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How hard is it to become a golf pro?

Author

Noah Mitchell

Published Jan 22, 2026

Professional golf whether at mini tour level or major tour level is extremely competitive and any amateur golfer-male or female that wishes to take this path needs to appreciate that from the time you turn professional it will take you at a minimum 7 to 10 or more years of hard work, dedication and patience to make it ...

How long does it take to become pro at golf?

You need to invest a minimum of 1728 hours per year to become a Professional Golfer. This is 6 hours of practice per day for 6 days per week for 48 weeks per year.

What are the chances of becoming a professional golfer?

According to the index, only one person in 51,346 become professional golfers in the United States, but globally, they have produced 23.09% of professional golfers.

Is it easy to become a pro golfer?

Getting to the PGA Tour is wildly impressive and requires more grit and determination than most people realize. But just because you become one of the lucky 125 players, doesn't mean you get to stay there. You still need to play great golf and compete against the best players in the world, or you risk losing your card.

How hard is it to make it on the PGA Tour?

Research indicates it could take seven to ten years to become a top professional golfer. It has been reported that athletes need 10,000 hours of practice to master a skill, but practice quality also counts in becoming a professional golfer.

21 related questions found

What handicap do you need to be a pro golfer?

The majority of top golf professionals played to handicaps of +4 to +6 before entering the professional ranks. Some current pros still hold active handicaps, and these serve to highlight how much better than “scratch” they really are.

How much does it cost to play on the PGA tour?

A PGA Tour player who's exempt from qualifying doesn't have to pay entry fees for tour events. He does pay a $100 initiation fee, then $100 in annual dues. The only expense he must pay to play in a tournament is a mandatory $50 locker room fee.

Can anyone be a pro golfer?

Can You Become a Pro Golfer at Any Age? There are no age restrictions on becoming a pro golfer, but the standards required to play at professional level are so high that you need to amass a great deal of experience before you decide to go pro.

Can you become a golf pro at 40?

The good news from the research is that players can still turn professional even in their early 30s. It was also found that the best years for a golf professional are between 30 and 35, although plenty of tour players have shown they can still win tournaments in their 40s.

How many golfers go pro?

Earning your way onto the PGA Tour is extremely taxing and competitive. Out of an approximate 80 million golfers globally only the elite 175 plus exemptions qualify for the PGA Tour.

How do you get a pro card in golf?

Win a PGA Tour Event or Major Championship

Anybody who wins a PGA Tour event gets an immediate two-year PGA Tour exemption. This means that any non-member who gets into the field at a PGA Tour event via a sponsor exemption or Monday qualifier, and goes on to win that event, gets their PGA Tour card.

How do people make a living playing golf?

How to Make Money Playing Golf

  1. Get a Job as a Golf Pro. If you generally enjoy the game of golf and think you could handle a career in the industry, becoming a golf pro is a great choice. ...
  2. Play in Golf Tournaments. ...
  3. Place Friendly Bets with Your Friends. ...
  4. Become a Mystery Shopper. ...
  5. Get Sponsorships/Become an Influencer.

What is the best age to start golf?

Kids can be exposed to the game of golf as early as 2 years old. Research shows those starting early are more likely to play golf as adults. Formal instruction is generally better from school age (5-6) when longer attention spans enable kids to better learn the rules and risks associated with golf.

Who is the youngest pro golfer?

Don Dunkelberger is the youngest pro golfer of all time.

He made his professional golf debut when he was just 11 years, 11 months, and 10 days old!

Is it too late to be a pro golfer?

As three over-50 golfers found out, it's never too late to turn Professional thanks to the E-Z-GO PGA Legends Tour. As three over-50 golfers found out, it's never too late to turn Professional thanks to the E-Z-GO PGA Legends Tour.

How much does the worst PGA golfer make?

The lowest-ranked PGA Championship contestant generally takes home around $19,000 for the tour, although the most recent last place Championship finisher, David Muttitt, received just a $3,000 payout.

Do golf pros make a lot of money?

The salaries of Golf Pros in the US range from $73,478 to $105,174 , with a median salary of $82,469 . The middle 57% of Golf Pros makes between $82,469 and $89,955, with the top 86% making $105,174.

What do head golf pros do?

The Head Golf Professional is responsible for continually developing and implementing all service standards through proper hiring and training of staff. He/She is also responsible for maximizing revenues in all aspects of the golf operation while working within the budget.

How good is average golfer?

According to the USGA, the average score for recreational players is 91 on a par 72 golf course. These numbers take into account everyone who actively records their scores and reports them online, and since a lot of golfers don't do this, the average golf score for all golfers is much closer to 100.

Do players who missed the cut get paid?

In 2017, every professional who missed the cut was paid $10,000. At the US Open, the players who miss the 36-hole cut each earn $10,000. At the PGA Championship, the players who miss the 36-hole cut are also paid, earning $3,200 each.

Do pro golfers pay for travel?

Yes, they do. And it can be pretty expensive. Some estimates place the annual expenditures on travel (including room and board) at upwards of $200,000 for a golfer who plays in events worldwide. In addition, pro golfers also have to pay their caddies each week.

How much of their winnings do golfers keep?

Prize money for a pro golfer's finishing position is decided by the PGA who award a certain percentage of the purse to each position. A winner, for example, will receive 18% of the purse total which in the Masters Tournaments case amounts to $2,070,000.

What is Kyle Berkshires handicap?

Mashing the ball is how he makes a living, but Berkshire isn't a one-trick pony. In addition to playing collegiate golf at the University of North Texas and Central Florida, the 24-year-old currently carries a plus-two handicap and a game that travels.

What does scratch golfer mean?

A scratch player essentially is one who can manage every aspect of their game, consistently, and can plot their way around the golf course hitting the right shots at the right time. A Scratch golfer will very rarely hit two bad shots in a row and has the mindset to recover rapidly from setbacks in a positive way.