Would you want your child to go pro? I'm not sure. I know that golf has more capacity for talented people to make a living at the game, compared to some sports like the 100 meter dash. Would you choose this for your kids, if you could?

I think I would. It's definitely safer than most sports, and you're right; there's enough opportunity available for someone to have a better chance at making a living than making a living off of most other sports. If they could handle the pressure and lifestle, why not?

The thing that keeps me from saying a 100% astounding YES is the fame. Too often fame goes to a person's head and changes who they really are. If I felt my kids could control that and could adapt to living in the limelight, then yes, I'd like them to pursue their dream.

Remember that maybe 10% of the pro's are actually "famous" where they are recognized. That's kind of one of the interesting things about professional golfers, there's quite a few making a very nice living that you'd never recognize on the street.
You need a good cushion of money in the bank to start, most of them don't make any kind of serious money for a couple of years. Sponsorship deals, being paid to do pro-ams, that comes once you win and become a "name".

Yes, I would. It's a thing they could enjoy and make a living at until later in life than most other sports. And it's not a physical contact sport. So sure. Plus I could caddie for them !!!!!

I have a son who is a 2 handicap he played for the JGANC which is a great club and was on the board of directors for 2 years. He had a lot of fun meeting new people and traveling to different clubs all over the state. He had the opportunity to play a many private clubs that he may never have played had he not been involved it the sport. But I never pushed him it was always his decision. In fact I remember him asking me why I pushed him at school and not sports. I explained playing sports is a privilege. Anyway, to get to the point. I would have loved for him to play pro golf and he was real interested until his first year of college then he decided he wanted to concentrate on school and work part time. I think it is important to encourage our kids to follow their dreams and support them even when it takes away from our own things. But let it be their decision.

Golf or Tennis.
Not to many "Pros" can play into their Fifties.
In todays economy, I would love to make a "living" playing golf, or caddying for that matter.

I would NEVER choose it for my kid. If it was THEIR IDEA, then fine, I'd back them in THEIR decision. But I can't choose it for them. The good thing about golf, is you can play it until you're 60 or more, SEE TOM WATSON.

But don't be fooled into thinking it's easy to make a living playing pro golf. And it costs about $250,000 a year just to play on tour, with travel and hotel costs.

Do you know the difference between a Nationwide tour player and a large Pizza?

A large pizza can feed a family of four.

definately supports. but should keep only 2-3times a year.

http://www.amazon.com/Paper-Tiger-Obsessed-Golfers-Quest/dp/1592402097

good book about "going pro"

Interesting book. I think a lot of people don't really get how good those guys are...the pro's that is. I know some golfer's think they just need their "big break" and they can make it, but the guys that make and STAY on the tour, are incredible golfers. Someone once asked me if I played professionally (she'd never seen me play but knew I played often) and I said NOOOOOO! I mean what those guys can do with the ball is so impressive. I think about that when I go to hit a routine shot and screw it up because I didn't know the rough was going to do that or the lie was going to cause this.

I know a guy who was on the golf show the Big Break a couple years ago. He shot 61 (yes 61) from the tips at my home course which hosted the 73 or 74 PGA Championship that Lee Trevino won. So this is no slouch of a course. And he shot 61. Plays on the mini tours but can he do it day in day out in all different conditions, I guess not since he's still working at the course.

I'm sure he'd destory me if we played, but the pro's are the pro's for a reason...

Now, back to Monday Night Football, and GOOOOO FAVRE!!!

Yea, its a whole different game when you have 10k people watching your every swing and when your playing for thousands of dollars or millions in some cases.

Paulli: Can you please explain what you mean here. I honestly have no idea what you are saying.

Played with a woman who belongs to a private course and she knows a young woman who wants to play on the LPGA tour but can't because she can't get the sponsorships. Aside from talent, it takes a lot of money to get going professionally. As an aside, this woman had a full golf scholarship for college but her parents made her drop out to become a professional and support the family. Can you guess their nationality?
Now this girl doesn't have an education and she can't make a living.

Sad Aimee. Yes it does take a lot of $$$ to make it. My instructor is really good but she just could never get things to fall into place during Q-School. She'd make a mistake here or there and just miss the cut. She'd hold various tournaments and fund raisers to raise the thousands of $$ it takes just to do Q school..

I would support my child's decision to turn pro. I would have loved to have turned pro. Had a great amateur career and I am still lucky enough to play amateur tournament. After I graduated college I went out and tried to see if I could turn professional. My parents were very supportive, and knew if I did not try it I would regret the fact. I never actually turned pro but did some Monday qualifiers for the Futures tour and talked to a lot of girls I knew that were professionals. They loved what they did but there is no guarantee. Sponorships are hard to come by and can be twice as hard for woman. I did not want to be traveling every week hoping for a pay check. I felt like I could still be competitive with amateur golf without all the hassles of professional life. I was never the top golfer but I was able to hold my own. I never regretted my decision to stay amateur and be a working professional. I would have loved to play professional but it was not in the cards for me. In the future when I have kids I hope they love golf but I will support them in whatever endeaver they want to do.

PSU, You are right. It is very hard to make it, and most don't. We see the successes on tv but you rarely see the hundreds or thousand of players that are busting their butt trying to scrape by. Finding money to back you is not easy, especially now. My pro used to hold golf tournaments as fund raisers for money for her LPGA Q school expenses. It would be tough to be on the road all the time going from town to town, especially in the smaller tours where the payouts are pretty small.

Do any of you remember Ty Tryon? I might have the spelling wrong, sorry about that. Six or seven years ago he WON the ADT Skills Challenge against a group of tour pros. Matt Kurchar came in second by one point. Matt is now making his way up the money list and doing pretty well. But what happened to the guy that won the skills event? I haven't heard a word about hie since he won. You know he had the talent, if you was good enought to beat a gruop of tour pros. I think it just goes to show how hard it can be to make it on tour, even for some of the best golfers.

I remember the name, I think he's still hanging around the mini tours but just couldn't make it stick on the PGA. But yes, goes to show that even with lots of talent, it's still hard to make it.