How many golfers ever turn professional?

Question

How many golfers ever turn professional?

Answer 1

Much less than 1%, believe it or not.  Look at it this way:

-The avg score (since most don't have official USGA handicaps) is around 110.  If you usually shoot around 80 for 18 holes, you are better than 90% of the golfing population.  

-If you can shoot between 70 and 72 for 18 holes on most courses, then you are better than 98% of all golfers.  

-The amazing thing about the best golfers in the world is that they are two or three steps above the average PGA Tour player, and those guys are a level or two better than the best Nationwide Tour golfers.  To go even further forward, the best Nationwide Tour players are a level or two above the average Nationwide Tour pro.  Take this and pertain it to a comparison between those guys and the mini tours (both the best and the average guys), PGA section players (best and avg), college golfers (best and avg), high school golfers (best and avg), even league players who have a little competition each week (best, avg, and worst) and you find that it takes much much more than just a little talent and some hard work to get to where Tiger & Phil are right now.  

- To make a long story short, picture in your mind the course you usually play.  You know, a 6400 yard, par 72 course in decent shape with quick greens, some bunkers, maybe some elavation & undulation.  Tiger and Phil would shoot in the low 60's there with their eyes closed and one arm tied behind their backs.  Yes, they are that good.  Maybe what they should do one day is have a silly season event where these guys play just an average course in good shape.  I think that would show people how good these guys (and gals on the LPGA Tour) truly are.

Answer 2

good answer matt dude. ya its tough to even qualify for these tourneys i am a 5 hdcp and entered a round 1 qualifier for the nationwide tour and its tough u have to pay for all ur own stuff hotel rooms food etc and if u work 40+ a week its tough to take time off work to try and qualfiy. u have to realize all those golfers have really rich parents and thats all they do is golf all god d**n day

Answer 3

I was told this stat when i was 20, when I had playing aspirations. I was a 3 at the time. My pro told me that 1% of US golfers are scratch or better. Less than 1% of that 1% make it to the tour.

Another pro, that played at Arkansas with Daly, told me that to go pro, a player should NEVER shoot higher than 68 on their home course, and never higher than 72 (or par) on an away course.

Answer 4

Only those who truly have a talent for the game and a temperment to match who have the confidence that they can compete with the best. Notice the number who go to the qualifying school yearly. The first so many get their card to compete on the tour while the next bunch are on the Nationwide. Then you see many from the prior year's list who didn't make the monetary limit  to remain on the PGA back on the Nationwide. And you also wonder what happened to some of the old timers( 15 years or more) whose names have not appeared on leaderboards for years.

Answer 5

less than 1 %