PGA Professional?

Question

I am in a very difficult situation as a sophmore in high school. We are having these career people come to school and were supposed to choose a field of interest and choose a focus for the next three years of high school.

I am 15 years old and i have a serious passion for the game of golf. I shoot in the mid eighties and i am working with a swing coach to make varsity golf next season. I practice everyday and im getting pretty good. However, i am in the top 5% of my high school class, i am taking all honors classes, and i hope to go to notre dame for college. However, i am seriously considering being a pga professional, but i feel like i am overqualified in the academics catergory to do this job.

Another thing i dont know is what kind of educaiton i need to get and how i am going to get my PGA Professional's card. Finally, how much money do these Professional's make? Is the money good for what they do and how hard is it to get a good job as a PGA Professional? Any info helps

Answer 1

first of all the career people that study you should have no effect on your educational focus in high school.  those people are a joke, and to be quite honest a threat to the american way of life.  as Independence Day approaches know that you can do whatever you want to do.  however, my advice to you is to use your significant talent to go to the best school you possibly can.  when i was a sophomore in high school i had several universities with interest in me as a golfer.  i was not the kind of player that would go to a school like Texas or Stanford, but i was a solid player with very good grades.  instead of going after the best golf programs in the country, i focused on academics and by my senior year of high school i was being approached by the coach of Rice University and several other top 50 academic schools.  my advice is to use your academic excellence to get in to the best university posssible.  while you may not win a national championship, you will be in a position to graduate college with a degree that will not only get you anywhere you wish to be in the corporate world but also in the golf world.  good luck, and remember that an education is the most important thing you will ever achieve with your golf skills

Answer 2

Be patient.  First continue studying and getting good grades.  Your priorities might change in a few years and you may end up with an academic scholarship to a good school.

As a senior you'll need to be shooting low seventies to get a golf scholarship to a NCAA Division 1 school.  Keep in mind that even if you never make it as a touring pro, there are many careers in the field of golf that could use a smart kid like you:  Golf course architect, Club pro, Sportswriter, equipment designer, sports agent, etc.  

Summary:  Study hard to keep your options open.  Work on your game and be patient.

Good luck.