'https:' : 'http:') + '//www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js'; var node = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; node.parentNode.insertBefore(gads, node); })(); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/35757185/AGD_250x300_3', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1433113409087-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.enableServices(); }); This form needs Javascript to display, which your browser doesn't support. On the other hand, every Tour pro who makes the cut at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am is obliged to pay a portion of their winnings to the state of California. It’s understood that players’ are responsible for putting up their caddies. And know how to work them. The tuition for our accredited Professional Golf Management degree program covers the full 16-month academic curriculum, as well as ongoing career assistance and instruction. Let’s find out! var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; (function() { var gads = document.createElement('script'); gads.async = true; gads.type = 'text/javascript'; var useSSL = 'https:' == document.location.protocol; gads.src = (useSSL ? HAVE you ever dreamt about turning pro but wondered just how much cash you’d need to survive on tour? On top of that, we also have a lot of expenses. Why does it cost the same or less to make much more complicated products such as a printer, computer, TV, refrigerator, etc.? Like most guys, I have a firm eye on the US PGA Tour and the riches it can potentially one day bring. You can earn a PGA Tour Card by: - being in the top 50 in a four-tournament play-off series to be played by the top 75 players from the Web.com Tour along with the players who finished 126 through 200 on the PGA Tour. Said and done, the program costs approximately 10K from start to finish. Another considerable factor of a professional golfer’s expense report is the cost of lodging. As an Amazon Associate wired2golf.com earns from qualifying purchases. Like every other vocation, professional golfers are required to pay income taxes on prize money in any state with a state income tax rate. To gain a better idea of how to break down a professional golfer’s expenses, let’s assume it was you that made the cut but finished in last at this past year’s Northern Trust tournament. The average cheque for coming last after making the cut in a tournament is. But, just in case you equip your bag in the same manner, let’s break down the fair market value of Tiger’s bag for the 2020 season: Decided to take out the bag today in honor of Masters week. Not a terrible industry to be “average” in. if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-wired2golf_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0')}; As with most professional athletes, professional golfers make a lot of money. Sure, it may be a relaxing and mind-clearing trip, but gas and daily rental car fees add up and are entirely the players’ responsibility. Thanks @monsterenergy for this special one. There’s no denying it. The 1915 article totaled typical costs for a year of golf including an initiation fee, annual dues, balls, clubs, car fare and caddie pay at $182.50. I would guess about 15-20 per cent of players make use of this. There aren’t too many sports that can offer that. (3) If you’re on the main tour– you should be doing just nicely! I think it can certainly help, especially early on with the purchasing of equipment and teaching. A rule of thumb on most tours is you keep about 30 per cent of what you earn after expenses and taxes – not a lot if you are missing cuts! 0 0. There aren’t too many sports that can offer that. According to a 2006 Golf Digest survey, Hank Haney charged $400 an hour, a rate set before he became Tiger Woods' instructor. In this article, we will explain most of a professional golfer’s primary expenses ranging from travel to their caddie’s cut, and in turn, illustrate how much cash winnings a PGA Tour player actually takes home. Flashback: Tom Brady is a freak at golf too! This intriguing question is one that’s shared by many amateur golfers. There’s another few thousand dollars for accountancy costs right there. Golfers truly enjoy participating in golf outings. Beware the taxman So, how much does it cost to be a professional golfer? All players on the Tour are required to pay annual dues and initiation fees. I, thankfully, live in Texas where there is no such thing. Developing Your Skills 1 Start playing as early in life as possible. How Much Practice Does it Take to Become a Pro Golfer? THE 7 CRITICAL STEPS YOU MUST TAKE TO BE A PROFESSIONAL GOLFER. Like I said before, it’s certainly not cheap! Tournaments Augusta National members: 10 things to know about the membership behind the Masters When Liberty National opened in the pre-crash boom time of 2006, it … Register to be an apprentice by filling out the apprentice registration form on the PGA website (see References). But until I get there I’m locked in a budgetary battle, carpooling and sharing motel rooms with a host of like-minded guys, many with young families to support. Your cash winnings totaled $19,475. However, not all expenses are created equally. But most regular bagmen get paid between $800-$1,000 a week with a 5-6 per cent bonus for making cut. One swing away lays the Korn Ferry Tour. i just turned 19 and i shoot on average 77-80 on 18 holes. When we add this all up it costs us a small fortune at around $7966.66 a month to be a very competitive full time playing professional. In addition to managing a golf facility, a quality golf professional can develop revenue via lessons, club sales, event management, membership sales and a variety of other channels. This helps us continue to create more great golf content! On the main tours caddies can get paid $1,200-$1,300 plus bonuses. Next down you have your early developmental tours. At the bottom of the professional golf totem pole sits the mini-tours and state opens. You definitely need an accountant over here because the tax is more complex (50 states, it’s more like 50 countries, tax-wise) than back home in Australia. The cost to enter Tour school lies in the region of £4,000 to £5,000, once you've tallied up your entry fees, travel, accommodation and a caddie if you have one. 4 years ago. Another former Woods instructor, Butch Harmon, had a 2006 rate of $600 per hour. This is assuming you pass your PAT and exams all on the first shot. The clubs Brooke Henderson used to win the CP Women’s Open, Because we’re living in the future, you can now have food delivered by drone on a golf course, Deaf golfer Kevin Hall earns (at least) conditional Web.com Tour status, The easy solution to the potential Tiger Woods-Presidents Cup dilemma, BRAGGING RIGHTS: What Mickelson really won by beating Tiger, Players 2021: Jordan Spieth almost nails Rory Sabbatini with tee shot, and his reaction is priceless, Players 2021: You can’t play No.17 any better than how Adam Scott has this week, Players 2021: Sergio Garcia just missed one of the shortest putts in history, Tournament fee $35 (basically a locker room fee), Caddie $850 plus a percentage of the prizemoney I earn, Hotel $250 (rooms are $500 but share with another player), Tipping $40-$50 (it’s customary to tip 15-20 per cent in the US). Let’s not forget though, all of a personal trainer’s and/or private chef’s expenses are all on the player’s dime too.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-wired2golf_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0')}; According to the PGA Tour, during the 2020 season, the average Tour pro went home with a little over $1 million in cash winnings. As a non-US PGA Tour player, it is hard to accumulate wealth when don’t have the steady income. The best instructors in the world work with touring pros on the PGA, European and LPGA tours. Congrats! I’m an up-and-coming Aussie pro trying to keep my secondary tour card in the US. The broad assumption that to be a successful pro you need to be ‘well off’ financially before you start isn’t too far off the mark. One weekend may change the course of their entire lives. We have helped aspiring tour players lower their scores to get a tour card and play on tour from the strategies laid out in this free report. Brace yourselves, because living out of a suitcase is not for everyone. And by working with our on-staff tournament pro, you will become comfortable quickly with what is one of the most profitable fundraising mechanisms around. For anyone who decides to pursue this profession, it’s a long and costly journey–especially those fortunate enough to walk off the 18th green on Sunday with a trophy and check in hand. If you finish this Professional Golf Management Program, you become a Class A member with a sub-classification based on your work title. Becoming a Professional Golfer. For the 2020 season, Justin Thomas, who was the overall money leader on tour, paid his caddie, Jimmy Johnson, $502,851. Brandt Snedeker opens Wyndham Championship with 11-under 59. Your email address will not be published. You must be currently working at a golf course/range/golftec/other authorized golf facility to apply. On the Web.com Tour you can stay with host families (billets) most weeks, something organised by the tournament. Most of the PGA Tour’s household names have their entry fees covered by either sponsor or the various television networks broadcasting the individual tournaments. The only real upfront payment is a mandatory $50 locker room fee. According to SportEKZ and Forbes Magazine, Tour caddies generally receive a weekly base pay of $2,000 plus a fixed percentage of their player’s prize money (anywhere from 5%-10%). If you have stopped reading this article and are already on your way to the driving range, I don’t blame you. Gone are the days when you would walk into your local pro shop, take a look at the 10-15 options on display and walk away with a … Generating Interest IN Your Outing. Therefore, following a golf strength training routine has many benefits. That’s why one of the biggest hits to every professional golfer’s checkbook is the cost of airfare and rental cars. In order to compete in pre-qualifying tournaments, the majority of Tour pros cough up $400 as a qualifying fee. 1. How do I make it work financially? An additional aspect of a player’s tax return hinges on where they permanently reside. Members of any facet of the NGA Pro Golf Series pay an … An often overlooked expense a professional golfer would be remiss to ignore is the state income tax. Another factor to consider is the relative distance between the course’s exact location and a major metropolitan airport. An original membership stake in Augusta cost $350, which is still less than $5,000 in today’s dollars. So what’s free? For those playing on the Korn Ferry or Champions Tours, this fee is set at $100. This brings our total to $10,950. Like every professional athlete, maintaining peak physical shape and keeping injuries at bay are crucial aspects of every professional golfer’s daily life. The real cost of a caddie If you want a guy from the car park to carry your bag you can pay as little as $600 for the week. As for the mini-tour players yearning to climb the ladder, their entry fees typically start around $800 and can even reach north of $1,000. So in my case to the above, that’s -$205 I’m down for the week and that’s just with my golf. On the Web.com Tour you can stay with host families (billets) most weeks, something organised by the tournament. 3-Iron to PW: TaylorMade P7TW Prototype blades ($1,999.99/set)if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-wired2golf_com-banner-1-0')}; Wedges: TaylorMade Milled Grind 2 ($124/each), Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Timeless Prototype (Unknown). This costs between $2,700 and $3,500 depending on when you sign up, so we’ll be optimistic and plan for the former fee. Excluding his custom-made putter, Tiger’s equipment costs amount to a whopping $3,622.94, pre-tax. Good luck! Generally, most of the guys get their equipment and clothing supplied by sponsors. Be ready to take lot of pressure. The cost can vary wildly, but playing as a solo player in a pro-am can cost anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000, save for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which is done by invitation and costs in … Download it now before your competitors do. That’s about $4,228 in today’s dollars. Except at the highest levels, pro golfers must pay to play in tournaments. In the United States, the highest level of professional golf is the PGA Tour. However, usually, the money always flows to the same places week-in and week-out: airfare, hotels, cars, and food.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-wired2golf_com-medrectangle-4-0')}; Anyone planning to play in a professional golf tournament must pay an entry fee, unless otherwise exempt. This is a category we are all familiar with. In the current state of today’s Tour, what was once considered a luxury is now a staple in every player’s routine. The real question that should be asked is why does it cost $75 for a clubhead to be produced? Assuming you have your entry fee and equipment taken care of by sponsors and are current on your annual dues and initiation fees, let’s see how much of the almost 20 large will get deposited into your account on Wednesday (that’s the Tour’s “payday”): Even though these are ballpark figures, about a third of your prize winnings will be reduced by obligatory expenses. Guaranteed and non-guaranteed money. A bit surprising, isn’t it? Also, almost all of them prioritize eating a healthy diet. You definitely need an accountant over here because the tax is more complex (50 states, it’s more like 50 countries, tax-wise) than back home in Australia. However, the figure written in bold on the highly coveted check on Sunday isn’t exactly what it purports to be. There’s another few thousand dollars for accountancy costs right there. But consider this: in golf you can make a living being ranked between 300-500 in the world. Conclusion For the game’s bigger names, caddies can earn bonus money on their player’s endorsements. #CrushQuarantine #MonsterEnergy, A post shared by Tiger Woods (@tigerwoods) on Apr 10, 2020 at 1:59pm PDT. An associate’s degree from Professional Golfers Career College is a critically important investment in your future. So practicing golf to become a professional golfer requires an enormous amount of self-discipline to put in the required amount of skill practice as well as rounds on the golf course. Be ready take so much stress. Although it’s difficult to estimate an exact figure, a big factor in ascertaining the costs associated with flying is the city where the tournament is located. In order to compete in pre-qualifying tournaments, the majority of Tour pros cough up $400 as a qualifying fee. For a Top 10 guy, you’re looking north of $3 million and getting close to eight figures for the most marketable players in the world. The two things that are guaranteed in every working American’s life are death and taxes. If you were to ask me what percentage of Aussie golf pros here in the US are living comfortably, I’d summarise it like this: (1) If you’re playing on the mini tours – maybe 2 per cent are living comfortably. He has also spent several years working as a fore-caddy and has travelled the continent playing iconic courses like Pebble Beach, Kapalua, and more. For instance, Bay Hill in Orlando, which is the home of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, is a much easier and inexpensive destination for most of the players to reach, given that the majority of them live in Florida. We all know flying anywhere isn’t cheap, especially if your profession forces you to travel 25-30 weeks out of the year. Combined with the accessibility that has been delivered by the Internet it has become possible for all standards of golfer to buy almost any type of golf club they can think of. What makes golfers different from other major sports athletes? It’s common knowledge that almost all Tour pros have their equipment sponsors pay for their clubs, golf balls, etcetera. Golf is an expensive sport. Of course, minus the one-time initiation fee the average cost of a year of golf in 1915 would be about $120, or $2,788 in 2015 dollars. During the course of his storied career, which has primarily consisted of carrying Tiger’s bag, Steve Williams amassed a net worth of over $20 million! if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-wired2golf_com-medrectangle-3-0')};if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-wired2golf_com-medrectangle-3-0_1')}; .medrectangle-3-multi-111{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:15px !important;margin-left:0px !important;margin-right:0px !important;margin-top:15px !important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;text-align:center !important;}. By now, I hope you have a little bit better of an idea of how much it truly costs to be a professional golfer. Extra “state” tax applies in some regions, too. To become a PGA Member, you must be registered as an Associate & be completing the professional Golf Management Program (PGA PGM) Program. Not bad for a weekend on the course. And too, others will even demand their personal chef travel with them as well. A rule of thumb on most tours is you keep about 30% of what you earn after expenses and taxes. "Similar to other professional industries, golf presents the opportunity to use leadership and entrepreneurship to advance your career. On your journey, even one stroke will cost you lot of advancement. Anthony Kim rode the fast track to the PGA Tour. Every year, Golf Digest lists golf’s top earners, on and off the course. Most peg the cost of a year of professional golf, which includes entry fees into tournaments, at upwards of $50,000, while it isn’t surprising … If you want a guy from the car park to carry your bag you can pay as little as $600 for the week. I know that most players travel routines are different but we like to play 1 in 3 Professional Golf Events internationally so this averages the travel and hotel fees to some $1666.66. Although quite counterintuitive, the general rule on how much a professional should expect to pay is as follows: the lower the level of circuit, the higher the fees/expenses will be. After completing Q-School, players may earn the right to play these circuits such as the Canadian or Latin American Tour. Luckily, since the inception of companies like Airbnb and VRBO, today’s players now have greater flexibility and more options when it comes to where and how close to the course they can stay.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-wired2golf_com-leader-1-0')};if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-wired2golf_com-leader-1-0_1')}; .leader-1-multi-115{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:15px !important;margin-left:0px !important;margin-right:0px !important;margin-top:15px !important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;text-align:center !important;}. if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-wired2golf_com-large-leaderboard-2-0')}; On the flip side, the Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii is highly regarded as one of the most financially burdensome tournaments to travel to. ▪ A logo on the front of a golfer’s hat or on the left breast of his shirt could cost between $250,000 and $2 million annually. It's important to have a good support system in your work place. It may seem counterintuitive, but a player at the top of golf’s food chain doesn’t have to pay an entry fee because expenses for high-profile tournaments are covered by sponsors / TV networks. As many others have pointed out, the margins in golf are not inconsistent with other consumer good segments. You can probably skip the baby golf videos ($16.95, from Brainy Baby) and the plastic golf set ($17.99, from Little Tikes). Best selling author Malcolm Gladwell is famous for his book, Outliers, where he explains something called the 10,000-hour rule. Let me break it down for you: My Weekly Expense Sheet (all prices in US dollars): The average cheque for coming last after making the cut in a tournament is $1,500. And you will “ace” (sorry) the two most important factors in a successful tournament or outing. Becoming a Professional Golfer. If you or someone you know has … Top instructor David Leadbetter's rate was $10,000 for a half-day, and $50,000 and up for a full day of teaching. For those of you still with me and curious as to who finished in last and with what, it was the veteran Carlos Franco who only took home $6,390. Each is $100, which is a nominal amount in comparison to an average player’s salary (we will touch on this later). These expenses can differ depending on where the tournament is located, how far away a player lives from that city and how much luxury the player can afford to travel in. But, players also have to take into consideration the other people in their camp when computing these costs such as their families, coaches, or buddies who want to travel and stay with them. Breaking down all the costs of playing professional golf in North America at any level below the Web.com Tour. Alex is a budding attorney, freelance writer, and golf enthusiast. If you were to ask me what percentage of Aussie golf pros here in the US are living comfortably, I’d summarise it like this: The broad assumption that to be a successful pro you need to be ‘well off’ financially before you start isn’t too far off the mark. The weekly expenses associated with playing professionally often go unseen and unrealized. Here, players can still make a decent living playing golf but haven’t quite achieved elite status. Your initiation fee could range from a couple of thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Become a PGA Golf Professional in United States. Thus, given that they are on the road almost half the year, some will fly their personal trainers out to the course to continue working out with them. the PGA Golf Management University Program The PGM Associate Program To become a PGA Member, you'll need to become a registered Associate before completing the PGA Professional Golf Management (PGA PGM) Program–an award-winning educational program designed for aspiring PGA Professionals that focuses on the People, the Business and the Game. if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-wired2golf_com-box-4-0')}; Keep in mind that entry fees for these smaller regional tournaments create the event’s purse which is why they are usually more expensive to enter. Players planning to play in next season’s 3M Open hosted at TPC Twin Cities will need to rent a car from Minneapolis and drive 45 minutes north to Blaine, Minnesota. Unlike typical professions where the employer will either front the bill or charge the expenses back to the company itself, professional golfers have to pay their own way. I would guess about 15-20 per cent of players make use of this. Teena. No matter the tour or circuit one plays on, all professional golfers must pay for the bulk, if not all, of their own expenses. For those playing on the Korn Ferry or Champions Tours, this fee is set at $100. Members pay between $600 and $700 to enter each tournament while nonmembers pay between $800 and $900. The costs of raising a professional golfer are great, and they start early. However, if you think golf puts a dent in your back pocket, would you believe me if I told you it costs even more to be a professional golfer?if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-wired2golf_com-box-3-0')}; Contrary to popular belief, the financial obligations of a professional golfer can be extremely burdensome. (2) If you’re playing on the Web.com Tour – it’s 50 per cent or less. These “pay-to-play” tournaments are usually situated within a particular region of the country and are extremely hard to make a living off of. I think it can certainly help, especially early on with the purchasing of equipment and teaching. If our player isn’t one of the three percent that will advance through all four stages this year, s/he’ll have to pay the same entry fee on his/her next attempt (ouch). Therefore, I’ll skip over discussing the obligation of paying federal income tax and outline paying taxes at the state level. Depending on the particular state’s tax code combined with the professional golfer’s yearly earnings, this expense could easily exceed all others and be the biggest blow to a player’s paycheck. But most regular bagmen get paid between $800-$1,000 a week with a 5-6 per cent bonus for making cut. Most weeks we get free breakfast and lunch but we’re on our own for dinner. Volume? So, players competing in the Valero Texas Open or those who qualify for the Dell Technologies Match Play don’t have anything to worry about. A tournament’s entry fee is primarily dependent upon the tier of the professional circuit. As much as we all love this game, it’s hard to ignore the final bill as we unwillingly return home after the 19th hole. 1. Though he has never competed professionally, he is a former member of the South Texas Junior PGA Tour and a past winner of the Junior Club Championship at Great Hills Golf Club. There’s generally a 7-8 per cent bonus for a top-10 finish or 10 per cent for a win. For this deal, a player will be obligated to, on average, commit to giving a company three to four appearance/promotional days per year.” Phil Mickelson tips his hat after hitting his second shot on the 14th… For purposes of getting a better understanding of how much it costs to be a professional golfer, we will keep the meat of our discussion within the realm of the PGA Tour. golf strength training routine has many benefits. The real cost of a caddie ... can i become a pro golfer? At 16, he moved to La Quinta, … But consider this: in golf you can make a living being ranked between 300-500 in the world. – Written with Brad Clifton, editor-in-chief, Australian Golf DigestGolfMoneyUndercover ProUS PGA TOURWeb.com Tour. Ideally, you will practice for a minimum of 6 hours per day for a minimum of 5 days. A rule of thumb on most tours is you keep about, of what you earn after expenses and taxes.