today I had a nice, looong practice session. striking it as well as I ever have, and I'm a streaky striker (say that 5 times fast). anyways, after about 3 hours of range time and time around the practice green, I was about to go home, when someone who had seen me on the range drove their cart by and asked if I'd like to play the back 9 with him. of course, I never pass up an opportunity to play some of the greatest game in the world, so I hop on.

anyways, after 3 holes I'm +1. about average, since I know these holes like the back of my hand. still striking it like I was born with a club in my hand, but not so hot on and around the greens.

anyways, on to my point. as we're playing the 4th hole, he remarks that I "could probaby play the mini-tours", and after a few more years I could probably play on the PGA tour.

it just seems like people don't realize JUST HOW AMAZING guys on tour are. I'm an honest 10 handicap, and shoot in the lower 80's, all relatively very quickly after starting the game. but I also have no delusions of grandeur. I mean, I shoot in the lower 80's on a pretty short, pretty easy muni course. I set high goals, but I try to be realistic, and I've seen good players play. suffice to say, I'm not one of them. . .yet.

I know there are some guys here who play the mini-tours, and some young guys who will be there in the coming years. tour level players work a course like an artist, in a way I can't even wrap my head around just yet. maybe, just maybe, some day. but in a "few years"? haha. . .I'll keep working like its possible, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

Actually a lot of people if they had the money could "play" on the mini tours....the question is how would they do? Those are the many people that donate alot of money every week to the prize pools of the best mini tour players across this country. The people that say "I could play out there no problem" As it was an easy thing to do.

I also agree with the above poster that most people have no idea how good top level golfers actually are. Tournaments and playing with your buds are two different games, I can assure you. I have played in a PGA tour event and those guys are night and day better than the mini tour players that I know, and have competed against.

Here is one example that I know of personally....Brett Wetterich, who is now a bonafide PGA tour player, he has a victory, played on a Ryder Cup team, etc.....It took him 6 years from turning pro in 1994 to get his PGA tour card in 2000, then he went to the nationwide tour for a few years, and then back to the tour where he will be for some time. I know Brett and I know how good he was when he played the Golden Bear tour in FLA. He finished second on the money list one year, against guys like Hiroshi (Big Break), Brian Gay, Tim Petrovic, Mike Sposa, Briny Baird...etc. The guys on tour, the Euro tour, the asian tour, the Nationwide tour, the South American tour, etc...these guys are really close to being on the main stage (as proven by the success of the nationwide graduates on the PGA tour).

So IMO the guy that you played with was a little delusional. But hey, he has dreams and that is a good thing. I just hope that he is going to put in the 8 hour days, 6 days a week for the next few years to get there, because I know alot of guys in FLA that did that when I was down there, and because of that hard work, several of them made it to the tour.

Dan

Great post; but I have to add that there are plenty of players on the European Tour who are every bit as good as their equivalents on the PGA Tour. The fiftieth-place man in Europe is as solid a player as the fiftieth placed player in the US.

The PGA Tour is the first division, to be sure, but thereare plenty of solid players who choose to play on the European Tour and stay there.

The European Tour is a first-class Tour in it's own right and has a great strength in depth in terms of it's members. It's not a stepping stone to the PGA Tour.

All other things in your post I agree with wholeheartedly though.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that the european tour was anything "less" than the PGA. I don't think thats true at all.

DRGJR72- I only wish I could give that kind of time commitment to golf. I practice almost every day, from whenever I can get there untill its to dark to see. for now, thats all I can give.

anyone can play mini tours, but they wont make money on them

Hey Mat,

I did throw the Euro tour on my list of tours.....and I do agree that there are just as many talented players on that tour. I have played a few "ryder cup style" events with some players from the challenge tour at PGA National in West Palm Beach, FLA. They were not only great guys, but really good players as well.

Just goes to show the level of talent that is out there in the professional level worldwide.

DG

Yes anyone can play on mini tours thats how the "better" players make their money.

I would take it as a compliment. Its better to have nice things said than to be stuck with people who are rude.

The greatest thing is when people tell me they hit it 270-280 and I say to them after we play I never knew I hit it 300 - 320. Which makes these people realize their is no way they hit it as far as they think.

After working in the golf retail business in the past I recall asking when fitting "what do you hit from 150 yards?" those who reply nine iron or wedge honestly do hit these clubs from 150. They just never reach the green

It took Kj choi 3 years to break par . You are not far ..

Keep working hard newbie. The mini tour players & PGA tour players are not exclusive species made by god.


"There is no talent needed in golf , its all hard work " Lee Trevino.

If you have the means dedication and time it's doable.

haha. . .yeah, the guy was cool, and I definetly took it as a compliment. I don't think he was overly ignorant. . .to be honest, I couldn't believe how well I was striking it. (and 150 would be a soft 8, thank you very much )



wow, thats inspiring. . .is it wrong to say that I hope it doesn't take me that long?

Hey Newb....

I had no idea that you had aspirations from your post....I hope that I did not shed any bad light on what you were trying to do, I thought you were speaking about the guy that you played with....

I wish you nothing but the best in your journey to become the best player that you can be.

I was just attempting to shed some light on how hard it is to make it to the tour and be successful. No disrespect was meant.

Dan

Reading the headline and some comments on this post reminded me of my first lesson today...

I know the pro briefly, he played on the Canadian and Nationwide tours....

After taking a few swings, and have him look at things on the playback, he said he liked what he saw..I'm just a little long, so he gave me a drill to work on that..

After reviewing swings from the drill, I see the subtle difference in my swing..

Now I have lofty aspirartions, and he indicated that was a good thing.... he didn't discourage me in any way, just only asked what my objective was in the lessons...
I indicated that
1) more consistency with my approach irons.. thusly
2) closer proximaty to the hole on my birdie putts
3) more confidence..

The only other thing was a suggestion to read a book by Bob Rotella for the mental aspect. I had the book, and the CD (which I'm transfering to my MP3 player as I type this).......

So I agree that many of us have some ability to play mini - tours but what separates us from the pros is the mental aspect... approach to shots, outlook on shots and results, confidence in ability, and how they handle pressure actually welcoming and striving for it... most amateurs hate that nervous feeling...

That's my two cents, maybe I'll get there maybe I won't, but it's gonna be a fun journey..........

I have several friends that play on the mini-tour and they aren't any better than I am, they borrow money and get money any way they can to keep playing and keep getting deeper and deeper in debt, when they do make a cut and play good, they might place in 5th and make $1500 and they brag about it,,it is so funny..the difference between them and me is that I faced reality and knew I wasn't good enough and couldn't make enough money so I put my degree to work.

that is a very inaccurate assessment. i am 33 years old with 112mph driver speed, and I like most of my friends do hit 9 irons and sometimes pw to 150 greens, and just because i am a 10 handicap golfer doesnt means that i fell short. actually i am pin high or beyond most of the time. after hearing the same comment on the golf channel last night, i was so agitated that people sterotype non tour players as always coming up short and never using enough club. some of us hackers just dont have the time to put into our short game.

I've just accepted that most people won't beleive how long you say you are untill you tee it up with them. I've actually lowered the distances in my signature just because I don't want people to think I'm exagerating. truth is I hardly ever come up short. . .usually I go long.

DRGJR- don't worry! no disrespect was taken at all. your point was the same as mine (regarding how hard it is to play any tour succesfully). my only aspiration is to get as good as I can get. who knows what will happen after that.

Hey, I'm on 4 and counting and I haven't broken par yet :P I did shoot a nice solid 73 today however.

Wow...I should have kept practicing. I took up golf at the age of 27 in 1994...late starter I know. Broke par at my home course in the summer of 1997 with a 69 (-2). Low 9, the following year 31 (-4) on the back 9, to go with a stellar 41 that day on the front 9. I could have been like K.J., except he's Korean, and I'm Caucasian. I haven't even been remotely close to those numbers since! Maybe I should look toward the Senior Tour...9 years away for me. LOL. Guys, SERIOUSLY...go to a PGA Tour Event, and watch these guys hit balls on the range. Then follow them around, and see how they can take apart a course. Two words for you...Reality Check. Most people will never know how exceptionally talented these guys are. I would never try to discourage anyone from striving to be the best at something they like. Try this: if you belong to a course...play in your "Open", or "Championship" flight...if you can win that...that is a very small step in the right direction. The Club Champ (something like 10 years in a row now) at my course went to a University in the US (full scholarship). We are all playing for second every year...no one can beat him. Basically...it's us, against a Pro! The odd time someone would have a hot start, but fall back under the pressure of the ensuing rounds. I think the closest anyone has gotten to him in the last 10 years was something like 12 shots, over 3 consecutive rounds. I'm not kidding. I'd basically have to shoot about 3 rounds of even par, and that probably wouldn't be enough. Never done that before...so how much harder would it be to try, and shoot those numbers in a tournament atmosphere?
Anyways...keep up the hard work.
Edit: I forgot to ask...how well do you play in front of crowds?

Life is about dreams so always dream big!

Very true.

"There is no talent needed in golf , its all hard work " Lee Trevino.

I just do not believe this to be true.


I can't prove it but I don't believe it and thats based mostly on my experience teaching kids. Trust me some of them just have more talent.

I couldn't have said it better myself. I have a few friends who play on mini tours also, and they aren't any better than I am. I think I win more money playing local tournaments than they do on the road.

SERIOUSLY...go to a PGA Tour Event, and watch these guy hit balls on the range. Then follow them around, and see how they can take apart a course. Two words for you...Reality Check.



Remember you are talking about people who have played this game for average of 15 yrs at least . Newbie has not completed his three years . If he does that every minute of his like tour guys. Who knows, he may break par before KJ choi did and 15 years from now he could be a star .
Offcourse , he does not have the game for mini tour right now (10hcp ) per his signature.

I've watched a mini-tour event here in North Myrtle Beach.

These guys are pretty damn good. But some of them are kidding themselves out there. I am a 1 or 2 handicap and I could seriously shoot around mid 70's from the conditions that they had... and some of them were shooting in the 80's. Of course, some of them shot 68's. I think that the talent window around the mini-tours is wide. Some are just scratch or +1 players that might finish 20th every week and barely make ends meet. But some of these guys just need a spark to make it to the big show I watched a guy who was straight out of Kentucky University miss three putts inside 10 feet and still shot a smooth 67 without missing a green. Talk about pure.

Ezgolfer...I hear you. It still wouldn't be a bad idea for anyone with aspirations of playing golf for a living to attend a PGA Tour Event. I know the O/P is fairly new to the game. Like I said, I would never try to discourage anyone from striving to be the best at something they like. It never hurts to try.

Its funny and depends on the talent level and the desire. Larry Nelson was 21 when he took up golf. Newbie you have to decide if you want it and if you have a plan to get it done.

KEN

wow, I must say that you guys have inspired me! honestly, I just wanted to tell a funny story. I've been working my tail off to get better at golf, but honestly I'm not thinking about playing for money. I've only played in one little scramble, although I was planning on getting into some amatuer events probably next year. I do, however, aspire to teach. I love teaching (I'm a substitute teacher, actually), and love working with kids, and love golf.

What I really want to do someday is create a golf academy, with a focus on kids. that is, if I don't become good enough to make my living by playing, which, of course, is a long shot at most.

Teaching the game is very rewarding, especially to juniors. They tend to really appreciate what you are doing for them. I wish you the best in either en devour, but as a former teacher of the game I respect people that teach the game for a living.

Dan

you can do anything you set ur mind to, its all about the secret and the law of attraction, ive used this method of thinking in everyday life and before tournaments. no word of a lie for our nationals last fall in B.C. i used the secret before the tournament even started i believed that i would win the tournament..you can find clips on the secret on youtube....there will be guys that brush it off and say it doesnt work....but i am proof that it works, i shot 69-71-75, with a 2 shot penalty on the 4th hole because my coach moved the flag stick when a competitor was putting...its got me rattled but the secret bounced me back, and i was able to win by one at -1 for three days.lol that rule is gone now...anyways.....if u are serious about going pro like myself, you need to know the secret, i know Tiger does and Phil and all the top players in the world....i gotta add if you havent read the book how great golfers think by bob skura and ur serious about this game i suggest you pick up a copy and read it, along with watching the secret

I don't chime in often but the comment on distance "I hit a___".
Well that is one of the things I do like about my skycaddy.
I wait untill that someone talks trash about how that was killed. Then press the button. Wait untill we reach their ball. Complimeant - nice 234 yard drive drive. Listen to them tell me how that thing must not be very accurate and go on. By the end it becomes very apparent the readings were correct.
I also use to hit a pw or nine in from 150 (center) now I use anything from a six - eight. I have gotten older and have found not to play full out 100% of the time.9True for any age)

The only other coment is. Yes I belive anyone can play at what ever level their willing to work toward. Remember it dosen't matter who is in the field you first and formost are playing the course of the day! If you start fixating on the precived best player you, in my opion, start out three strokes down on the entire feild.
Enjoy!

I was part of a conversation with Payne Stewart many years ago when he was a member of the same club as me. Guys were asking him what it takes to make it on tour. He's answer was "If you can't putt, forget it."

Everyone on tour hits the ball solidly. Watch them on the range if you have any doubts. The thing that separates them is putting and short game.

its tough, but do you really want to look back on your life asking what if? if you think you can do it, go for it.

Andto whoever said watch the guys on the range and you will know, i dont think thats true, i know alot of guys who can hit it amazing, but its all 100 yards in and putting, glorified pitch and putt

Agreed, well said.

I have always said (like a mantra of mine) "if you have no dreams, then why wake up in the morning". I tell my kids to never lose sight of a dream if they have one.

Alex

Hi guys,

An interesting topic and for the OP definitely pursue your dreams be they teaching young players or playing for a living. Here's my little insight though as I know a guy at my old club who has played the 3rd tier Tour here in Europe this year.

For background this guy is an amazing ballstriker, had a hcp at my old club of between plus 2 and plus 3 and has recently completed 4 years at Oklahoma State University in the US where he was playing college golf.

I have walked round British Open qualifying with him and he has a hell of a pedigree of playing for the County (State) and England youth international golf. Just a super player.

And guess what. He has made 2 cuts out of 13 this year on the Europro Tour and a sum total of about $1000. This against however many thousand in expenses, travel etc that has been racked up playing. And he's not the only one. I know one guy that won the Faldo Junior Series and has come off the Europro Tour and another that has just stopped and will be teaching instead.

The skills of tour players have to be seen to be believed and it really is that hard. Doesnt stop you dreaming though and good luck in your golfing endeavours!

My friend played the mini tours in FL and he said there are a lot rich kids that can barely break 80... that play on the mini tours ..for a excuse not to work It takes talent and $$$$$$ lots

I'll tell you what the secret is - put out a video about the "laws of attraction" and hype it up so you sell tons of copies for 40 bux a pop. A buddy of mine brought that dvd to my house a few months ago and I had to turn it off after 5 minutes