At some point, you would have given some thoughts about going pro if you have been playing golf for some time. While to some might seem like a far-fetched dream, it is not as unachievable as it seems. So, what does it take for you to ‘go pro’?
Sharpen your skills
Going Pro means you are going to compete with the best in the circuit or at least those who are serious and full-time. Your golfing skills would need to achieve a certain level to compete there. Your handicap will gauge how far (or near) you are from reaching that level. Once you feel you have achieved that level of golf, then you can work on the other details.
Get your name out there
No one will know you unless you make an impact on the circuit. You might not start with the big ones like the Malaysian Open but participate in as many local tournaments as you can and get a handicap. After a while, your name could be circulating and people and organizations will start to take notice. Then, you need to decide which club you would want to be associated with. There are 2 options here:
Endorsed by a golf club
They will sponsor and fund your tournaments if this happens. However, they normally choose carefully and you need to have results to show. This means you will be given membership at these clubs can use their golf course for training and all their facilities. Since they are your sponsor, you will need to be responsible in your actions as a Pro as you represent them in all formal golf events.
Self-sponsoring and funding
You can go Pro on your own but that would mean you will have to fund your own tournaments and expenses. This is slightly tricky because you will be responsible for everything you do here. As a self-sponsored player, you will need to find investors to fund your activities. It is very important to differentiate between investors and sponsors. When you are sponsored, you carry the name of the funder. But investors need not be mentioned and they can be kept discreet. They can be long or short-term investors and would expect returns for the amount they put in. They look at your venture as a business and expect good ROI.
Meanwhile, your venture into the Pro golf world is like a business that you run. You are your own CEO who needs to drive sales as you need to report your P&L to your investors.
Get into the right mindset
When you join a tournament, you can select the option to join as a Pro and that is where you start. This is like starting a business. You register your company, get a bank account and get started. But playing like a Pro means you need to change the way you think and feel.
- You will realize that playing well is not enough because you need to start marketing yourself as one
- Your expectation changes and elevates to a whole new level because you are competing with really serious players out there.
