A lot of people think that because someone is a PGA professional
and has PGA in front of their name it is all part of the same club.
But there is a difference. Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and the rest of
the tour players are professional golfers. The club professional
you go to for golf lessons, club fitting, tee times and questions
regarding rules are golf professionals and each one of us arrives
at our profession along different paths. This is how each one of us
arrived at our chosen profession.
A lot of people think that because someone is a PGA professional and has PGA in front of their name it is all part of the same club. But there is a difference. Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and the rest of the tour players are professional golfers. The club professional you go to for golf lessons, club fitting, tee times and questions regarding rules are golf professionals and each one of us arrives at our profession along different paths. This is how each one of us arrived at our chosen profession.
To qualify for the PGA Tour a golfer must:
1. Finish within the top 30 at the annual Qualifying Tournament (aka Q-School).
2. Win a co-sponsored or approved PGA Tour event.
3. Finish in the top 150 players on the official money list in a year.
4. Win during the course of a PGA Tour season an amount of official money equal to the amount won in the preceding year by the 150th finisher on the official money list.
5. Finish in the top 20 on the official Nationwide Tour money list.
If you choose Q-School first you pay $4,500 and you, one of roughly 2000 other hopefuls, are put in a pool, which is divided into 14 different test sections around the country each with about 80 other golfers. Only the top 20 from each section advance to the Second Stage. Second Stage has only 6 test sections in November. The top 20 from each section advance to the Final Stage. In the Final Stage only the top 30 from a field of 170 will get their PGA Tour card, and even then there is no guarantee they will make a dime on the tour. What do you think this route does to your brain, especially if last year you finished number 31 in the Final Stage? Stay tuned next week for Part 2.
Eagle Ridge is having a huge Demo Day on Apr. 23 from 10 to 3. All the top manufactures will be here and we will provide all the balls you will need. Just a reminder – any police officer, firefighter or active military personnel can play Eagle Ridge GC Monday through Thursday for half price, so please come see us. Have any golf related questions? From rules to club fitting you can call me at 408-846-4531 or e-mail me at
sk*****@ea**********.com
. If you would like to read some of my past tips, you can do so at www.pinnaclenews.com. And don’t forget, if you’re not having fun playing golf call your local PGA or LPGA instructor, we will help. Golf is more fun when you’re improving. Don’t be afraid to be good.
