Question for those of you on low single figure handicaps

SuprSi

I'm curious to know if any of you who have or had handicaps below 4 ever considered becoming a professional golfer? Not a touring pro, but a club pro, or something involved in the golf industry.

I always considered it when I was younger, but obviously hoped to make it as a playing pro. I didn't have the talent, so couldn't follow that route, but I'm always curious to know why people who are obviously very good golfers never went the golf career route.

Par72

I did consider becoming a teaching pro for a while but I decided against it for a number of reasons -

1. I enjoy playing club golf too much. Not being able to represent my club in inter-club competitions and all the craic I have in my club would be too much of a sacrifice.

2. I've represented Leinster and always wanted to get an Irish cap which I still believe I can achieve, obviously turning pro would mean the end of that.

3. I don't really enjoy teaching people that much. I don't mind giving people a few tips and helping them out a bit but I couldn't see myself doing it day after day. I think I would find it monotonous.

4. Golf teaching pros don't necessarily make huge amounts of money and take a long time to get established.

PhilipMarlowe

I didn't play enough of the game at a young enough age... got to 3 at 35
I couldn't teach because I don't know how I do it myself
Would like to caddy on tour sometime...

ImDave

Back when I was in secondary school (around 4th year), I was very interested in the idea. I was playing off ~6 at the age of 16/17, and I had been working every weekend, holiday and free evening I had in a golf shop since I was 12. After some consideration however, I decided it was not what I was really interested in. It can be a tough living at times for some Pro's as well. A person would have to be very genuinly interested in golf and have the passion for coaching also.

N00b2fitness

Do you need first to get to scratch, zero or can you turn professional at like, 2 or 1?

Do people who are at clubs who get to zero and can beat par on a reasonably regular basis then go into negative numbers or do they forever stay at Zero? I guess the prfessionals would generally speaking be minus 4 or 5 correct?

Maybe o/t but just curious.

SuprSi

You have to be at least 4, preferably lower. Unless you gain entry through your playing skills, you have to pass a 3 year self-study course, while working with a golf pro/in a golf shop. At the end of the 3 year course you have to prove your playing ability on a course somewhere, so you need to be more than capable of playing to 4 or better on a variety of courses.

I figured that the job of a teaching pro might not be a wealthy one. Just curious to know. Back in the day it would never have occurred to me but I have to admit it's something I'd love to do now. The reality of taking 3 years out of my life to try it is another matter though!!

Mister Sifter

Came very close to going down the teaching pro route when i graduated. It's like anything, if you're good enough, you'll make money teaching. Admittedly the starting wages are poor though.

Still often regret not having went for it to be honest.

ShriekingSheet

Was 3 when I was 18. Always thought I was better than I actually was. Was technically impressive but never had the attitude to cut it and shoot real low scores regulalrly so playing pro was out.

Went and did a business degree so it never really made sense to go into teaching.

I enjoy the social side of the game, the club atmosphere, interclub etc so wouldn't give that up.


I definitely think there's scope there to go into the PGA, do your training years (where your essentially a shop keeper) and then apply a bit of initiative and set something up - a bit like Barry Power has done. IMO, it's not like he developed a great reputation and then start advertising and doing a website etc. He marketed himself agressively first and just by putting himself out there got the business in. I don't know the guy, nor would he be high on my list of teachers but fair play to him.

There's also plenty of scope to do the opposite, which unfortunately most of em do. That is, feck all. It seems to me a bit of business cop on goes a long way in the area of teaching.

stockdam

I'm gatecrashing as I was never low enough to consider it.

A club pro seems a very boring job to me........sitting in a shop all day selling sweets and taking green fees. Teaching would be fun but you need to know your stuff. The vast majority of pros seem to be happy but I don't think they are making much money.

neckedit

I've been involved in golf or lived around it all my life went down the PGA route a lot of years back, but realized early on that it wasn't really for me, My Brother is a qualified PGA member and making a good living for himself, I still work in the business and enjoy it greatly, couldn't really see my self doing anything else( unless i get that call from Metallica), The PGA course nowadays is very advanced, and offers education in the areas of business, teaching, sports management, biomechanics etc, low wages at the start, but as earlier posts said a little application goes a long way:p