Interesting article on what could be the 1st million dollar trained junior

[prov1derrick]

http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/news;_ylt...o&type=lgns

 

Can we discuss without the typical haterade please.

the writer recently wrote the following book.

Driven: Teen Phenoms, Mad Parents, Swing Science, and the Future of Golf

[soundofatrain]

good article.

[ryanandrew_golf]

Thanks, nice read. While it would be nice to be one of those rich kids I know it isn't mandatory. As my Dad told me a few years ago "We can't out spend them but you can out work them".

 

And yes, I know if you look at my WITB them you will think I'm one of those rich kids but my Dad has sacrificed a lot to give me this opportunity...

[Cbey77]

You know, my wife and I were talking about this the other day after watching School of Golf. The money that these parents pay is crazy (as in a lot). I just didn't get the idea of spending that type of money to play college golf. Seems like you could just pay college tuition and walk on a team. And just because you play college golf doesn't mean that you will go pro.

 

As it is, bottom line, kids that want it will get it. I'm not knocking the families that spend that type of money to turn their kids into the next big thing. I'll tell you this, give me a kid with some talent and strong loving parents and I'll show you a kid that will achieve more than any kid with an entourage of swing gurus and head guys.

 

I've coached and ran track at high levels and trained kids that went on play college sports. And the ones that won and achieved were the ones that had a loving family (however you define it), some talent, and hated to lose more than they loved to win. You can't coach that. You can't buy that. Just my thoughts

[prov1derrick]

yikes! the wrong way to fund your sons golf.

Hawaii golfer Tadd Fujikawa's father indicted in meth trafficking

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbc...D=2008809050363

[jszot]

Im 16 and Im a 2.7 handicap and people ask me why I dont want to become pro and I say im not good enough. People dont realize how good you have to be to become a pro. s*** like this is just completely insane.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Very interesting and eye opening read.

My take is that while you may be able to "buy" a golf game with all the high end coaches sports psychologists, and become a great golfer that way.

I'll put my money on the kid that bareley has enough funds to get by, but is driven beyond belief to succeded at golf, As long as the natural talent is there, when one of these kids comes along that has the mental fortitude to handle the mental ups and downs of this game and the desire to win and improve watch out world.

 

You can swing the club better than anyone else but if you cant hack it in here---> :swoon2: <-- Its going to be a long road up the Jr/college/pro levels.

 

These kids that have all this money invested in their game by their parents seem to flame out after A:) they realize that their love of the game isnt as much as it used to be. B) Once they get to a level where they are no longer the top dog it messes with them mentaly. C) The shear pressure of the expectations that have been placed on them bears a burden they can no longer handle.

 

I dont want to sound like I am trying to flame rich kids that have the opportunity for these levels of coaching, If their parents can afford it and thats what they want in life great, Just dont force it on them. However I do tend to appreciate the self starters, guys like Boo Weekley etc.

 

I had the privlege to meet and play a few holes with Tiger when he was at Stanford when I lived in the Bay Area and attended their Summer golf Camp for high school kids, I had no Idea who it was at the time but you could just tell by watching him play that he was going to go far. Just the shear amount of drive he had was unreal. It seemed that it was just him putting the pressure on himself to succeed its like he could just turn off the outside influences.

[lhsgolfer2]

how many current PGA Tour Members went to a golf academty to learn the game?

[Cub]

how many current PGA Tour Members went to a golf academty to learn the game?

 

That's a good question. Off the top of my head I can only think of sean o hair and charles howell. If you look at all the top players in the world right now, most of them didn't come from a lot money and didn't have someone watching them all day.

 

Tiger- read his biography. During his early junior days he sometimes wouldn't be able to play a practice round but still beat the other kids.

 

Phil- practiced the short game in his backyard all day to be as good as he is now.

 

Vijay- Had to walk 5 miles or something like that to hit balls.

 

Ernie- after high school joined the army for 2 years before turning pro.

 

But even for the really good kids coming up now there are a lot that didn't go to an academy like rickie fowler, jaime lovemark, and philip francis. These are kids that definately would've been able to go to an academy but chose not to and they seem to be doing all right.

[epixep]

You know, my wife and I were talking about this the other day after watching School of Golf. The money that these parents pay is crazy (as in a lot). I just didn't get the idea of spending that type of money to play college golf. Seems like you could just pay college tuition and walk on a team. And just because you play college golf doesn't mean that you will go pro.

 

As it is, bottom line, kids that want it will get it. I'm not knocking the families that spend that type of money to turn their kids into the next big thing. I'll tell you this, give me a kid with some talent and strong loving parents and I'll show you a kid that will achieve more than any kid with an entourage of swing gurus and head guys.

 

I've coached and ran track at high levels and trained kids that went on play college sports. And the ones that won and achieved were the ones that had a loving family (however you define it), some talent, and hated to lose more than they loved to win. You can't coach that. You can't buy that. Just my thoughts

 

Hated to lose MORE than they wanted to win?

 

That's not good golf psychology.

 

;D

 

Anyways, I agree that these academies aren't necessary to become a world-class player. A kid with a stable family and a backyard bunker might come out of nowhere. Although, I don't think we'll see anyone quite like Tiger - I think we will see players (me...) as dominant as him... which is scary.

[epixep]

how many current PGA Tour Members went to a golf academty to learn the game?

 

That's a good question. Off the top of my head I can only think of sean o hair and charles howell. If you look at all the top players in the world right now, most of them didn't come from a lot money and didn't have someone watching them all day.

 

Tiger- read his biography. During his early junior days he sometimes wouldn't be able to play a practice round but still beat the other kids.

 

Phil- practiced the short game in his backyard all day to be as good as he is now.

 

Vijay- Had to walk 5 miles or something like that to hit balls.

 

Ernie- after high school joined the army for 2 years before turning pro.

 

But even for the really good kids coming up now there are a lot that didn't go to an academy like rickie fowler, jaime lovemark, and philip francis. These are kids that definately would've been able to go to an academy but chose not to and they seem to be doing all right.

 

Most of the college player you mentioned might as well have gone to an academy. Francis for example was home-schooled from 9th grade on and just trained all day at DM. There are ways to get oneself as emerged into golf at home as at an academy.

 

Personally - if I stayed at home and trained for the next year, other things would impede my golf. Being away from some friends, the partying, the late-night injury prone basketball, and all that is really, really good for my game.

[Asleep]

“Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course...the space between your ears.” --- Bobby Jones

[jszot]

how many current PGA Tour Members went to a golf academty to learn the game?

 

That's a good question. Off the top of my head I can only think of sean o hair and charles howell. If you look at all the top players in the world right now, most of them didn't come from a lot money and didn't have someone watching them all day.

 

Tiger- read his biography. During his early junior days he sometimes wouldn't be able to play a practice round but still beat the other kids.

 

Phil- practiced the short game in his backyard all day to be as good as he is now.

 

Vijay- Had to walk 5 miles or something like that to hit balls.

 

Ernie- after high school joined the army for 2 years before turning pro.

 

But even for the really good kids coming up now there are a lot that didn't go to an academy like rickie fowler, jaime lovemark, and philip francis. These are kids that definately would've been able to go to an academy but chose not to and they seem to be doing all right.

 

That whole thing about ernie is mandatory in south africa. That wasnt by choice.