I really have wanted to talk to someone about this for quite sometime, although I have always feared being laughed at in my face (at least on a forum, it's not as insulting).

I love golf. I love watching it, I love talking about, I love playing it, and I would love for nothing more than to make a career out of it (as you can see, there is a lot of love).

After quite a long break (several years), I have started to get back into golf competitively. I am really excited about it, however, as far as making a career out of it, I feel as if I have left my run too late.

I am 19 currently, and already it feels like I am over the hill. I read about Jason Day (who is only 17 years of age and is already shooting several under par on some of the World's finest courses) and come to the cold and hard realisation of just how far behind I am (in relation to where I should be).

These kinds of thoughts were what persuaded me to take an extended break from the game when I was only 14 years of age.

After competing in the JNJGF (Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation) tournament in 1998, I walked away ultimately feeling as if my dreams of making anything of myself in golf were just that - dreams - not reality.

I played against kids (Michael Hanley, if anyone has heard of him) who were already 6'0 tall, hit the ball 280m, and were shooting in the low 70's. I wasn't very tall or strong; I would hit the ball around 220m, and was shooting in the 80's at the time. I figured that I had no chance of competing with players of this calibre, and basically stopped playing only weeks afterwards.

I am more confident of my game now (even though I haven't been playing again for very long), as I am striking the ball rather well (my short game and consistency is another story), and feel as if I am constantly improving.

Basically, what I wanted to ask was do you think in golf's current state (with prodigy players) that it is possible for late starters (21+) to make a career out of it?

Also, what do you feel should be the process for amateurs trying to make it to the next level (as far as handicap numbers, tournaments to play in, etc)?

I just want to know whether to really go after this dream, or just be content with being an average golfer who wasn’t able to make it. I would be willing to give it my all; I guess I just need to be assured that it would be possible in my current situation.

Thanks a lot for reading.

Kind regards,

Ben (Ducky).

FYI, Larry Nelson took up the game at age 36 (I think), and he's won a US Open, some tour wins, and has had a great run on the Champions Tour... :wink:

One of my favourite saying...

"If you think you can,you can.If you think you can't,you're right again".

D

mau

,

Larry actually turned pro at 24 years of age & won his first tournament at 32.

He didn't take up golf until after military service, which means he would have been a few years older than Ducky is now.

thanks for that andrew...

i am 22 now, and i am busting my guts trying to get down from 5 to scratch, so i can give myself a chance at pro teaching.
one thing you need to remember is playing to scratch will get you nowhere if you want to make money from playing. need to play to a handicap of +2 to +4 to be able to make money from playing golf. i know a pro who plays the von nida tour who was off +2 or +3 when he turned pro, and he hardly makes a cut.
but after saying all this, if your ambition is to teach, as is mine, a handicap of 1 or 2 (or 3 in some cases) is good enough to get into a traineeship.

Ducky

,

Yes Andrew is right re Larry Nelson. He joined the PGA Tour when he was 26 but he had only started playing the game at around 21, I think mainly because he was in Vietnam. He is an example often quoted when people are discussing this very issue but I am sure there are many others.

Many on the Senior Tour now did not turn profesional till quite late in the piece like Allen Doyle and Jay Sigel although admittedly they were brilliant amateurs.

I would never put a limit on it Ducky. Jason Day is still only sixteen actually and it is true that many of the kids emerging as good players are starting young. Mate at 19 you are hardly over the hill, but clearly these days to make it as a player professionally it is a very tough school.

Many young guys are in your category, namely they played golf say in their early teens but then girls and parties and having fun got in the way. They come back to it a bit later but perhaps because they have taken another course in life they are content to play the game at a different level than perhaps would have been the case if they had continued right through with it. You are fortunate that you already have a grounding in the game so you are not starting from scratch

It is a bit hard for me to make a judgement on you from afar, not knowing anything about your game, but bear in mind that the game offers many opportunties outside the playing arena to make a living. Golf isn't just a game, it is a huge industry and it may be that if your game isn't up to making a living out of then other areas of the golf industry may well do so for you.

I would take it as far as you can as an amateur first and see what develops. If you start competing at a high level as an amateur then maybe you can take it to the next level. By the sound of it right now you are yet a few steps away from that level.

A motto of mine has always been to not die wondering. Nineteen is definitely not too late if you have the game or talent. If you do not have either then there is no right age.

People who have greater knowledge of your game than obviously I have and have some position in the game are in a better position to make a more informed judgement as to your capacity to take your game to a professional level but do not be discouraged by your age especially at 19.

Having said that however Mark Hensby was told on a number of ocasions that he was kidding himself wanting to play the PGA Tour and look where he is now.

19 isn't old, but if your not a consistant scratch player now then forget it. aim for a teaching job or something else in the industry.

Richard S Johnsson ( USPGA player, Swede I think ) didn't take up golf till he was 17.

There are successful players on the senior tour over the past decade who were no more than hobby players into their 30s.

And there are prodigies shooting scores in the 60s or playing off scratch by age 15-16 who are digging ditches ten years later.

At age 19, you are yet to reach your full strength or your full body development. Many who fail because they start late possibly do so because in their 20s, they have more responsibilities and restrictions on their golf than some fortunate young teenagers without a care in the world and access to the game.

woodsie is wrong. When Michelle Wie played in Hawaii and the guys compared her achievement to what they could do at that age, many top players said they couldn't play to scratch until into their 20s, and finished college golf before they began to be barely competitive against club pros and reasonable amateurs.

There are successful players on the senior tour over the past decade who were no more than hobby players into their 30s.

i dont think ben is aiming for the seniors tour just yet...

And there are prodigies shooting scores in the 60s or playing off scratch by age 15-16 who are digging ditches ten years later.

yeah all sort of factors involved...

At age 19, you are yet to reach your full strength or your full body development.

maybe ben should tell us if he's changed over the last 5 yrs.
taller?...longer off the tee? ...or if he's still shooting in the 80's

Hi everyone,

Thanks a lot for your replies, they are greatly appreciated.

ben should tell us if he's changed over the last 5 yrs...

I should have, sorry about that.

As a junior (12-14), I did play golf quite regularly, however, I played off a 16 handicap, was not very tall or strong, would hit a good tee shot around 220m, and had a terrible short game.

Now (19), I have started to get excited about golf once again. I have not yet received a handicap (it's something I need to re-apply for within the next few weeks), I am 6'3 and reasonably well built, can hit a good tee shot around 300-320m (keep in mind, the fairways aren't extremely lush here), but I still have a terrible short game (that part hasn't changed).

I really want to get a personal website up in relation to it (kind of like a progress diary), that would include as much information as you would need to know (scores, swing recordings, etc). It's something I have been working on in my Web Design diploma course that I do during the daytimes.

As they say, images speak 1000 words, so I will try and get the videos recorded this Wednesday and share them with you guys.

Kind regards,

Ben (Ducky).

well that does sound better. what scores are you shooting now?

the short game is something you'll pick up.

can hit a good tee shot around 300-320m

You call that"good" :?:

Seriously,sounds like you got one part of the game nailed down.
Now onto the irons,short game and putting.
Keep us posted.
D

Dean

,

I have always hit my driver and irons quite well. Occasionally, I will hit a 'slice' with my driver when my hips start rotating before my arms come down, and that's why I mention needing to work on my consistancy.

In relation to the 300-320m drives, the fairways around here are not very lush, as it's quite dry out here in the country at this time. The golf course isn't doing too badly in relation to the drought (as they have their own water bores), but it's obviously not as lush as something you would find down towards Sydney.

Woodsie

,

I am shooting around 80 on the mark at the moment. I made a post in relation to the last round I played. I was really happy with how I played. Not because of the score, but because I was striking the ball very well all day (and that was with an old half set of Rawlings 5 wood + irons).

My game within 100m has always been a problem. I am not great with hitting half and three-quarter shots, chipping, and currently I would not be able to read a green to save my own life. This was the main draw back of my round last Wednesday (see the URL above).

Basically, it becomes a big problem when you set yourself up in a good position to score well, but can't capitalise. A round I played several months back with my brother at The Horizons (Port Stephens) was a great example of just how poor my game within 100m was (and still is). On the majority of the par 4 holes, I would hit a good drive setting myself up for a (for most people) easy shot of less than 100m into the green. Unfortunately enough for me, I would still take another 4-5 shots to get down.

This time around the short game is going to be a big priority, I just need to work at it.

Kind regards,

Ben (Ducky).

if ya quit posting abt ur short irons delimma, and worked on them out at the range, you should be able to get it sorted pretty quickly...JAT...

sounds like practice is the only way you'll get around this...
either that or just hit 3 irons off the tee to the 250 mark, and give yourself a 7-8 iron shot in... :wink:

I need glow in the dark golf balls so I can practice at night...

Kind regards,

Ben (Ducky).

well Ben, you sound like you know where you're at with your game. the short game is a huge problem and one that will require ALOT of work. hows your bunker play?.

ultimately it comes down to

what you want to do with your life?

. if you have the belief you can make it (and have the money!) then spend 2 yrs full time at it. Set a goal, get lessons, practice like crazy, learn all the physio & diet aspects. maybe you might pick yourself up a traineeship?...but if you cant be a tour pro, ask yourself if you'll be happy doing something else in the golf industry(?). Again, the decisions are yours and at 19 you could still do it.

Goodluck!

Ben

Are you at Muswellbrook? The name Hanley rings a bell as being a young guy ie 12yrs that was the club champion at Muswellbrook... Could be mistaken...
I just ask because you mentioned the amount of run you're getting on the fairways. I go back to Tamworth a few times a year and the run I get out there is freakish 8O
Oh yeah... the topic... No it's not too late at 19 if you have the dedication, support and talent. Not much to ask is it ?

No, I'm living in Bathurst at the moment.

I can't remember where Michael Hanley was from, all I know is that he absolutely owned the grade I was playing in at the time, and his father is (or was) a club professional.

Kind regards,

Ben (Ducky).

so ducky, you decided if your going for it?

Yeah, I'm definitely going for it. I'm just doing a lot of planning whilst I wait for my irons to be delivered (should be here within the next few days hopefully). I had a practice round the other day, and although I didn't hit the ball all that great (had blisters from a previous range session all over my hands), I was able to scramble for a 37 (+1) on the back nine which I was satisfied with.

I go for my handicap within the next few weeks, so I can officially start to work it down low. At the moment, I need to just create a practice plan, and make sure I execute it as good as possible.

Kind regards,

Ben (Ducky).

Ben

Go for it mate. I am 27 and took up golf at 24 (having never picked up a golf club before) and I wish I had of played as a young folk. Currently my h/cap is 14 and (slowly) improving... :roll: you're in a good position to make the most of it! Especially being at Uni...I had so much free time and to think I wasted it on beer, beer...and (girls)...are you studying at CSU?

So whats the new irons you're getting?

Thanks for your support!

I'm not at CSU, I'm just doing a Web Design diploma through the TAFE up here (doing the certificate four modules this year, then finishing the diploma off next year). I had considered CSU, however, I had heard off quite a few people that the course I had wanted to do was more theory based than practical (which would bore the absolute life out of me).

I would have a lot more free time, although I am doing two courses at the same time (one during the day, and one two nights in the week), but I do think I have a sufficient amount of free time each week to make a good practice time-table (something I may upload shortly and let you guys critque).

The irons I am waiting on are the Nike Forged Blades (3-PW) with True Temper S300 shafts. I ordered them on the 1st of this month from America. According to the USPS website, it takes around 6-10 days to deliver to where I am. So if they're not here by the coming Wednesday, I may have to see what the deal is.

:?

Kind regards,

Ben (Ducky).

couldn't you buy them here or was it just cheaper going o/s + shipping?