During my year-long stint as a mini-tour golfer, I’ve came to realize many things including the reason why 99% of pro golfers out there FAIL to make it to the PGA Tour.
Here’s the top reasons:
1. They run out of money.
2. They don’t have financial back-up to go for a long time.
3. They simply don’t have the talent.
Well, my top 2 reasons are probably the #1 reason why not all of the Top 10 college golf players never even see a day playing at the PGA Tour. Of course, the lucky ones will have all the money in the world but simply lack the talent to make it to the PGA Tour. (For example, they try out the PGA Qualifying school and fail 10 years straight.)
For those who have tried and failed, my advice is to move on with better things in life. As great as life of a pro golfer looks on TV, what you see is only a share of world’s best talent in my opinion. I have seen many great golfers including amateurs and pros that never make it simply they get caught up with life, that of making a living.
To make a living as a mini-tour golfer, you must practically finish somewhere the Top 30, it doesn’t matter which mini tour you play including Canadian Tour, Hooters Tour, Nationwide Tour, and etc…etc…
So, where do these 99% of others go? They simply lose desire to play pro golf or get caught up making a living.
If you have kids who want to grow up to be pros on the PGA or LPGA tour, they better have good financial backup.
On average, you probably need at least $50,000 a year just in expenses for golf equipment, practice/playing fees, and competition entry fees.
Pro competition fees can be pretty hefty and unless you make hundred grand from your day job, I don’t think there’s a way for you to play pro golf competitively.
So what?
Just realize that if you are going to play pro golf, you should have a smart financial plan so you can keep going even if your scores don’t make you money.
It’s a whole different ball game than being an amateur because your life is basically on the line. How well you play determines whether you will eat bread the next day or not.
As for me, I broke my finger and also ran out of money only a year into my mini-tour stint. I didn’t realize how much money I needed until I started making money with pro golf.
Luckily, after 6 years of jumbling my life and starting my own online blogging business, I am glad I can slowly start back at my dreams again, that of playing competitively with the top pros in the world.
Don’t get me wrong, the pros on the PGA Tour are probably the best of the crop but playing on the PGA Tour is a lot easier if you can keep trying and you have some sponsors to back you up. (and also time to practice/play everyday)
And don’t forget, some even make it to the PGA Tour, win a couple tournaments, then fall into thin air.
That’s simply golf, it’s not so predictable, even if you are the best in the world.
I just wonder, whatever happened to some of those golfers I used to know who were so good? Well, they’ve moved on. I am not. Ricky Barnes is one of those who made it btw and I hope Joel Kribel does well soon too, they both got a ton of talent.
