Had a visit with my swing coach from years ago. After some chatter about life/golf, he wanted me to grab my shag bag and clubs and go hit some balls. So we headed out and I proceeded to stripe drive after drive after drive with a tight little draw, fade, straight, whatever I felt like doing. Then some wedges and short game after that. Spent the next bunch of days together doing the same. To make a long story short he was "wowed" by what I still had in the tank without that much dedication to my game these days. He's trying to talk me into clawing my way back to playing competitive golf again. This guy lives, eats and breathes golf. He's been around the block and follows mini tours, PGA tour, Champions tour, etc... Says between him devoting his time and a couple "backers" we could make it happen. My game (with some devotion) is really still right there if I wanted it to be. He's basically almost shaming me into it telling me I'm wasting my talent. He's convinced there is money to be made and I can compete at a high level. How high?... who knows. Here's the thing. While it sounds all fine and good and I agree with him about a lot of things. Yes I can strike a golf ball as well as a lot of people on planet Earth. The problem is it is a lot more involved than that (especially at this point in my life). The commitment alone is tremendous. The time/energy/training is intense. Talking a year or two just to mold my game back to where I can step between the ropes and compete. Then... there are no guarantees. Could be a waste of a lot of time and money or could become lucrative. At the ripe old age of 40 do you really want to dedicate your life to that with a small chance of success at the end of the road? Or concentrate the same efforts in other avenues with a higher guarantee (return on your investment so to speak). Would litterally have to put myself on a limb, sacrifice A LOT for the thought of the unkown. Also at the ripe old age of 40, the old hockey, lacrosse, golf body is breaking down little by little. Can I even handle the rigor of beating balls sunup to sundown again 7 days a week? Not like I'm 22 and can roll over and do it the next day without missing a beat. I was there once and came close to the big stage. Give it all I had really. How do you convince yourself that almost 20 years later there will be a different outcome? Intrigued but skeptical. Biggest reason I'm even considering it is because I know if I dedicated myself to it, my game is there. My golf swing is stil there (at any level). Just a lot more to it than that. And this guy knows his doo doo as far as what it takes. There's thousands of great golfers out there with model swings. What separates them from others is the intangibles. The will to succeed, the competitive nature, work ethic, the no nerves in your body under the gun. All of which he's seen back in the day. I don't know..... what to do. I'm an all or nothing kind of guy. I don't know half asses approach. Would hate to be kicking myself in the rear 3 or 4 years down the road with nothing to show for it other than a better golf game at this point in my life.
Honestly........my questions would revolve around my family's needs at 40 years old. I know what it takes to compete in archery at the highest levels, and while I truly think I had what it took to compete at the highest levels......both my wife and I didn't feel it was fair to me to spend 5-6 days a week doing the grind that is necessary to compete at that level. I'm beyond the point in my life where I can commit that kind of time to something that doesn't involve my family or my career.
Good luck with whatever you go with. There have been a bunch of guys who have managed to pull some magic out of the bag later in their careers-e.g. Joey Sindelar went a long stretch before he won the '04 Wachovia Championship-he was more of a grinder, but dug down that year and played some decent golf, for a period of time. Champions/Sr tour has more examples of guys that popped onto the scene late in life. Apart from the mechanics which you mentioned feel good; internal muster, health, a solid plan and setting some firm goals/limits would be on my list. When I was younger, I decided I was going to try to get back in better shape with a different sport in mind-not even aiming for pro level. I set out a plan and some measurable goals, but was derailed as body wasn't able to heal back up after some accidents along the way.
Tough call. The amount of talent out there right now is mind boggling. One thing is for sure, you will never know how far you can take it unless you give it everything you have got. It has to be a good fit for your family though. It's one thing to make this type of decision when you are young and single, and far different when you have other responsibilities. Set some realistic time frame goals and give it a go!
Dude, your 40!?!?!?! Old sonofapup! I will spank you in golf ...... ok, it's Mario Golf but you will be owned!!! :D
Here is the way I look at, you accomplished more in golf than 99.5% of us. What more do you need to prove to yourself? Is it worth it the time away from your family? Many of us wish we could have done what you have accomplished, what more do you need to prove? To whom do you need to prove it too?
My first question is...do you have a family to consider? If not, I would say go for it! You obviously have confidence in yourself and it sounds like others do as well. Like you said, you don't want to look back and think...What if. Life is too short.
I'm guessing that your family could stand to have you gone some if you were making a ton of money on the tour! It could open up some great opportunities for them also. Best of luck with a very difficult decision.
Man if its your dream and if you have nothin to lose but a few dollars and hours I say go for it. Time will go by either way...might as well spend it chasing something you love. And you can't take money with you when you go. As said above, if it take to much from family then its different. But other wise what's the worse that can happen, you have some fun working on a sport you love? Even if you dont make it, at least you look back when your even older and can honestly say you never gave up and just didn't quite have it but you did give it your all...more then once.
Take some time to reflect on it. If after a few weeks you are still wishy-washy, then don't do it. If you go for it, you'll need to be 100% in, not 80%. Good luck with your decision!
You aren't going to lay this on me. It's your decision. LOL When you get all popular and are making lots of money.... can you slip me a day pass to the Masters on Sunday? LOL OK, it can be done. Look at how much money Fred Funk has made. He was playing coach at the Univ. of Maryland and decided to give it one more try. He wasn't a youngster either. He's made like 22 million on the PGA tour and another 7 plus million on the senior tour.
Roy McIlroy almost won the US Open after years away from the game. Pretty sure he was around your age. So who knows.
I'll give you what I remember. He tried for his card 2 or 3 times. The last time he had an 8 foot putt on the last hole of the last day of Q School that would have given him his shot. It lipped out. 3 or 5 or some number of years ago he went to the golf tournament at Enjoi golf club in Endicott, NY and tried to get in on a qualifier round. And yes, he made it and had his shot. The golf tournament started on Thursday. His father died on Tues or Wed. Understandably, he dropped out to attend the funeral. Tough break. At that time he was smacking some balls and defininetly on his game. He'd trained and practiced hours every day for weeks to prepare for the qualifier. He did good. And bad luck took away another chance. He has game... but like a lot of folks in life... has had his share of bad luck.
pray about this. i mean deep prayer. let god lead your heart about this decision. it's not one to make lightly. best of luck on this
Well yes there was. And it goes along with what most have referenced. I had 3 boys, wife, house, bills, responsibility, etc........ life happened. Not blaming that or not in a zillion years regretting that, but it just happens (more times than not actually). Simply can't be a father/husband and provide at the level needed and try to make it. Some do, but frankly I don't see how. I've raised my kids now and they are young adults entering their own lives now. At one point I gave it ALL I had down to the last putt before I could comfortbaly say that's all I have. Now I'm at a point in my life where I could (if I choose) to dedicate what's needed to do it again, with the full support of my family or nothing. And to be honest it's not about proving anything so to speak. I just think there's a decent chance I could do it and to some level of success.
Pretty much it. I've been so close I could taste it. That 8 footer at Q school was like somebody pulled the plug on every ounce of competitive golf life I had left. Then got back up and gave it another go which didn't happen. Case of chips not falling in the right place or the planets not aligned or what have you. Bottom line has always been and still is... I can play and can still play. Difference now is how much more effort and dedication it would take at 40 than when I was a young pup. And if the old bones could edure it. I've been beat down, breaks, ligaments, tendons, sprains, concussions, etc... Not your run of the mill spoon fed golfer that goes through the "system". Still in the contemplating stage and started to rev the engine a little bit lately just in case. Nobody holding a gun to my head, I have a little time to think it through.
