how to get on a golf mini tour

How do Mini Tour golfers travel between tournaments?

The mini tour player’s vehicle is their predominant mode of transportation. Driving for 8-to-10 hours between tournaments or Monday qualifiers is nothing new. Your vehicle will even double as your bed on some nights. One time I had to sleep in the back of my two-door Honda Civic in a hotel parking lot in Iowa because all the hotels were sold out.

Where do mini tour players stay?

Here’s the deal, though: mini tour players normally stay at the Motel 8 or Quality Inn across the street for half the price, then casually walk across the street to enjoy a nice warm cinnamon roll. Sorry, Holiday Inn. Oh yeah, mini tour players tee it up in big cities all the time like Miami, Okla., Morganton, NC and Hawkinsville, Ga.

Do you look at a PGA Tour leaderboard and remember mini tours?

The next time you look at a PGA tour leaderboard, remember most of them started their professional golf career on the mini tours.

What is the mode of transportation for mini tour players?

The mini tour player’s vehicle is their predominant mode of transportation. Driving for 8-to-10 hours between tournaments or Monday qualifiers is nothing new. Your vehicle will even double as your bed on some nights.

How do you get on the golf tour?

How to Become a PGA Tour PlayerStep 1: Get Really Good. You might be thinking, duh, of course. ... Step 2: Compete in Amateur Events. ... Step 3: Give Up Your Amateur Status and Go Pro. ... Step 4: Go to Q-School. ... Step 5: Compete on the Korn Ferry Tour. ... Step 6: Become a PGA Tour Player. ... Step 7: Stay on the PGA Tour.

How much does a minor league golfer make?

PlayerRankEarningsSunny Kim1$327,616.48Jimmy Lytle2$229,523.04Steve LeBrun3$215,021.51Eric Cole4$181,572.17153 more rows

What is a golf mini tour?

Mini tour tournaments are held year-round in Florida, Arizona and Southern California for players to tee it up. A large percentage of players work in the off-season at golf courses in some capacity, either as a caddy or in the bag room or pro shop to make ends meet.

How do I get a PGA Tour card?

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.

What is the lowest paid PGA player?

What about the lowest-paid players? 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.

How do I start a career in golf?

Here is how to start a career in golf if you want to become a professional golfer:Start as early as you can. ... Get golf lessons. ... Practice everything. ... Join a golf club. ... Sharpen your competitive edge in college. ... Go to “Q-School” – the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. ... Start entering pro tournaments. ... Get your PGA Tour card.

Can you make money playing mini golf?

In business terms, mini golf courses are cheap to run, with very few staff required and low equipment costs. Mini golf courses are profitable because they: attract all age groups. are cheap to run – low staffing needs of 1 or 2 people.

What does Liv mean golf?

LIV Golf (/lɪv/) is a professional golf tour financed by the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia. The name LIV is a reference to the Roman numeral for 54, the score if every hole on a par-72 course were birdied and the number of holes to be played at LIV events.

How do you qualify for the Nationwide Tour?

How to become a new Nationwide Tour memberFinish within the top 80 and ties at the annual Qualifying Tournament (top 30 receive their PGA TOUR cards.) The next Number Nearest 50 receive exempt Nationwide Tour cards. ... Win an official Nationwide Tour event.Finish 26-60 on prior year Nationwide Tour money list.

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.

Who is the oldest golfer to turn pro?

Allen DoyleThe Oldest Rookies Ever on the PGA Tour: Two 47-Year-Olds These the oldest and next-oldest first-year players in tour history: Allen Doyle: Was 47 years, 5 months, 6 days old when he started his rookie year in 1996. Jim Rutledge: Was 47 years, 4 months, 6 days old when he started his rookie season in 2007.

What handicap do you need to turn pro?

For a golfer to turn professional, they would usually have a handicap of between +4 and +6 as an amateur, as this would get to the entry-level ability for the pro tours. To be a pro, you'd need to shoot around three over par as a maximum playing on a championship course!

Where are mini tour tournaments held?

Mini tour tournaments are held year-round in Florida, Arizona and Southern California for players to tee it up. A large percentage of players work in the off-season at golf courses in some capacity, either as a caddy or in the bag room or pro shop to make ends meet.

Do players get free equipment?

The majority of players order equipment at a discount price, while others receive it for free. The players who receive free equipment normally have some kind deal where they’re required to carry a certain number of clubs.

Do mini tour players get a hotel room?

Mini tour players have to do what they’ve got to do to make ends meet, but low scores normally allow them to get them a hotel room. Maybe that’s why I don’t play anymore… that score thing kind of matters. What I do know is that most recreational golfers and even some top-level amateurs don’t know a lot about the life of a mini tour player ...

How many rounds does Jimmy Jones play a month?

His concept was and still is, you can work and still have the opportuntity to play 10-12 competitive rounds per month. Jimmy Jones won a dozen MLGT events before becoming the Tournament Director from 2007-14. Starting in 2010 the tour was known as The FuZion Minor League Golf Tour.

Is minor league golf for you?

But if you have a limited supply of funds, Minor League Golf is for you. The Minor League Golf Plan For Your Career. EVERY PLAYER that has earned status on the Web.com or PGA Tour that has played in at least 10 Minor League Golf Events has earned more than their entry fees. Not some, not most, EVERY PLAYER.

Who is the NGA Hooters Tour?

NGA Hooters Tour. This is the top tour golfers flock to who want to eventually qualify for the PGA tour. The NGA Hooters tour was founded in 1988 by T.C. "Rick" Jordan, and golfers like Jim Furyk, David Toms, Zach Johnson and Lee Janzen all graduated from the Hooters tour to the PGA tour.

How many events were on the Gateway Tour in 2008?

The Gateway Tour ran 71 events in the 2008 golf season, including its four major events that paid out $1.1 million in prize money. Founded by former Arizona State golfer Chris Stutts, the Gateway tour gives the post-college aspiring pros a chance to develop their talents and still make a good living.

Is the PGA Tour exclusive?

The PGA Tour is a very exclusive place to make a living. Only the best 200-plus golfers in the world can earn a spot to play regularly. However, younger and less experienced golfers are not necessarily shut out because they haven't qualified to play in the top events on the PGA tour. There are satellite tours and mini-tours ...

IGT Big Easy Tour

In South Africa, the IGT Big Easy Tour is the official developmental Tour of the Sunshine Tour.

PGA EuroPro Tour

Launched in 2002, the EuroPro Tour gives up-and-coming European golfers a platform to showcase their skills and play their way on to the Challenge Tour. It’s also had a few South Africans come through the ranks, including Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Thomas Aiken and Branden Grace. Notable graduates: Tyrrell Hatton (below), Tommy Fleetwood.

Bushveld Tour

Another local developmental Tour, the Bushveld Tour offers one-day (18-hole) tournaments for amateurs and professionals. Entry fees are in the region of R1 000, meaning players need to realistically finish in the top 10 to cover their costs, which is a pretty solid grounding for life on the bigger Tours. Notable graduates: Jacques Blaauw

Pro Golf Tour

The Pro Golf Tour is one of four official satellite tours in Europe recognised by the DP World Tour as a gateway to the Challenge Tour, with the top five players at the end of the season earning their Challenge Tour cards.

Alps Tour

Another satellite Tour that leads to the Challenge Tour, the Alps Tour was launched in Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland in 2001. While the countries involved may have changed over the years, the basic premise has not. Notable graduates: Matt Wallace, Adri Arnaus

PGA Tour Latinoamerica, Mackenzie Tour, Forme Tour

In 2011, the PGA Tour took over the running of the Tour de las Americas, rebranding it as the PGA Tour Latinoamerica. A year later the PGA Tour took the reins of the Canadian Tour and it was renamed the Mackenzie Tour in 2015 as part of a sponsorship agreement.

Symetra Tour

Formerly known as the LPGA Futures Tour, the Symetra Tour is seen as the official qualifying Tour for the LPGA Tour. With over 20 events and in excess of $3-million in prize money, it is a great breeding ground for the next generation of LPGA stars.