making the next step

Question
Hello, I am 21 years old and have ben playing golf for about five years and have been a scratch golfer now for about a year at some premier courses in New York.  I have been making great improvements on my 120 yards and in seeing that is where a lot of my second shots are from.  I have a relative whom is going to be sponsoring my travel, however I don't know what the first level would be.  I have played a few amateur events this summer, and am wondering where to look for more in other states.  Also if you have any recommendations on internships with the PGA that would be awesome.

Answer
Hi Geoff,

Congratulations on your great progress.  You've become a fine player in a pretty short period of time.  If you feel that you're continuing to make progress doing what you're doing, I'd keep doing it.  If you've plateaued and are not getting any better then you might consider a new teacher or a change in your practice routine.

Nothing in the world will make you a better player than playing in events against tough competition.  I'm glad to hear you're playing in a number of amateur events.  Try to qualify for your state amateur championship and all of the USGA amateur events you can get in.

If you feel you want to turn pro then you would not be allowed to enter the U.S. Amateur or the U.S. Publinks, of course.  I don't know if that's something important to you.  Once you go pro...it's difficult to return to amateur status.

If you decide to go pro you will most likely want to find a mini tour to play on.  With fall and winter approaching you will need to look south.  There are several Florida mini tours as well as tours in the Carolinas, Texas and California.

Look for a tour that is located within a reasonably small area.  The Golden Bear Tour in the West Palm Beach area is a good example.  You buy into the tour for whatever their price is.  That gives you entry into all their events plus some type of honorary membership at a local club so you have a place to practice on non-tournament days.  They have a schedule of events that runs for 2 or 3 months.  All of the events are played at clubs that are reachable within a two hour drive or less.

A tour like this one keeps your travel expenses down.  You can rent a condo for the time you'll be there.  That is much less expensive than staying in hotel rooms.  The good tours have qualified officials and they play on quality golf courses.  I don't know if the PGA Tour in Palm Beach Gardens actually endorses any of the mini tours but it wouldn't hurt to ask them for a recommendation.  Or, when you find a tour that looks okay to you, just ask the PGA Tour if they've heard anything negative about it.

The most important element of the mini tours is picking a tour that has a good reputation over a long period of time.  There are many "new" tours that crop up, collect entry fees and then the owner/sponsor disappears or simply runs out of money.  Players don't get paid and their money is gone.  The good ones are well known.  Just do your research.  You can find all of them and their particulars by googling golf mini tours.

The biggest mini tour is probably the Hooters Tour.  But it's very expensive because that tour travels all over the US.

The important thing is to get yourself "tournament-tough".  It's not painless but the best way to do that is to go play with the best players you can find.  It will tell you where your game really is and it will show you what you need to work on.  At the same time you will begin to get some of the tournament experience that the best college players are getting while they're in school.  It's critically important.

Finally...I'd just like to say "good luck".  I hope you do well and enjoy your experience.

Best regards,

Paul Dolman