If you have always enjoyed playing golf as a hobby, you may have considered taking up the sport professionally. All amateur sportsman have the ambition of making this dream a reality, but knowing how to get on the right path can be difficult without the relevant guidance. As you may well be aware, becoming a professional golf player takes a great deal of commitment, time and persistence; however, if you believe you have the talent to go to the next level, you should think carefully about making it a profession.
In this guide, we’re going to provide some useful aspects to think about if you’re serious about playing golf professionally:
1. Developing your skills
To become a professional golfer, it’s fundamental that you start playing as early as possible. The sooner you begin training, the more time you will have to develop your skills (such as the likes of bunker, full swing, chip and master putting) as well as understanding golf terminology — both of which are essential tactics needed to succeed. With this in mind, you must be able to put time aside to practice on a weekly basis. On average, it would be recommended to play at least 10 hours per week in the early days to perfect your skills.
However, golfing isn’t all about physical skills. You also need to be mentally fit to cope with the immense pressure of the sport. Being able to switch off from your internal thoughts and simply focus on the task in hand is vital, as well as trying not to lose motivation if you happen to make any simplistic errors.
2. Go to college
All professional golfers have had some form of formal training, many of which have benefited from scholarships. Some of the most famous golfers in the world, including the likes of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth have taken this route to reach their position. If you are keen to get formal education as well as golf training, there is never too early a time to start the application process. You can find out more at asmscholarships.com.
3. Compete in tournaments
If you have the ambition to become a professional golfer, you need to find opportunities to play in amateur golf tournaments to hone your skills. These tournaments will give you some competitive experience and an insight into what it may be like to compete on a professional level. This will also give you a platform to become known in professional circuits, which may open doors for you when it comes to moving your career forwards.
Once you have found your feet in amateur tournaments, it would be a good idea to try your hand at professional tournaments, providing you have the budget to do so and the time spare to dedicate to the venture. By spending time around professional golfers, you may be able to enhance your reputation and potentially meet sponsors or agents who are scouting fresh new talent.
