By Jordan Holley
Special to GolfWRX
Jordan Holley, 28, is a mini-tour player pursuing his dream of earning a PGA Tour card. He graduated from Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., where he was an NCAA All-American and a member of the Cleveland Golf Academic All-American First Team. He qualified for the U.S. Amateur in 2008, and since turning professional has played on the NGA Hooters and eGolf tours, as well as other minor league tours.
Hey golf fans!! It’s Jordan Holley again with a little perspective on what kind of life the Tour hopefuls lead from week to week. As much as I would love to say that I spend every waking moment out on the course or on the range, the truth is that when you are playing a rich man’s sport with a poor man’s wallet, you have to make allowances. I have always found a way to be as best prepared as possible heading into any given tournament, but when you are playing on your own dime and without sponsors, you stack the already huge odds just a little bit bigger against yourself. That being said, let’s take a look at an unusual week for me.
Monday — I received a return phone call from an informal audition I did last week for a Dicks Sporting Goods commercial. After I drove an 1.5 hours south from my apartment (and spent $30 in gas), I reached the driving range to find more than 15 golfers ready for a second audition. The guys lined us up in front of the camera and had us hit some beat up range balls and pretend we just hit the best feeling ball ever made — pretty hard to do with very little acting experience. Long story short, I got the job but after food, gas, etc. I’m down $65 for the day.
Tuesday — I signed up for the Minor League Golf Tour’s stop at Ironhorse Country Club. I brought a good friend of mine to help navigate the course (I didn’t play a practice round as they were $75). The event cost me $220 and although I went out with every intention of winning my third event in the last two months (I’ve played six times these last two months) I didn’t do what I wanted to do and shot 73. I did made four birdies and an eagle on the back nine to close on a positive note! I made $87 on the day, but after the entry fee and buying lunch for my caddy I’m at a net loss of $155.
Wednesday — I was invited to a pro-am at Old Palm Country Club and played with an amateur partner in their annual Pro-Member tournament. I shot 68, won nothing, but spent nothing (and got a free lunch). After the round, I met with the owners of Planet Golf in Miami and they were blown away by a new product I use and endorse, a Piretti putter. I became involved with this high-end boutique putter company this summer and have taken over as the Southeast representative for Piretti golf. The guys at Planet Golf put an order in for eight putters and have become the first of many golf shops to carry the product in Florida … check them out if you’re in the area!! So, after the meeting, my commission and the four hours of driving I made $135 on the day.
Thursday — So I got the job for the commercial and drove down to Weston Hills Country Club in Weston, Fla. (another 1.5 hour drive). I had to leave my house at 4:30 a.m. to get there for a 6 a.m. line up and breakfast. After more than 12 hours, five location changes and countless takes and re-takes later, we left the set only to find out the $800 I was set to make wouldn’t be sent to me for another 60 days. Bummer, I was down $50 on the day.
Friday — I practiced all morning and got an offer to bartend for a wedding in downtown Miami. I accepted and drove the two hours south to the city. I was there from 4 a.m. until 1 a.m. bartending for a huge Indian style wedding. Yes, there was a lot of curry and fantastic looking Indian dresses. By the time I got home around 3 a.m., I hit the sack with a $150 profit.
To recap:
I made more than I spent, but not by much. Each week is different and when I am playing golf every day (tournaments or just gambling games), I’m making more money. The problem always comes down to how much of an already depleted bank account am I willing to risk in events that can cost more than $1200 even when I know my game is good enough to win. Decisions come down to gut feelings. I will be getting out on the road with the guys soon, as the first eGolf event started this week.
People may have a misconception of the life a professional golfer lives, and although this may not apply to all the guys in my shoes, I know my passion for competition, my love of the process, and the ultimate goal of playing the PGA Tour all drive me to continue beating one ball after another down life’s fairways, always trying to avoid the rough.
I’ll be qualifying for the Honda Classic this week so keep an eye out!
Click here for more discussion in the “Tour talk” forum
Keep following me on Twitter @j_holley6under or on www.jordanholleygolf.com.
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19th Hole2 weeks ago
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Nic
Apr 18, 2012 at 3:35 pm
Good Luck Man. Anytime your in the Birmingham Area hit me up. I would love to do what you are doing but with a wife a child that dream is up to guys like you.
Jordan Holley
Feb 22, 2012 at 2:41 pm
I can’t thank you guys enough for the feedback, both positive and negative. I am learning on the fly with what I am writing and can always use some constructive criticism (on and off the course). @stevejones I want to especially thank you because I know you are most likely not the only reader who feels this way. That being said, I feel that I have some interesting insight into a very small section of players who aren’t playing off of their parents/grandparents dime.
I just wanted to mention something I think would benefit anyone reading these articles. The keys to success aren’t given away or sold to the highest bidder. In every walk of life they are earned. The most effective method of practice I have found, as it relates to improved performance is not practicing what you are good at, but instead spend the majority of your tine trying to make yourself comfortable in uncomfortable situations (whatever you struggle with…long bunkers, lag putting, etc). This is where you find out what kind of awesome power the brain has!!
I’ll give a quick example: I began taking lessons for the first time last fall with Mike Adams (Medallist Golf Club). I have always been an above average ball striker and a solid putter. My weakness was always the short game. The weird thing is it was never the hard shots, but always seemed to be the simple, straightforward ones that I would find a way to screw up!! I never wanted to practice them because I felt like it wore on my confidence (by far the most important aspect of the game). What Mike was able to instill in me were not only some technical things, but the idea that if I truly committed myself to the changes and put in the time necessary to make them routine, that I would transform an uncomfortable weakness into a strength. I feel like it was not only a lesson on the golf course but something I could take with me off it as well!!
Anyway, enough ranting for now! Good luck guys and keep an eye out for the next piece!!
Ryan
Feb 22, 2012 at 10:16 am
I’d be interested in a series of these. I’ve often wondered what it took and what kind of path a life of professional golf would entail.
Keep it up!
jerry bollinger
Feb 21, 2012 at 8:17 pm
This is a great place for the article. How many new 3 woods & $ 350 putters does one golfer need to look at ?
Good luck on your journey !
Brent Mann
Feb 21, 2012 at 6:09 pm
@Stevejones I doubt Jordan thinks he is the only mini tour player out there. This is a perfectly acceptable place for this article. From an aspiring players stand point, I found the article interesting. Best of luck Jordan!
russ
Feb 21, 2012 at 5:03 pm
Steve Jones, let’s try and keep it positive. You’re right, he’s not the only guy out there on his own dime (you assume)…but he is taking the time to make some posts and give people some insight on the day-to-day grind that is mini-tour golf. Nice to be able to put a story to a name on the leaderboard, and if he picks up some backing as a result, I don’t see it as a bad thing.
Keep chasing it Jordon…best of luck from someone who knows the grind and now watches from a cubicle!
Tony Mangler
Feb 21, 2012 at 4:56 pm
@stevejones hate hate hate hate hate hate hate…
Steve Jones
Feb 21, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Your not the only mini tour golfer who is looking for backers and is playing on their own dime….I feel this type of article should find a different place, seems like it is only here because this man hopes that someone will donate or sponsor him