. No time to go to range glad rags on again sponsors dinner, this time it's the car dealers.;Friday makes the cut and do the same again until Sunday, good night sleep Sunday...........you need it your flight is at 8am next day.........after 48 weeks and 200 thousand miles around the globe you get a week off..............wow good time to have a little practice away from the range. NUTS.

Make a million buy a house on Wentworth, play the weekly medals.

You have to admire the strenth of these guys, my hats off to them.


Ian.

Re: being a profesional golfer

If I had the choice of doing the above or sitting here at my desk I know what I'd rather be doing.

So in my opinion there really isn't a downside to being a pro.

Re: being a profesional golfer

Qassim,

Looking out of the window this morning I am glad to be sitting at my desk.


I just think any Hobby that turns into a living looses it's appeal.


Ian.

Re: being a profesional golfer

Fair point Ian - I think I'm just having a bad day at work today.

Re: being a profesional golfer

You raise a good point Ian. One that maybe highlights why many of those who go from having it as a hobby to a profession don't succeed. It stops being fun. An easy state of mind to slip into and not easy to clamber out of, I guess.

Just look at Monty! When he's miserable his golf is shocking! When he's all smiles he's brilliant! Same with Mickelson.

Tiegr's always having fun. That's why he's always good!

Re: being a profesional golfer

hi Neil
i think its not just about being a very good golfer but its also being able to have the appetite to play to win every week and thats harder than you think even for the top player and that why some have guys employed to build there inner strengths as well as the outer strength and fitness.
cheers
bill

Re: being a profesional golfer

I'm always having fun on the course so why is it that most of the time I'm rubbish?.

Re: being a profesional golfer

There are few pros who actually play 48 weeks of the year. The one who plays the least is the one winning the most. Tiger plays max 20 tournamnets a year, so in essence he is a part-time pro. Now, I'm fully aware that there are also guys teeing it up close to 40 times a year, but every once in a while, unless they are on the bubble, they will throw a tournament. Threejacking a few greens in order to get home for the weekend.

I would say that the least desirable part of being a tournament golfer are those between 115 - 135 on the money list (110 - 125 in ET) where the pressure really mounts at the end of the season. Its like a salesman having the boss in the face telling him that if he doesn't make two more sales within the next week is fired. Now that is pressure.

Re: being a profesional golfer

hi
what about Sam Torrance with over 700 tour matched under his belt.
one of the most traveled golfer ever, along with the great Gary Player who worked out he spent 1/5 of his life on a traveling to tournements.
cheers
bill