Turning pro

Question
Hi, i currently play off 7 at a championship standard couse and have had a couple of rounds at 74 - 75. i work in a golf shop as a web designer and play at every oportunity. at the moment i play once in a competition and go to the range a couple of times a week.

i feel that i could get alot better and i do get better in sumer when i play 3-4 times a week.

i have always thought about trying to play on the first tour and doing it full time. my parents are more than happy to support me and say that if there was a chance it could work i should go for it. i am 22 and would be able to play every day all day so i could get good enough to play on tour,

what would the first step be and would you also say i should give it a go whilst i am young or am i miles away from the tour standard.

i will always think about it and dont want to regret not having a go when i am older.

where can you get the info about where the competitions are in the UK and what needs to be achieved to qualify for a propper tour.

thanks
mark
cheshire.

Answer
Hello Mark,

Sorry for the delay, I have been very busy - as always!

Without seeing your golf game, it is difficult for me to judge how far off the standard you are and how good your swing, shortgame and mental game is. Being realistic, the standard to be playing something like the PGA European tour is very very high and you need not just to be a good player, but be mentally very strong too. If however, you have a burning desire to have a crack at it and I mean it needs to be an absolute must, not just something that you think would be nice to do, it has got to get you up early in the morning and keep you up late at night wanting this, then why not. Although you are starting late on, look at Greg Norman, he did not start playing golf until he was 16 and within a year was a scratch golfer and went on to become the world no. 1. He obviously had an outstanding talent for the game.

The first thing you need to do is get a very good swing coach to help your game, I would also start now working on some mental drills and practices. Within 18 months of playing and practicing hard, you will be in a much better situation to judge whether this is just a pipe dream or if there is any chance of it becoming a reality. I personally believe that its not just down to talent. Talent helps, but many gifted players have fallen at the wayside because they lacked the inner belief and desire. You've got to want this more than anything.

If you visit www.PGA.info you can get some more info about what's needed to become a pro. Once you turn pro, you can go to qualifying school to make it on the big tours but this is very expensive.

I hope this helps.

Good Luck,

Marc Evans.

 

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