Can someone get a club deal before going pro or if they are pro but play on smaller tours, hooters, pepsi, ect? I am wondering if I have to wait until I have the card in hand to do something with club sponsors, sponsors for travel , plane tickets, hotels ect are easy but someone that willl fit me with anything and everything whenever I want and as much as I want as often as I want is what I want !! anyone know the details?

If you join a mini-tour you can get clubs and balls. Sometimes apparel, but that's about it. Nationwide and, obviously, PGA Tour players get the money and all the other goodies.

It's rare to hear of an amateur being endorsed by one of those companies unless they're playing in a Major.

As a pro on one of the aforementioned mini tours, I suppose it's possible. That being said, they don't get a great deal of coverage out there so the chances are that you'd have to approach them first and convince them that you're worthy of their money and equipment.

short answer is NO. Long answer is Maybe but only if you have a resume that shows them that you will only be making a brief pit stop on the small circuits because you are destined for great things. If you are coming out of college and have a good resume you might get some small seed money in the $25K range initially. Unless you have won a tournament or two and have qualified for multiple USGA events the clubs whenever and whatever you want ain't happening. Virtually no coverage on the smaller tours so you will get set up but after the intitial set up you will be able to buy things at a discount. Do not expect people to be jumping at the opportunity to give you stuff UNLESS you are a proven winner on a substantial amateur tour (college, summer tournaments) or a ranked amateur.

Only if you get press coverage that Michelle Wie or Tad got.

perhaps you should look at it this way:

if you are the player devolpment director for a major OEM, why should you give this player anything? What sort of promise has he shown? What return on my investment am I going to get?

In short...if you have to ask the question can you get equipment sponsors...the answer is NO! You might be able to get some equipment at a discount if you call player development departments of a few companies but that is about it.

The real question here is not if you can get it before or after pro, since once you accept it your pro. But the question as so many above have stated is what can you do for the company, if your not going to get on tv on sunday your not going to get anything for free or cash deals. You mmight get a sponsor exemption here and there but that about it.

let me put it another way:

do you think Cally is better served by gving you clubs, or giving a set to a guy who works in a golf shop that does 7-10 million a year?

I bet the guy in the shop sells more clubs for Cally then you ever would.

to all the people who say "no, you cant get an equipment sponsor". you're full of it.. I have 2 very good friends on smaller tours, one on the Hooter's and one on the Tarheel tour. they aren't just "decent golfers" grant you, they were both D1 all americans. the one on the Hooters tour is #6 on the points list and like #11 on the money list. He's sponsored by Cleveland and gets ANYTHING he wants, just make a call. and as for the Tarheel guy, he hasn't done a whole lot since turning pro other than monday qualifying for a Nationwide event, but gets equipment from TM and gloves, shoes, and balls from titleist (Hooters guy gets gloves shoes balls from titleist as well). as far as getting a ton of money like the PGA guys get, NO. but you can get equipment deals and thety also offer incentives for winning.

I would think if you were really looking to grab some material support from a "sponsor" you would think outside the realm of the TM, Titleist, Callaway's of the world and go the bad news bears route, someone like a Rudy's Bail Bonds or local small business that would kick in a few grand a year to cover your expenses.
Beyond the nationwide tour, most of the other starting ground tours are fairly local tours, for example the Golfers Warehouse Tour in new england this summer only has 5 events and they are all in MA/RI. so thats maybe 15-20 nights in a hotel max, split it with another player, you're looking at maybe $1500 for the season, plus $900 of gas, i'll estimate 1.5 tanks each way, $4 a gallon, 20 MPG, 15 gallon tank ($60 per fillup, 3 fillups a tourney, 5 tourneys = $900), $450 for food ($30 bucks a day for 3 days at 5 tourneys) So, travel expenses for this tour might add up to $3000 and I am sure there are corners to be cut if you were really going to try to minimize the cost to maximize any return (i.e. winnings)

Now, I have heard of some players getting investors rather than sponsors, meaning they honestly wish a return on their money. With that being said, if you took the golfers warehouse tour in new england and figured if you won every event, you would generate about $25,000 in winnings. What would an investor expect if he sank $3000 into a golfer for the summer? Maybe they take 75% of winnings until you pay them back and then some, say $4500 in total, then you keep every dollar you own. Finishing in the money every tourney on this tour would generate about $5000 of winnings, so you might eb able to pay off what they sank inot you and have some left to spend on the incidental costs you incurred that exceeded the initial investment.

This is going to come off as being a pr!ck, and it is not directed at you just my thoughts in general, but if someone thinks "damn, if i could get new free gear, my game would improve..." they probably don't have the game and most certainly not the mindset to be a successful touring pro. Yeah, I know no one ever said directly "I only need more equipment to make it on the PGA tour"

there's my .02, as usual rambling, too long, without even the hint of questioning why TM puts out so many drivers, why TM/Callaway/Nike gear stinks and not even asking for a shaft recommendation from people who have never seen my swing but only know I have a swingspeed that rivals 95% of PGA pros.

thanks for saying we are full of it but just to let you know you proved my point exactly by your statement of both of your friends were D1 all americans, are ranked on two reputable tours and have MQ on the Nationwide...that is what we call a good resume. They clearly have the ability to play at a competitive level against other great players. OEM's WOULD give guys like that equipment because they have higher percentage of making it to where the numbers count and they will get exposure...guys that don't have a very good competitive background, turn pro without collegiate experience,etc. WON'T be getting a ton of equipment if any. Also to the other comments from someone about accepting equipment and being a pro then, Not true. the USGA changed that rule so OEM's can give players equipment and they are not considered a pro.

Just a quick one, i am a tour player based in the UK. I have won 3 events as a tour player and have played but not currently playing the Challenge tour (equates to Nationwide in USA).

I can get pretty much anything for Free, however my advise to you is if you are not of a standard where they offer it to you, then i would get friendly with a few reps and maybe then they will see you alright.

Long and short of it, the better you are the more freebies you get (except Michelle Wie!!!)

A lot of top junior golfers get free clubs, shoes, etc. One of my buddies is a top 50 AJGA player, and he gets free balls, shoes, clothes, and often clubs from nike. I've heard of a lot of other players who have the same situation. But, then again, that goes back to the point that they show the potential to go to much higher levels.

And obviously he gets no $ for it b/c he is an amateur

You can get those kind of equipment deals just playing high level amatuer or college golf. I don't know if you mean sponsored or not but the college guys can get just about whatever they want clubs, balls, gloves, etc.

crafty??? Isn't that violations of NCAA rules??? I thought you aren't aloud to accept any gifts. I know at AJGA tournaments they give out free balls and stuff but Nike giving them free clubs, balls, shoes etc.... ??

Yeah... it's far easier than most people imagine to get clubs from a major OEM once on a mini-tour. You don't have to be a D1 all american, not even close. Go to a Gateway Tour or Tarheel Tour event and you will see almost every player with a name on his bag and a full set of Titty/Cally/Cleveland clubs in the bag.

A big part of it is just knowing the right people. I know for a fact that Callaway LOVES to give clubs to mini-tour players. I'm not sure why as I can't see how a Gateway Tour player is going to influence a ton of amateurs to buy Callaway - but remember, these OEMs have a ****load of equipment, and these mini-tours aren't that big. I would guess that Callaway gives clubs/balls to ~500 players nationwide on these tours. It's funny, because I haven't seen a lot of mini-tour pros with any TM...

Yeah, a ton of top juniors get clubs and balls from Nike, Ping, and Callaway. I don't know of any apparel being handed out, but I'm sure that is the case somewhere.

Most of the highschools around here get free equipment and I don't know of a "pro" who pays for any equipment no matter how low their status. As long as they are still out there trying, the equipment keeps coming.

I think people here are missing the point. He asked can someone get equipment BEFORE turning pro and establishing a name for himself. Of course most players if not all will have access to equipment once on an established tour. You cannot just call up an OEM and say "Hi, I am Joe whackoff and I am playing on the unknown tour and want some equipment" Every Player Development tour has a list of established tours that they will support the players on. If they don't know that you have your credentials on that then they can find out pretty quick. also having played on multiple tours (MQ multiple times as well as playing overseas) EVERYONE says they have "the hook up" and that they get all the free crap they want and that people are hanging on their jocks, etc., etc.......step behind the curtain and not nearly as many people are getting things for free as you think or have been told. titleist gives away the most to a variety of people, Ping targets junior golfers and collegiate players as they will require you to have a longterm relationship before they give you $ and all access to tour equipment......Nothing comes for free without a certain amount of strings attached.

You would sure think its a violation but it isnt. Its a rule that was changed not too long ago (within the last 5 years I believe)

i know alot of top ranked juniors will receive clubs for free. also sometimes top amatuers. like the guys who consistently are in the top four at the us amatuers. like richie ramsay was a couple years ago

It would be just like the NCAA to come down on golf for something silly like "gifts" to maintain the integrity of the NCAA and college sports!

After my last rant, I read some other posts, one which was back to point of can you get free swag before being pro? I have seen a few top ams around here get some comp equipment. Honestly, if you are a local rep and you can have the guy who is the envy of the guys from a club or two or twelve playing brand XXX, it's every bit (slight exaggeration) effective as most tour pros playing them on CBS I would think.

we give some of the local hot shots "demos" on a regular basis. They get the new stuff, and they tell everyone they got it from us.

Seems to work out just fine.

My story is a bit different I am in need of a major sponsor to always be there for me to keep
me on the cutting edge and yes if I have the top of line new tech equip I can have an edge that everyone else has when I am monday qualifying for PGA events . I am not a new player looking for a hand out. I played 17 events in 2005- 2006 in europe on the challenge tour and missed 6 cuts and had 9 top 20's and a top 10 and then a few 50's and then had a accident and shot myself i the leg and could not play anymore but I need the sponsorship before i prove I am ready to go head to head with the best in the world again. I need 100K , travel paid for 3 yrs and all the clothes, equip and camerons and most of all tour staff with a tour van to work with me tweaking my clubs and money for a few months with Hank and butch.. I would promise a win , a small win but a win like reno or even pebble ( I can play Pebble for 4 days and with no problem shoot a 264 6 uder a day is easy there ) You all think I am crazy as so does my wife but I know with say 250k I can make 5 millon in 5 yrs, thats only 20 top 10's and 20 top 20's

Most decent sized schools have some kind of eqpt contract for basically all sports. Football players, baseball, etc, they all get free gear. Gifts are things like money, rent being paid, cars, etc. But bats and gloves or shoulder pads and helmets, stuff like that is legal. When I played college ball we had Mizuno and Easton gear. We got pretty much whatever we wanted and didn't pay for any of it, so I'm sure the golfers got the same stuff.

PM me your address and I'll send you a check. I know a guy that used to work at Roger Dunn and he said he knows the Titleist rep so he could probably call him and have the van stop by your house to hook you up. I also played in a charity scramble one time w/ a guy whose borther went to school at Stanford and roomed w/ a guy on the golf team who met Tiger a few times. I bet he could put you in touch w/ Butch or Hank. I'll let you know!

There are many top junior players that have deals worked out with Titleist.