What does my son need to do to become a professional golfer he plays off 4?

Question

What does my son need to do to become a professional golfer he plays off 4?

Answer 1

Golf - Everything You Want to Know

Answer 2

Im nothing fantastic but something that young golfers never look into enough is the mental game..

I play off 2 at 22 years old and if i were to practice more than just weekends i know i could be a handy player.

How often have you played with a low handicapper with a temper? more common with younger players. Have a look at their body language after they bogey the 1st hole.. Yeah they shouldnt make bogey down a straight foward 1st hole but it happens and you cant let it get to you as you have 17 more holes and your not in a rhythm yet.

when i hit bad shots i try to learn from it.

1.  Make sure he has a pre shot routein which should help block out the c**p from the last hole.

2.  If he is getting up and down within 60 yards less than 40% of the time then there is a problem because this needs to be nailed to get down below 4. work out if its the chip/pitch shots or the putting.

3.  Hit fairways, this is what is holding me back at the moment. Short par 4's im trying to get on the green off the tee etc. when im not hitting fairways. Give him a target of hitting a certain amount of fairways. 4 over par is a terrible score if you were to hit all the fairways off the tee.

Answer 3

As mentioned previously he really needs to be on atleast +1 before he should consider turning professional. A 4 handicap is very impressive and it is likely that future improvements will come in his short game. Encourage him to work on pitching, chipping and putting because ability in this area will turn a good round, into a great round. He should play local 'Open' tournaments in your area and good performances in these will likely see him make it into rep teams.. from that point its just practice and more practice. Good luck!

www.golfcentral.co.nz  --- New Zealands Golfing Community

Answer 4

Short game.  I, personally, play off the same handicap (4), but I am one of the very few (probably 1 in a 1000) who kicks *** with their short game.  Honestly, inside of 50 yards, its up and down 95% of the time.  My problem is my distance and streakiness.  For weeks, I can average under par, and then for a week I won't break 80 (not often, but it happens).  I only drive the ball 250-260, and honestly, if I want to turn pro on 7000+ yard courses, I better gain another 20 yards.  And don't think of me as a possible Corey Pavin.  Pavin is terrible.  He gets tremendous luck and only plays well on courses shorter that 6600 yards.

Answer 5

In Canada, you need to be a 1.4 handicap or less to be able to qualify as a professional golfer. You need to recognize the weaknesses in your sons game and work on improving those areas.

Answer 6

Have him play some tough courses (at least 6800 yards) to see how he performs then.  Also, have him enter tournaments, especially qualifiers where he needs to play well to move on.

If you're talking about being a club pro, then contact the PGA of America.  If he wants to be a tour pro, then have him play a lot of amateur events before he quits his day job.

Answer 7

dedication & determination!

enter him into some local tournaments and see what he's like when he's under pressure.

Answer 8

Hey.. It takes dedication, talent and practice...period. Yes I agree with the other guy about short game. But if he gets it up and down 95% from 50 yrds, he really doesnt hit the ball well. If I could get it up and down from 50 yrds 90% of the time I would be playing with tiger every sunday. Golf is 75% mental, and 90% of the physical game is 100 yrds in.

BOTTOM LINE... He has to manage at least 6 hours per day, and hit 300+ range balls per day that he plays. and probably 500+ on days he doesnt. I know it sounds like alot but that includes 40 and 60 yard pitch shots, and he doesnt have to hit lots of balls with 3 and 4 irons or drivers. SHORT GAME is a great tool that saves lots of shots.

2 things dont last....

dogs that chase cars & pro's who putt for par

Answer 9

I might be out of date - but last I knew it needed a handicap of 3 to get an apprenticeship - but that probably varies, club to club.

If your son has the right attitude - shows he has the solid determination to follow such a career - he might well succeed in getting 'attached' to a club - selling golf balls, equipment, etc - giving lessons.

If he gets time to improve his own game - to say plus 2 or 3 - he might try to qualify as as a full time pro - but it's tough at the top - and many fall by the wayside.

Answer 10

Don't want to rain on your parade (I'm sure you are proud of your son) but if you mean by a professional golfer, a tournament golfer, Seve said many years ago, that in order to play on the circuit, you need to be plus six! and I haven't seen anything to change that analysis. However, to be simply a Golf Pro, working in a club shop or similar, then that is an entirely different proposition. My club recently had a pro who couldn't break 80, yet was considered by some (not me) to be an excellent coach and he was certainly astute enough in a business sense, to make a good living.