Originally I had a goal of just finally getting myself to scratch. After 5 months at a new job as a financial analyst...I have changed my goal to play golf professionally within 3 years. I just can't imagine spending my whole life set on this 9-5 Mon-Fri schedule week after week.

My handicap the past 2 or 3 years has hovered anywhere in the 1's to 3's index. Currently it is a 1.4. I've shot 69 (-2) twice in my life for my best scores. What I believe is actually a benefit to my cause is that I have never done a drill in my life, or practiced a single second of what was taught to me in any lessons I've taken (making them a waste of money, never could commit myself). The fact that I am a 1.4 given there is SO much wrong with my swing right now, I feel the opportunity for improvement is immense when I actually start doing drills every day. I have also never practiced my short game other than before a round. I feel my chipping right around the greens is pretty close to where it needs to be already (the main reason I'm a 1.4 right now). The 30 yards plus wedge shots and putting needs a lot of work, but for me that will be nothing but a matter of practice, practice, practice. I am already more than long enough (300+ avg. off tee).


I am going to be purchasing a net soon, and will set it up with a driving range mat in my garage. I plan on spending one to three hours a day after work, every day, doing nothing but drills this winter, and continuing this into next season and beyond. I feel I should be able to hit scratch at some point early next season, and hopefully get in the plus indexes towards the end of next season or beginning of 2012.

I will post updates of my progress now and again, mainly to help myself stay committed. Below are my most recent swing videos, I am aware mostly of what is going on incorrectly (just a matter of fixing it which will take some time) but I would love some advice/critiques if you have any. I really feel I can do this if I put in enough effort.

Driver - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0l-65Vu4E0

7 iron - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVIZlmr8xcQ

getting a net and doing some drills isn't gonna get you into elite golfer status.

if you're going to make a living golfing you're going to have to pretty much win every amateur tournament you enter.

huge difference between shooting 69 twice in your life and playing competitive tournament golf day in day out...but you already know that.

and you're pretty shut at the top.

in before BO.

Thanks for the input. This is most likely due to the fact I have a very strong grip...one of the things I need to work on.

what are your latest tournament scores?

FWIW, I have played tournaments every year since I was 16 (23 now). I used to be the assistant professional at my local club before deciding I wanted to make more than $12/hour, so I'm pretty aware of what it takes beyond just working on my swing and short game physically.

This summer was the first year I didn't play a tournament. My last tournament was August of 09...I shot 74 in a qualifier, and of course the cut was 73, lol. FWIW, I play in what is supposedly the most competitive PGA section in the country (MET section in southern NY).

oh nice im in the met section too.

T-19 in the ike this year...represent.

Nice...what courses do you usually play?

i'm at metropolis cc. you?

Nice...I'm playing there in the spring (won a foursome at an outing). I'm not a member anywhere, I just play the local public courses (I'm in Putnam county) so mostly Putnam National, Centennial, Hudson Hills, etc. I used to play everywhere when I was an assistant pro as pretty much most private places will let you on every now and then, as well as the places I played in tournaments.

cool...check out my name on the wall as you pass into the locker room next spring

what's up with all these i wanna be a pro threads? why not just post something when you guys actually achieve those goals?

how are you going to achieve your goals without a bunch of randoms on the internet encouraging you?

I grew up in Carmel...I remember when Centennial was a horse farm...crazy how nice they keep it.

They've kept Putnam National in horrible shape though, which sucks, because it is a difficult layout with TOUGH greens when they have them in good shape.

do you ever miss shots to the left?

Haha, looks like a pretty powerful action though.

I think you should do some homework on how difficult it is to make it on tour. I am all for encouraging people to chase dreams but playing pro golf isn't just kind of difficult and 3 years is not much time. It is really difficult. Its not like becoming a doctor where if you work super hard you can achieve it. Keep in my mind there are 125 people that keep their card every year on tour. A top player can keep his card for 20+ years so there is fairly low turnover. Every year there are 40 all americans in D1 college golf, of which 15 or fewer will earn there tour card at some point in their lives on average and of those maybe 4 or 5 will have any sort of longevity in their career. You are going to be competing against guys like Steve Scott, Joel Kribel, and tons of other guys that have worked harder and longer than you and still haven't made it. Every state has a state amateur champ and a state open champ. These people are light years away from playing on tour. These people may as well try to become tennis pros before golf, because the odds of making it are about the same. Think how many D1 golfers who were clearly better than you are nowhere near making it.

Don't let anyone tell you that if you work hard you'll make it. There is no shortage of guys that work hard and its taken like 10+ years to get to a point where they make $700 a week playing on the Hooters Tour and have zero net worth by the time they flame out of golf. There is also no shortage of losers who play in minitour events and section events who shoot 74s and think they're a couple of putts away from being on tour. They always say XYZ pro is just automatic from 10 feet and if they putted like them that would put them over the top.

Look at Charles Barkley and how difficult it was for him to improve. You could have infinite time, have infinite resources, and work infinitely hard and the odds or someone making it on tour are still heavily against them.

Spot on. Most people have no clue how hard it really is. I was friendly with a guy who pretty consistently over the last 8 years finished near the top on the gateway tour and he was an absolute sicko playing golf. I'm talking multiple course records on really hard golf courses and multiple times shooting in the low 60's in pro tournaments. The closest he has come is missing the cut at the phoenix open by 1, and something like missing the 3rd round of Q-School by 1 twice.

At the course I worked at, we would get people all the time who were good D1 players trying to give it a go at playing the gateway tour/trying to be a pro and a lot of them just said **** it after playing with him, when he would shoot a 64 from the tips drunk off his ass.

Left..right..you name it, I miss there...lol

I completely understand the odds I am against...doesn't mean I'm not going to give it a shot. Sure, in all likelihood it won't happen, but at least I can say I tried and actually committed myself for once.

Oh...and please give me a little more credit than Charles Barkley LOL...I think I could swing holding the club in my a$$hole and it would be better than his swing.

Maybe trick-shot artist is the way to go, then, cause that is IMPRESSIVE!!! I dont even think Harvey Penick could swing holding the club in his sphincter.

I am 100% in agreement with you here...Will it be very difficult, or even next to impossible to succeed at the level of a PGA Tour pro, or even a mini tour pro? Yes...

But what is worse is knowing you never committed yourself to tapping your full potential. Whether that ends up being a Sunday duffer or a pro, does it really matter? Having a goal is the best way to improve, and I am definitely from the school of thought that you will regret not doing something, far more than you will regret trying it and failing.

Obviously some perspective helps...and it sounds like you have it. Just keep working hard, and if as long as you have a plan B in the back of your head, there is very little downside IMO.

Playing Putnam National sunday morning...lemme know if you ever wanna get in a round.

I play Putnam National all the time.

update?

Can't believe Ship this isn't in this thread telling you how your no where near ready.