Playing golf professionally sounds like one of those dream jobs that
everyone wants. Those that are successful at playing golf
professionally get to travel to beautiful locations all over the world,
their idea of work is playing a sport that they love every day, and the
money is pretty attractive as well. It does not take a lot of
imagination for figure out why someone would want to be a professional
golfer.
The Characteristics of a Professional Golfer
That is only one side of the story though. There are a number of ingredients that are required to produce a successful professional golfer.
暊牋 Desire ?In order for a golfer to be successful there must be a burning desire. Without the passion and competitive spirit driving you, chances are that a golfer will never succeed. The player will quickly tire of the game and lay it to the side. A successful golfer will continually replay the day抯 shots in their mind honing it and desiring to improve upon it. There will be an excitement about going out on the course the next time.
暊牋 Practice ?Practice! Practice! Practice! Everyone has heard that practice makes perfect, but the hours that must be invested in golf to become a professional golfer are many and different for everyone. There is simply no substitute for swinging the club. That is where all of the theory and coaching come into action.
?br />暊牋 Work Ethic ?This is where the perfectionist attitude must show up. Listening to your coach, studying video of your shot, analyzing your own imperfections, watching other golfers, and then applying it. This can get tiresome, but those that strive to be professional golfers relentlessly study, observe and apply. Even practice can become mundane for common people, but for the professional golfer if is honing time. This is where all of the studying and critiquing can manifest.
暊牋 Natural Talent ?Without some natural talent, the other three characteristics discussed here will still fall short. All of the want-to, practice, and work will only get you so far. You must have some level of natural ability to work with.
Becoming professional golfer quality is only half of the battle.
You must find your way into the professional tour. There are a number of ways to accomplish this.
1. Finish within the top 30 at the annual Qualifying Tournament.
2. Win an approved PGA TOUR, or co-sponsored, event.
3. Finish among the top 125 players on the official money list in a year.
4. During the course of a PGA TOUR season, win an amount of official money equal to the amount won in the preceding year by the 125th finisher on the official money list. Upon completion of this step you are considered a registered PGA apprentice.
5. Finish in the top 20 of the official Nationwide Tour money list.
If you are a professional or have a USGA handicap of 2 or less, you can participate in an open qualifying round conducted by the PGA Section where a PGA Tour event is being played. Those with the four lowest scores will normally advance to that event. The open qualifying round is generally held the Monday of tournament week.
The PGA Section qualifying round is also held in association with most PGA TOUR open events. This is for all PGA members who belong to the Section in which the event is being played. The two lowest scorers advance to the event. The Monday before the tournament week is again usually used for this competition. Exempted from this event and allowed into the PGA tour is the current Section champion or player of the year.
Becoming A Member Of The PGA Of America Is Also No Cake Walk.
You must become a registered apprentice and proceed through the PGA Professional Golf Management (PGA/PGM)TM Program in order to become a PGA member. This is the criteria to register into the PGA/PGMTM Program:
暊牋 Meet the Eligible Employment requirements, which means that you must be eligibly employed at the time of registration for six months of the preceding 12 months. Participating in an amateur event will forfeit all work experience credits earned before the event.
暊牋 Satisfy the Playing Abilities Test, PAT, requirement.
暊牋 Submit a signed apprentice registration form verifying employment and documenting your review of the Professional Readiness Orientation (PRO).
暊牋 You must pay all apprentice fees for National and your Section and purchase the Level 1 Kit to become an apprentice.
暊牋 Acceptable Progress is defined by successful completion of each Level's Checkpoint. The Level 1 Checkpoint has to be successfully completed within two years of the Level 1 start date to remain in good standing. The Level 2 Checkpoint must be completed within four years of the Level 1 start date. Finally, the Level 3 Checkpoint must be successfully completed within six years of the Level 1 start date. Apprentices have only eight years from their Level 1 start date to graduate from the PGA PGM Program and get elected to membership.
暊牋 Have a high school diploma or be at least 18 years of age and high school equivalency completed. You are eligible for educational credits toward PGA membership with a college degree.
暊牋 U.S. Citizen or resident alien status is required.
暊牋 You must have earned a total of 36 work experience credits plus have fulfilled the PGA/PGMTM Program.
暊牋 A four year college degree will receive 12 credits and six credits for a two year college degree.
Again, work experience earned prior to participating in an amateur event will be forfeited.
While playing golf professionally is an extremely desirable career, anyone that is considering this undertaking must understand the difficulties they will face. The work that is necessary to accomplish such a lofty goal can be daunting, but enjoying the fruits of such a labor can also be breathtaking.
