What does it take to take your game of golf to the level of pro? How serious does one have to be to play golf?

Question

I live in Michigan so I don't exactly get to play golf all year long. I have recently tried getting instructions at an indoor golf dome in Okemos, near Lansing but I don't know what else I should do to get my game in gear, or if I am a fool wishing for that lucky pot of gold. I realize that golf is an expensive game but what other steps could be taken to improve my game and how can someone appreciate the game of golf as they did as a kid if they play the sport competitively.

Answer 1

There are plenty of golfers who live in cold weather climates as junior players who are on the PGA tour.  Remember the commercial Steve Stricker made about the Fed Ex Cup?  He won comeback player of the year on the PGA Tour 2 years in a row.  He practiced by hitting balls in the snow.  Zach Johnson, who is the defending Masters champion is from Iowa.  Players from Europe don't have good climate all year round.  Luke Donald went to Northwestern University.  That is in Evanston, Illinois.  That is outside of Chicago.  It can be done and it sounds like you have started out doing the right thing.

Answer 2

Depends on your definition of the word "pro".  A pro in the golfing world is simply a member of the PGA, which is not the same as the PGA Tour.  A PGA member is simply a person whose profession involves golf, usually club pros/instructors.  I believe requirements for the PGA are somewhere in the neighborhood of a +3 handicap, I am not sure of that exactly.  The PGA Tour, however, is a completely different animal.  The Tour is the competitive side of the PGA, just look at a leaderboard on a Sunday to see what kind of game you need to make it out there.

Answer 3

Get and maintain a handicap.  The guys on tour are about 4-6 stokes BETTER than scratch.  The only secret to golf is hard work.  But if you love the game, its not really work. The person above said 20 hours a week.  Let me assure you that will not be enough time invested if you aspire to play on tour.  When I was growing up, I played 12-15 rounds a week plus practice sessions. Good luck.

Answer 4

Well "The Great White Shark" Greg Norman went from maximum handicap to a scratch golfer within 18 months and  Pro after another 6 months. All this after He finished highschool at 16 and just totally made golf his life. He probably was in the golf course 8 hours a day, 5 days a week... if not more...if not playing then getting lessons or practicing at the range or resting. If you want to be a touring pro... then you might have to step up your dedication to the game a little bit more. Practice and play golf maybe around 20 hours a week if you are really serious of wanting to become a pro one day. And not just any practice... but perfect practice. 500+ hours a year practicing/playing/lessons and any other golf related activities would certainly help you achieve what you want.

Answer 5

anybody can be a professional golfer. You just have to declare yourself a professional and you will lose your amateur status. Then your a pro. But, if your thinking of any mini-tour, you should be playing golf day and night and shooting 65 at least half the time you play. People don't realize how hard the courses the pros play are. A 70 on a PGA Tour course is the equivalent of a 59 on a 6500 park district course