And what are you likely to get paid for playing golf? To begin with, being a pro golfer does not necessarily mean you play golf for a living. What it does mean is you are a certified member of the PGA — the Professional Golfers Association — and being so can lead to a variety of potential jobs. Of course, you could become a professional golfer, and set out to play the game for money.
Before you do this — and chuck in your job — consider how many professional golfers there are playing the PGA Tour. Official statistics reckon there are 80million golfers across the world. Of these, play The Tour. So, your chances of becoming an actual pro player are very slim. There are many golf clubs around, and each needs a management team to keep the course and club in running order.
Many clubs employ a Golf Pro to tutor other players, and perhaps a couple of players beneath the club pro. So there are jobs out there for you if you have your heart set on working with golf. But, your ultimate aim is still to play golf professionally, and for many people it is! The PGA is a worldwide organisation overseeing golfing professionals in many countries, and each country follows very similar requirements for becoming a pro.
First you need to pay the set fees — you can find these at the PGA website — once you have completed all the other entry requirements, so we recommend that you take a close look at what it is going to cost should you pass, and budget accordingly.
If you are intent on joining, you need to set aside this fee — it will depend on the country you are in — so that you are ready to pay to finalise your membership.
These will involve a variety of golf-related exercises, technical and otherwise, that prove you are suitable for membership. That does not mean you have to give up, but it should open up the possibilities of other career goals. Play competitive golf in high school and college. Those who excel at the high school level can often win scholarships to college. While golf scholarships at traditional major college powers in southern states and California can be tough to come by, they are available at schools from other regions.
Playing well in college will get you noticed by potential sponsors and get you a chance to win a spot in qualifying school. For me, I registered for a site in Nebraska as the course looked fun and I wanted an adventure. After shooting , I ended up missing the first stage by two shots. While I was disappointed, I can say it was one of the best experiences of my life.
It taught me a ton about my game and learned how to play under pressure. But I also learned what a grind it was for so many and could see why so many guys burn out over time. If you move on to the next stage, the process is very similar and happens in late September or early October. Register and pay for the first stage, which is also a 3-day, no cut competition. Expect competition to be even more competitive here! If you move on to the second stage in late October or November, well done.
There are only sites for the second stage in the country and if you make it through, you get to finals. This is a 4-day, no cut event where golfers grind it out. The goal is to finish in the top 25 spots to secure their spot on the Korn Ferry Tour. If you finish , not all is lost though. You still get conditional status, which means you can play in a select number of events.
This option is usually better than grinding it out on mini tours. Once you make it to the Korn Ferry Tour, then you need to compete and travel a lot. The goal is simple: make it to the finals and finish in the top If you do, you become one of the lucky guys to advance to the PGA Tour.
If you finish between , you still get conditional status and will get a chance to make your PGA Tour debut as well. For every player, this is one of the most important days of their lives.
Getting to the PGA Tour is wildly impressive and requires more grit and determination than most people realize.
You still need to play great golf and compete against the best players in the world, or you risk losing your card. Some players last years, while others make it once and never make it back to the big stage. The truth is, high-level golf is a grind. Even for the best golfers in the world, the sport is extremely unpredictable.
So many talented guys lose their cards because of too many missed cuts, injuries, and loss of confidence. Winning an event really helps you stay in the picture. Each tournament comes with a big check, but the best part is the security from winning.
For example, if you win an event like the Players Championship, you get:. But other guys make a comfortable living without winning often.
Lessons offer an opportunity to hone particular skill sets and get feedback from your instructor. Try taking golf lessons at your local golf course, or even signing up for a class through your high school or local college.
Check out what types of lessons your local country club or golf course offer. Develop a consistent routine for practicing on the golf course. To become a professional golfer, you must play golf regularly. Dedicate time to practicing your short game and putting , as well as hitting fairways and greens. Work your way up to 20 hours per week of golf practice. Master multiple skills.
To become a professional golfer, you will need to work on specific skills that will help you reach the peak of your performance. You will need to master putting , bunker , full swing , chip , pitch , lob, and approach wedge skills. Try to work on each individual skill during golf lessons, incorporating the feedback from your instructor.
Dedicate ample time to each golfing skill. Doing so will ensure you develop a wide range of skills to your fullest potential. Set equal time aside each week to work on putting, bunker, full swing, chip, pitch, lob, and approach wedge skills.
Begin with dedicating 1 hour weekly to each specific skill, and work your way up to 3 hours weekly per skill. Build your mental skills. Becoming a professional golfer means working on mental skills as well as physical ones. Embrace challenges you encounter, and stay focused on the process rather than the result. Let your confidence guide your game. Method 2. Find a reliable golfing partner. Becoming a pro means you need to hone your skills through individual effort, as well as through competition with others.
Finding someone you can play golf with regularly will help you become a better golfer and speed up your journey down the professional path.
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