Is Pro Golf a reality?

Question
Hello, I am new to the game and as you can guess I am head over heals! Problem is my first round wasnt played untill June of 07 and I was born in 85! So I am a little more then fashionably late to the party. Here is my game and my question. 10 rounds of golf played so far, first round ever shot a 104, last 3 rounds go 87,86,87. Never had a lesson and I guess this is pretty good for a newbie. Is it possible(likely) that if I get a job that allows me to golf everyday, move down to Florida (so I can golf all year) how long would it take to turn pro and realistically what would I need to shoot to get through Q school. Golf is my new life lol 5 hours of golf channel a day, average 20 swings with a 7 iron every cigarette (about a pack a day so 140 swings to add to my muscle memmory). And I just love the game and to add to that I am the most competitive person to walk the face of the earth! Please let me know what you think if its too late or if I should chase my dreams!

Answer
What does it take to become a pro?  All you have to do is declare yourself a "professional" and begin entering events where prize money is paid.  The act itself is enough to forfeit your amateur status and make you (in the eyes of the USGA) a "professional".  What you would be truly, however, is a NONE-PAID professional because you would be entering events and making no money.

You already know it will take a lot of hard work on your part to get from where you are...to where you want to be.  Being realistic is important.  I don't want to react to your question in a negative way, but you have a larger hill to climb than you may realize.

Let's assume you are the exception and you actually have a great deal of talent; as much or more talent than all the other guys in the world trying to make it to the PGA Tour.  They are all working hard too and most of them have been working hard for years.  Many of them have played in high school on their varsity team, in college against top competition and now are playing on some mini-tour every week.  They are tournament-hardened.  You don't have any of that experience.

Let's say you continue to work on your game for the next 3 or 4 years and you get where you can break par on your home course or other courses in your area that you are well familiar with.  That's still no where close to getting you into the first stage of Q-school.  In addition to being a scratch or better player you will need to demonstrate to the PGA Tour officials that you have competed FAVORABLY with your peers.  Only then will you even be allowed to enter stage one of the Q-school process.

Tens of Thousands of hopeful golfers start on this journey but in any one year, only about 30 players make it.  That's quite a harsh filter.  And the following year...it's the same or worse.  Since the Q-school process began it has gotten harder and harder every year.

I applaud your progress so far.  It does sound like you are hooked on golf.  That's wonderful.  It's such a great game and there are many ways to get tremendous pleasure from it.  I don't know you and I don't know your game.  But my recommendation to you...seriously, is to set your sights on some smaller goals for now.  Let the idea of getting to Q-school fade to the background for the time being.

For the immediate future, continue to play and practice.  Find yourself a good teacher and put yourself in that teacher's hands.  Let your game continue to develop.  When the time is right, start entering amateur events.  Play for your club championship.  Play for your city or state championship.  If, as or when you have success at those levels...you will be building confidence and experience to go to the next level.  It is virtually impossible to skip all of that and just go from "avid beginner to tour player" in one jump.

Be patient with yourself.  Even though you are getting a late start compared to most serious players, you are still young and it IS possible that you can be as good as the guys on tour.

I have given you the most thoughtful answer I can.  Even though your core question was "what would I need to shoot to get through Q-school", as you can see, the answer to that question isn't a number.  I think the number in 2006 was like 11 under (after six rounds of the final stage).  You don't get to the final stage until you advance out of the second stage and you don't get to the second stage until you advance out of the first stage.  And you don't get to enter the first stage without proving to the officials that you belong there (and pay about $4500 for the privilege of teeing it up).

Good luck to you Charles.  Maybe I'll see your name in print someday.

Paul Dolman