Posts Tagged ‘Golfer’
Professional golfers generally fall into one of two categories: one who plays golf for a living, entering various tournaments throughout the year. The other plays in occasional tournaments, while running a golf club full-time. Aspiring golfers should have some disposable income before turning pro.
Between paying tournament entry fees, hiring caddies, coaches and paying for travel accommodations, the transition to the pro tour can be taxing. Some golfers seek out endorsements to help alleviate the financial burden. Anyone can turn pro, as long as they file the necessary paperwork and qualify for the tour. You should have a low handicap or be a scratch golfer.
1. Take up the game early on, even as a child. Start working on your short game (i.e. putting, chipping) at a local course and put in some time at the range, improving your ball-striking techniques.
Some younger players may hire a golf coach to help them hone their game. Get into shape by hitting the weight room. Work on both your upper body and lower body strength. This will help you tremendously on your drives, generating greater velocity and distance.
2. Gain some playing experience by playing in college or through an apprenticeship program. Apprenticeships are offered through golf courses and professional golfing organizations like the PGA. As an apprentice, you would work full-time at a course or range under the supervision of a veteran pro golfer.
Enter local amateur tournaments and mini-tours, many of which you can enter simply by paying the entry fee. Other mini-tours, such as the NGA Hooters Tour, require you to become a member of their tour by completing an application before you can begin to play.
3. Qualify for one of the major tours (PGA, LPGA, Nationwide and Champions tours) by playing in a qualifying tournament. Each tour has its own qualifying tournament; the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament is colloquially known as the Q-School.
Check each tour’s website for more information on its qualifying tournaments. Q-School, which is also the qualifier for the Nationwide tour, actually consists of several stages. Generally the top 30 finishers (plus ties) qualify for the PGA Tour, while those who make it through to the final stage will qualify for the Nationwide tour.
4. Play consistently in the tournaments you enter. Numerous successful outings may lead to exemptions for future tournaments. With an exemption, a golfer automatically qualifies for a tournament like the U.S. Open without first going through the tournament’s qualifying rounds.
To remain on the PGA tour, you will have to hold your position among the winningest 125 golfers on tour (based on total earnings). If you happen to fall out of this group, and do not receive any exemptions by winning a number of tournaments, then you will have to go back through Q-School to qualify for next year.
Posted in 
Tags: 