Becoming a Pro Golfer - Great Read

snowy666

Apols if this has already been covered but saw this on 2+2 and thought some of you might like to read it. A real eye-opener on just what it takes to be a top golfer.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/93/golf/becoming-professional-golfer-675286/

Whyner

Nice read, cheers...

stockdam

Thanks will read it later. Good advice from some people who have actually been down the route.

One of them being:

http://www.pgatour.com/players/02/24/43/

f22

That's a great read, there's alot of young dreamers out there who could do with reading this, might give them the reality check they need!

jimbling

Fantastic read. Some great advice in there as well.

Pure Gold:

Speaking of Duval, it reminded me of a funny (to me) story.
In '98, when Duval was at his best, a good buddy of mine was paired with David and Corey Pavin the first two days at Callaway Gardens.

After Thursday's round, I asked him about his day.

"I have seen how golf is supposed to be played!" he says.
"The guy just absolutely pures it. 20 yds. by me and right down the middle.
Every iron like a laser at the hole. Every putt is either in or burns the edge.
Shot 68 and made it look like the easiest thing ever.
Phenomenal!"
I was a bit taken back from this gushing, because my buddy hits it long and is full of self confidence. I've never heard him brag on anyone else's game.

"So how about Pavin?" I asked.

"Oh my god, what a joke! The guy is awful. Can't play a lick. Short AND crooked. He was all over the map and didn't hit one solid shot all day.
On one par 3 he laid the sod over the ball and left it 30 yds. short of the front bunker."

"What'd he shoot?!"

"69."

Tom Ghostwood

+6 in the states is a +1 hcapper here I think (4 or 5 shot difference?). Any round counts towards their hcap & they have slope rating for every course which can give extra shots on more difficult courses.

Still doesnt take away from the fact you need to be a machine to succeed out there.

Benicetomonty

So thats why I never made it...

Cracking thread, although it looks as if raw natural talent still has one of the biggest roles to play. I got tired just reading about Scott's training regime and it seems to have yielded very little encouragement in terms of scoring...

f22

Tom Ghostwood wrote: »

+6 in the states is a +1 hcapper here I think (4 or 5 shot difference?). Any round counts towards their hcap & they have slope rating for every course which can give extra shots on more difficult courses.

It is generally accepted that the UK (and European in general) handicaps are higher than the US by between 2 and 4 strokes depending on which professional opinion you take. Regardless of an exact number (3 if you take an average), there is no doubt that it is tougher to hold a lower handicap through the UK system.

Personally I have played several times with someone I used to work with who plays off scratch in the US. I've beaten him the majority of times playing off 5 here.

blackwaterfish

keeping a 2nd card on shot committments a great idea.

Zardoz

f22 wrote: »

It is generally accepted that the UK (and European in general) handicaps are higher than the US by between 2 and 4 strokes depending on which professional opinion you take. Regardless of an exact number (3 if you take an average), there is no doubt that it is tougher to hold a lower handicap through the UK system.

Interesting ,I never knew that ,so I'd be a 2 handicap in the US,I might get to scratch yet

Tom Ghostwood

blackwaterfish wrote: »

keeping a 2nd card on shot committments a great idea.

I only read as far as page 4. Whats this about?

WHIP IT!

Zardoz wrote: »

Interesting ,I never knew that ,so I'd be a 2 handicap in the US,I might get to scratch yet

This was news to me too but I've always suspected that the US handicaps were softer than a UK/Irish simply from seeing Pro-Am American tournaments like the Bob Hope on TV. How often to you see a yank celeb with a 13 hc playing like a 21 hc player you would see here. An Irish/UK 13hc player usually has a solid game and a solid swing. I've also had pals tell me they were paired with Americans while on holiday who might be playing off 'X' hc but nowhere near the standard of what we would consider an 'X' hc here at home.

blackwaterfish

Tom Ghostwood wrote: »

I only read as far as page 4. Whats this about?

!?..... im kind of a big deal.... try reading further.