15 replies to this topic

[LTaylor59]

Hey everyone. I have a bit of a dilemma on my hands. I have been planning to drop my AM status in 2014 and play on some mini tours and try to work my way up. However I have recently gotten the opportunity to return to school (I'm currently 28) and play college golf at a local university.

At 28 I'm not positive if I will be eligible for NCAA teams but I've also never played sanctioned college sports so I may be. I'm just not sure what road to travel at this point in time and would love to hear the opinions of some of you.

Thanks

LT59

[MadGolfer76]

LTaylor59, on 06 November 2012 - 10:15 PM, said:

Hey everyone. I have a bit of a dilemma on my hands. I have been planning to drop my AM status in 2014 and play on some mini tours and try to work my way up. However I have recently gotten the opportunity to return to school (I'm currently 28) and play college golf at a local university.

At 28 I'm not positive if I will be eligible for NCAA teams but I've also never played sanctioned college sports so I may be. I'm just not sure what road to travel at this point in time and would love to hear the opinions of some of you.

Thanks

LT59

At 28, you are a little behind the professional career schedule, I would think. College is a talent trap for a lot of people. Go pro.

[bk4]

Not Division 1.

[LTaylor59]

Bk it's D3 I just saw it as an opportunity for free tournaments while getting a degree. I'm on the fence on this

[rafal]

D3 means you're paying for the degree one way or another.  Might as well go pro imho.

[Jc0]

LTaylor59, on 06 November 2012 - 10:15 PM, said:

Hey everyone. I have a bit of a dilemma on my hands. I have been planning to drop my AM status in 2014 and play on some mini tours and try to work my way up. However I have recently gotten the opportunity to return to school (I'm currently 28) and play college golf at a local university.

At 28 I'm not positive if I will be eligible for NCAA teams but I've also never played sanctioned college sports so I may be. I'm just not sure what road to travel at this point in time and would love to hear the opinions of some of you.

Thanks

LT59

It really depends on your skill level. Are you a +3 handicap or better and are you winning tournaments? If you answer no, I would take college golf for a year or two to improve your game. You'll get reasources to improve while also getting an education. As for NCAA eligibility you sound fine for that. There is no age requirement.  You can turn pro anytime you feel ready and go play tournaments while in school. You will just loose you ability to play college golf once you do that.

[Llortamaisey]

I'd like to see you go to college with an option of hustling. What I mean is that while you're at college, get some money to back you in big cash games and see if you can make some supplemental income. It's the best of both worlds. You get the structure and practice from college but you also get the money from hustling. A lot of great PGA players started out hustling.

[MadGolfer76]

C'mon now. Here is the thing, depending on where you go, you could be pulling down anywhere from 20-40K college debt per year, unless you pay out of pocket. If your pockets are that deep, you shouldn't be bothering with school anyway - put that cash into career prep (lessons, gear, memberships, etc.).

If you combine that nut x4 years, you have pretty much shot yourself in the a** for a pro career, barring some major financial backing, which you will only get if you are super good. Carrying around that much debt will kill your aspirations before they have even begun. Take it from someone who has taught at the college level (and carries 100K plus college loan debt) - college is not where you want to be at your age. Apart from (possibly) learning a particular skill set, college is not necessarily a guarantee of employment after graduation.

If the "traditional" college route is no longer a sure thing; you might as well consider both options on equal grounds and choose the one that is more rewarding, whichever that is.

Edited by MadGolfer76, 07 November 2012 - 02:39 PM.

[LTaylor59]

Mad golfer you are 100% on target with your reply and I completely the fact of loan debts and immediate payments after school ends slip under my radar. Your one post has pretty much re solidified my plans of dropping my Am status in 2014.

Thank you to everyone who replied as I GREATLY appreciate the time each of you put into your responses

LT59

[MadGolfer76]

LTaylor59, on 07 November 2012 - 07:58 PM, said:

Mad golfer you are 100% on target with your reply and I completely the fact of loan debts and immediate payments after school ends slip under my radar. Your one post has pretty much re solidified my plans of dropping my Am status in 2014.

Thank you to everyone who replied as I GREATLY appreciate the time each of you put into your responses

LT59

Good luck to you! Just know, though, that I can pretty much make anything sound like a good idea. I talked my wife into marrying me, and she still harbors a grudge (truth), so just make sure you really think about it.

Also, I think a member here "isaac" was looking to sponsor someone in professional golf. Might be worth a PM, if you are confident.

[farmer]

Get your education.  It won't cost you 20-40 K to attend a d3 school.  If it does, I can give you the name of a good d2 school where you can get a scholarship if you're good enough.  What is plan B if you spend the next 5 years trying to play professionally, but aren't good enough?  As Mad said, a college degree doesn't guarantee a job, but it does open doors.

[MadGolfer76]

farmer, on 08 November 2012 - 09:25 PM, said:

Get your education.  It won't cost you 20-40 K to attend a d3 school.  If it does, I can give you the name of a good d2 school where you can get a scholarship if you're good enough.  What is plan B if you spend the next 5 years trying to play professionally, but aren't good enough?  As Mad said, a college degree doesn't guarantee a job, but it does open doors.

You are right, it doesn't always cost that much, but there are a lot of hidden costs associated with college, especially with the position that OP is in. Meals, transportation, rent/room fee, recreation, etc. A lot of college kids have jobs while going to school to pay for these things, but OP is going to need time (if in school) to work on his game. That doesn't fly if he is working a job and doing homework instead of practicing.

I know what you are saying about a backup plan, but sometimes it is better to go ahead and NOT have one. It will either force you to succeed or force you to go home. True test of ambition and confidence...that kind of thing. I respect your opinion, but I say let school be the backup plan. You are only young once, and some opportunities are limited by age. College isn't going anywhere, and by the time OP decides (hopefully not) that he might need it, the economy might have straightened out enough so that attending one might actually be worth the investment.

[LTaylor59]

well the benefit to the college i'm looking into is that it's VERY cheap tuition wise and is about 10 minutes from where my wife and I live. Also the one I was talking about earlier doesn't have edu as a major so the school I re enrolled in is a D2 school

[CCUgolfer23]

Llortamaisey, on 07 November 2012 - 12:31 PM, said:

I'd like to see you go to college with an option of hustling. What I mean is that while you're at college, get some money to back you in big cash games and see if you can make some supplemental income. It's the best of both worlds. You get the structure and practice from college but you also get the money from hustling. A lot of great PGA players started out hustling.

He cant do this because if he does he will face big time trouble from the NCAA. As an Amateur he could only participate in paying events if he wins less than $750 or $700 in a single tourny anymore than that and you lose your AM status and you are no longer allowed to play on a college sanctioned team. Trust me that is not the route you want to take. I've looked at the NCAA rules and regulations while trying to figure out if I was going to play golf for a D2 school but I ended up transfering to a bigger school and didnt try out.

Edited by CCUgolfer23, 14 November 2012 - 12:32 AM.

[farmer]

Again, get your education.  You seem to be pursuing a teaching career, which will leave you with free time in the summer.  Play in local events, statewide or try USGA before you try the pro path.  Read Thrillhouse.

[LTaylor59]

Yes farmer my major/minor set up will be history/secondary Ed. I will also be looking into coaching the golf team at the school I get hired on at

LT59