Perhaps we all didn’t take a scythe to the marigolds and do a running commentary on a Masters fantasy, but we may have stood over a curling 4-footer on the 18th green of the local muni in the twilight and have the internal play-by-play running through our head.
All pros were once amateurs. All pros were once dreamers.
Watching a major golf tournament’s last few holes during the final round on a Sunday, we may wonder what it would be like to walk up the 18th fairway with a chance to be a champion.
Becoming a pro for almost all is aspirational; for a very few it is motivational.
Golf is one of the few sports where the path to pro can truly be driven by individual effort and one where hard work can be tested competitively at any age, at any time, and against nearly any level of ability.
Simply, amateurs can compete against pros on (literally) the same playing field — sometimes maybe even that same local muni where childhood dreams were born.
Watching a professional basketball game, the possibility of my playing on the same court against Michael Jordan was nil. However, with practice and hard work, I could qualify as an amateur for the US Open golf championship and find myself paired with Tiger Woods on Sunday.
Remote possibility — but I’m saying there is a chance!
With any passion or dream, the key is to simply turn the key, tee it up, and start driving (mix your metaphors!). You may never share the fairway with the pros, but if you find yourself asked to complete an afternoon foursome with Michael Jordan you’ll be prepared to play your best and fulfill another dream.
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esports finds many parallels to golf in the path-to-pro potential: Practice, compete, learn, repeat, and advance.
Amateur days fueled innovation like putting with a 3-wood.
Amateurs were once more admired and pros dismissed as golf was their “hobby” and not necessarily their passion.
