delete

I know how you feel. I played college golf and couldn't decide if I wanted to try to play pro or get a real job. So what I did was play in a Tarheel Tour event as an amateur. Granted I hadn't had much chance to practice before the event because of summer school but when I played in it I realized that playing pro golf wasn't what I wanted to do because it seemed to me that the people I played with who were pros didn't enjoy playing golf anymore. So, I decided to get a job and now work for one of the biggest advertising agencies in the country. But if you are worried about not making enough money playing golf, advertising doesn't pay much better starting out. Sometimes I regret not trying to play pro, but I think I'd rather enjoy golf. That's not to say you will stop enjoying golf if you play. I guess long story short, you'll get a better handle on it in a few years. While you're young at least strive to be a pro.

I think the first thing is to relax and have fun with the game. Work hard to improve and see where your abilities take you. For most players your age the goal is to get into college and successfully compete at that level. It is always a good idea to have a backup plan that might include other career choices. You never know what will happen ( ie injury ). If you get an education and work hard you will be fine no matter what career you choose to pusue. If you really want to play professionally though, you need to take some time to set some goals as to how to get your game to that level. Talk to your golf coach about what you want to do. Sounds like you are doing ok so far. Just keep working hard and compete as much as possible. And spend as much of your practice time as you can on scoring ( short irons, greenside, putting, bunker play, and then more putting ). Your 4.5 will need to be +4.5 ( or better )to play at the professional level.

TP

With my grades (4.3 GPA) I do wish to play collegiate golf too, in the next few years i'm just going to, go with the flow, as they say. and see what happens.

First and foremost just like TourPro said just have HAVE FUN with the game. You will know when the time is right in your life to make those types of decisions. All you have to worry about now is keeping your grades up, enjoying your high school career and oh yeah...working on your short game.




T.J.

can't add much to TourPro's advice except "take his advice". at your age, don't spend too much time worrying about what you're going to do for a career. try your best and have fun with school and golf and let those efforts create opportunities. just enjoy the ride and let the destination surprise you.

Well, if you're afraid of failing, you're already taking steps back... Your passion and enthusiasm and drive to succeed has to be 100 times bigger than your thoughts of failure. Playing professional golf is all about failures. There is no way in hell you'll win every week or break par every round or even make the cut every week, you're surrounded by failures. It's overcoming them and bouncing back from them that make you stronger.

Or you can think like the great Homer Simpson who says- "Trying is the first step towards failure."

Unless you're about a scratch your senior year in high school and in the +2 range after college, you'll be better off on the 9 to 5 gig more than likely. If you play D1 college golf, you'll know if you're good enough to make a dollar playing for a living when you leave.

Follow your dreams, but nothing is better than an education as a backup plan. Write that down.

play college golf and see if youll see a lot more competion than highschool or junior tourneys. if you excel in college then go for your dream. many players peak at different points. there is the kid who is the #1 junior in the world and then has a so-so college career and doesnt go pro. then there is the 5 handicap junior golfer who peaks during college and comes out and goes to the nationwide tour or pga. but always have a back up plan, dont go to college and say "well screw school, ill make millions playing golf".

Stick with the dream. If you have the talent and the desire to play give it your best shot. I was a decent player as an 8-12 year old and simply gave up playing becasue I was bored with it. Now I suck but the passion for the game is there. I am sitting at a desk watching the clock to go home right now. I am in the "exciting" world of Television. Everybody wants my job. I'd rather be playing golf.

Listen, give it your best shot. Go to college, play golf and see what happens. If it doesn't work out, you'll have your degree and something to fall back on. Don't live your life thinking about what you COULD have done.