Passing the PGA PAT

[Mulligan26]

Who's done it and how many times did it take you? Attempt #3 for me is in August. I really don't want to be on the tour if I can avoid it. Ive entered pre qualifying level and will be testing out into Level 1 ASAP.

[golfandfishing]

Passed 1st attempt in 1999. Shot 145, 31 pars, 2 birdies, 3 bogeys.

 

Attempt #3 is officially the PAT Tour by the way. 1 is required, 2 is acceptable if close to the number on first attempt. Your third entry and you are part of the PAT Tour. Good luck!

[Mulligan26]

Passed 1st attempt in 1999. Shot 145, 31 pars, 2 birdies, 3 bogeys.

 

Attempt #3 is officially the PAT Tour by the way. 1 is required, 2 is acceptable if close to the number on first attempt. Your third entry and you are part of the PAT Tour. Good luck!

 

Well f***... At what point is it acceptable to bag it and go sell cars.

[golfandfishing]

Never if it's what you want to do. I have the utmost respect for the people who work in the golf business. Long hours, unappreciated/unseen efforts, sacrifice every weekend and holiday for barely livable wages in an industry that needs to contract - all for the love of golf. It's something I didn't have enough of to continue, I am grateful that many have chosen to stick with it. Tons of great PGA members were on the PAT Tour.

 

How were your first attempts? Close calls.

[Mulligan26]

First attempt was awful, missed the second by 8. Poor driving by me.

[ferrispgm]

I passed on my 3rd time.....missed it by 1 and 3 on my first and 2nd attempts....mainly due to poor strategy.....play it smart and easy....from the tee, focus on just hitting the fairway in the widest part and leaving any trouble out of play. If there are trees right...tee up on right and aim at the left rough...your goal should be to avoid putting you in a position to chip out or take a penalty shot....from the fairway your goal is and should only be to hit the middle of the green....For me...whatever number I saw on the sprinkler head next to my ball was all I thought about....The pins should mostly be in the middle anyway but focusing on trying to hit my club a certain number took out the mental "hurdle" of going at the pin.....then from there just two putt....just try to get it close speedwise on anything from outside 15 feet. Don't try to hole it just focus on getting the ball to gently roll to the hole, not roll past.

 

The PAT is a mental test more than anything...using my above advice I shot 148 and had the lowest score among anyone on a super windy day when the passing score needed was 155 and only 3 others made it. Just keep it simple and you will be fine....on the days leading up to the PAT, I would focus heavily on putting and short game....I would hit balls for an hour about 4 times per week but would spend about an hour or 1.5 hours each day working on my short game and getting up/down because that can and will really bail you out if your swing decides to leave you for the day and it definitely helped me on a windy day.

 

Good Luck!

[bph7]

Yeh, you've got your card on the third time ;). Anyway, good news is you only have to pass it once, keep at it if that's what you want to do to!

[pinhigh27]

First attempt was awful, missed the second by 8. Poor driving by me.

 

So you missed it by 8 and apparently more than 8 before? Maybe you need to work on your game more..

[Dan Drake]

This was written for another poster in another thread, but I thought I would add it in here.

 

 

There has been some wonderful advice put forth in this thread already. Some of what I type will just be a rehash of that, some is my own personal experience/opinion.

 

A little background about myself. I just recently got into the golf business after 20 years in the hospitality business. When I took my PAT, I was a 3 hcp and it had been 19 years since I had posted a score, all on my own by USGA rules, that counted. I was nervous, but comfortable, for a few reasons and I will try to give you some insight as to why. There are a few dynamics going on during the PAT and I'll try to touch on all of them and explain why it can be so difficult and also give some good advice on how to make it as straightforward as possible.

 

1. Can you shoot the scores? This is the first thing to consider, and it's just that simple. Too many people take the PAT hoping that lighting will strike and it just isn't going to happen. If you can't shoot the score on a similar course setup, don't go. Practice, and get someone in your area to help you, I promise, someone will.

 

2. Pars are your friend, bogeys don't really hurt and birdies are wonderful. Double is really the only number you just have to be concerned with. Do whatever you have to do to not make those. I love the idea of making birdies, I did so on my first hole, an easy par 5. Birdies help immensely, but don't change your normal game just to fire at flags. Same goes the other way, if you are long enough and there isn't a ton of trouble, go for greens in two. BUT, you don't want to be trying to make these decisions on course. Make them before hand. How? Map out the course using Google Earth and come up with a strategy. You know where the tees will be and where the pins will be. Use the measurement tool to find the widest parts of fairways and decide which holes need which clubs off the tee. Some short holes where the yardage "dictates" a long iron off the tee, might be better served hitting driver over everything and some longer holes may have trouble all down one side and playing for a bogey in the both rounds might be the best strategy (I doubt it, but you get the idea). Look at the course from overhead, measure the widest part of each fairway and then measure the distance to the center of the green and back to the tee box you will be using. If those numbers seem reasonable, that is your target off the tee. Super important step.

 

3. Play a practice round using your strategy.

 

There should only be two types of players at this point. Of course there will be the third type, but if they read #1, they will be at home, working on their game. The two types who should be there are: those who are very comfortable shooting the scores needed (former college players, + handicaps, etc.) and then there are those of us who know we can, but aren't sure if we will. I was firmly in the 2nd of these groups.

 

4. Take a "caddie" to walk along with you, IF you have someone who knows your game and personality and can help you make good decisions. BUT, if you are a solitary golfer, go at it alone. For me, I wanted to have my dad there, even as a 35 year old grown up. He played the practice round with me and he walked the first 18 and the last 9 with me. He would have walked all 36, but he's not in the best of shape, bad back, a bit heavy, bad shoulder, heck, he's falling apart!! Oddly enough, I played the best on the 9 when he wasn't there, but he's my golfing partner for life, and if I did anything stupid, he would have made sure that it didn't snowball. Plus, this was the biggest single golf event of my life, and I wanted him there, pass or fail.

 

Now, here's where it get's a bit fiddly. You are supposed to pass, and that's what makes it tough. You have made a decision to forge yourself a career in the golf industry and right off the bat, you are hit with a test that you are supposed to pass. You will have a moment (probably already have, hence the starting of the thread), where you will think about what happens if you don't pass. You wonder what your boss will think. Will it stall your newly chosen career? Will people snicker at you behind your back? You wonder if you are a pressure player and if you fail the first time, will it get in your head and make it difficult to pass on future attempts. Will your parents still love you?!?!?!?!? Okay, maybe not that last bit, but, THIS IS THE REAL HURDLE OF THE PAT. Even the guys who KNOW that they can shoot the number all day, every day, have to clear this hurdle. For them, it's even a bit larger than for the rest of us, because they are better players. For them to fail would mean a total mental breakdown, which is even more embarrassing that simply not being good enough. And again, that knowledge, can cause the mental breakdown! The guy in my group who was most nervous, was the best player in the group! He shot -1 for the two rounds and was a wreck until we got to the last 9, even though he had shot over the target score in probably 5 years, lol.

 

So, how do you address all that? Well, luckily for me, I've had to take 2 similar tests in my hospitality career. I am a Certified Sommelier, but I held the position of Director of Wine at my job BEFORE I passed the certification test. So I have taken 2 tests where I already had the job that corresponded with the test that I was taking, ie. I was supposed to pass, or look like a buffoon. I knew what the pressure was going to be like. So, here are a couple of things you can do that will help you immensely:

 

1. The first and most important is to be prepared. That is what #1 - #4 that I wrote is all about. Practice your game, shots you will need, and play from similar conditions as often as possible leading up to the PAT. Shoot the target score a few times in the weeks leading up to the PAT.

 

2. Second, be comfortable. If the course is more than, say, 1 1/2 hours away, rent a hotel room and stay there the night before. No need to have a wreck on the freeway knock you out of your comfort zone. Just find a reasonable room and get some rest.

 

3. If you are not familiar with the area around the course, PRINT a map of the directions to the course. The last thing you want is to get lost on the way and have a dead cell phone/forgot your charger/whatever.

 

4. Allow for plenty of time that morning and eat a good breakfast, even though you may or may not be hungry. Be as normal as you can be. Maybe don't listen to any heavy metal music on the way to the course, lol.

 

5. Some may or may not agree with this step, but I say to shoot for the "Apprentice registration target score" during the first round. Adding another target score would seem counter intuitive, but here's my reasoning. Shoot that score and it will mentally free you up to play more aggressively during the 2nd round and shoot the total target score. Shoot way under that score and you can just keep your same strategy and be fine. Shoot a little over that score and you know that you can now make small adjustments and hit the number. Shoot way over that and you can freely go flag hunting. Any of the four possibilities allows you to have a positive mindset during the 2nd round. Basically, round one is just a walk in the park. Shoot what you shoot, playing your pre-determined strategy. Then, you can adjust during round two. For me, and everyone else I have ever played with, my "2nd golfer" is a stud. Hit a bad shot? Drop a ball and watch "Bubba" hit a perfect one. Happens almost every time. My "Bubba" is at least a +2, lol. Well, that is how you play your second round. Same tees, same pins, so let "Bubba" hit the shots that you didn't hit as well as you would have liked the first time around. Did you hit a good shot the first time? Use all of those feelings and visualization and do it again. Either way, you should have a ton of positivity going in that 2nd round. You know what you need to shoot. You know which shots you can already hit that day. And you have your "Bubba" to replay the ones that you missed a bit. Go kick the 2nd round's Word not allowed.

 

6. Finally, all that stuff about how you SHOULD pass and can you pass and how many times will it take you and yada, yada, yada? Well, that's what the test is supposed to reveal. And it will. So get comfy with it. That's the point. Everyone there feels the same thing. Don't feel like you are the only one. Embrace the group nature of the tension and swim around in it. Acknowledge the tension. That's the water you wanted to be in, isn't it? Some guys will act cocky, some like they don't care (they may or may not be faking it), some like they are nervous, some will be white as a ghost. You just be calm, comfortable, and composed. You chose this career path, didn't you? You wanted this, you enjoy this, you knew you could do it, and none of that has changed. You may or may not pass on the first try, but you will pass, and pretty quickly. And remember all those "What If" questions from earlier in my diatribe if you don't pass? Well, guess what. Your parents will still love you and everything else can be solved by just going back and passing the next time, so lift that weight off your shoulders.

 

Rod Perry, the 2013 PGA Professional National Champion, took 2 tries to pass his PAT. (Rod will be playing in the P.G.A. Championship again this year, 2016)

 

So, yeah, either way, you're going to be fine.

[Mulligan26]

First attempt was awful, missed the second by 8. Poor driving by me.

 

So you missed it by 8 and apparently more than 8 before? Maybe you need to work on your game more..

 

I'm a 2 index, thanks for the constructive advice.

[Mulligan26]

This was written for another poster in another thread, but I thought I would add it in here.

 

There has been some wonderful advice put forth in this thread already. Some of what I type will just be a rehash of that, some is my own personal experience/opinion.

 

A little background about myself. I just recently got into the golf business after 20 years in the hospitality business. When I took my PAT, I was a 3 hcp and it had been 19 years since I had posted a score, all on my own by USGA rules, that counted. I was nervous, but comfortable, for a few reasons and I will try to give you some insight as to why. There are a few dynamics going on during the PAT and I'll try to touch on all of them and explain why it can be so difficult and also give some good advice on how to make it as straightforward as possible.

 

1. Can you shoot the scores? This is the first thing to consider, and it's just that simple. Too many people take the PAT hoping that lighting will strike and it just isn't going to happen. If you can't shoot the score on a similar course setup, don't go. Practice, and get someone in your area to help you, I promise, someone will.

 

2. Pars are your friend, bogeys don't really hurt and birdies are wonderful. Double is really the only number you just have to be concerned with. Do whatever you have to do to not make those. I love the idea of making birdies, I did so on my first hole, an easy par 5. Birdies help immensely, but don't change your normal game just to fire at flags. Same goes the other way, if you are long enough and there isn't a ton of trouble, go for greens in two. BUT, you don't want to be trying to make these decisions on course. Make them before hand. How? Map out the course using Google Earth and come up with a strategy. You know where the tees will be and where the pins will be. Use the measurement tool to find the widest parts of fairways and decide which holes need which clubs off the tee. Some short holes where the yardage "dictates" a long iron off the tee, might be better served hitting driver over everything and some longer holes may have trouble all down one side and playing for a bogey in the both rounds might be the best strategy (I doubt it, but you get the idea). Look at the course from overhead, measure the widest part of each fairway and then measure the distance to the center of the green and back to the tee box you will be using. If those numbers seem reasonable, that is your target off the tee. Super important step.

 

3. Play a practice round using your strategy.

 

There should only be two types of players at this point. Of course there will be the third type, but if they read #1, they will be at home, working on their game. The two types who should be there are: those who are very comfortable shooting the scores needed (former college players, + handicaps, etc.) and then there are those of us who know we can, but aren't sure if we will. I was firmly in the 2nd of these groups.

 

4. Take a "caddie" to walk along with you, IF you have someone who knows your game and personality and can help you make good decisions. BUT, if you are a solitary golfer, go at it alone. For me, I wanted to have my dad there, even as a 35 year old grown up. He played the practice round with me and he walked the first 18 and the last 9 with me. He would have walked all 36, but he's not in the best of shape, bad back, a bit heavy, bad shoulder, heck, he's falling apart!! Oddly enough, I played the best on the 9 when he wasn't there, but he's my golfing partner for life, and if I did anything stupid, he would have made sure that it didn't snowball. Plus, this was the biggest single golf event of my life, and I wanted him there, pass or fail.

 

Now, here's where it get's a bit fiddly. You are supposed to pass, and that's what makes it tough. You have made a decision to forge yourself a career in the golf industry and right off the bat, you are hit with a test that you are supposed to pass. You will have a moment (probably already have, hence the starting of the thread), where you will think about what happens if you don't pass. You wonder what your boss will think. Will it stall your newly chosen career? Will people snicker at you behind your back? You wonder if you are a pressure player and if you fail the first time, will it get in your head and make it difficult to pass on future attempts. Will your parents still love you?!?!?!?!? Okay, maybe not that last bit, but, THIS IS THE REAL HURDLE OF THE PAT. Even the guys who KNOW that they can shoot the number all day, every day, have to clear this hurdle. For them, it's even a bit larger than for the rest of us, because they are better players. For them to fail would mean a total mental breakdown, which is even more embarrassing that simply not being good enough. And again, that knowledge, can cause the mental breakdown! The guy in my group who was most nervous, was the best player in the group! He shot -1 for the two rounds and was a wreck until we got to the last 9, even though he had shot over the target score in probably 5 years, lol.

 

So, how do you address all that? Well, luckily for me, I've had to take 2 similar tests in my hospitality career. I am a Certified Sommelier, but I held the position of Director of Wine at my job BEFORE I passed the certification test. So I have taken 2 tests where I already had the job that corresponded with the test that I was taking, ie. I was supposed to pass, or look like a buffoon. I knew what the pressure was going to be like. So, here are a couple of things you can do that will help you immensely:

 

1. The first and most important is to be prepared. That is what #1 - #4 that I wrote is all about. Practice your game, shots you will need, and play from similar conditions as often as possible leading up to the PAT. Shoot the target score a few times in the weeks leading up to the PAT.

 

2. Second, be comfortable. If the course is more than, say, 1 1/2 hours away, rent a hotel room and stay there the night before. No need to have a wreck on the freeway knock you out of your comfort zone. Just find a reasonable room and get some rest.

 

3. If you are not familiar with the area around the course, PRINT a map of the directions to the course. The last thing you want is to get lost on the way and have a dead cell phone/forgot your charger/whatever.

 

4. Allow for plenty of time that morning and eat a good breakfast, even though you may or may not be hungry. Be as normal as you can be. Maybe don't listen to any heavy metal music on the way to the course, lol.

 

5. Some may or may not agree with this step, but I say to shoot for the "Apprentice registration target score" during the first round. Adding another target score would seem counter intuitive, but here's my reasoning. Shoot that score and it will mentally free you up to play more aggressively during the 2nd round and shoot the total target score. Shoot way under that score and you can just keep your same strategy and be fine. Shoot a little over that score and you know that you can now make small adjustments and hit the number. Shoot way over that and you can freely go flag hunting. Any of the four possibilities allows you to have a positive mindset during the 2nd round. Basically, round one is just a walk in the park. Shoot what you shoot, playing your pre-determined strategy. Then, you can adjust during round two. For me, and everyone else I have ever played with, my "2nd golfer" is a stud. Hit a bad shot? Drop a ball and watch "Bubba" hit a perfect one. Happens almost every time. My "Bubba" is at least a +2, lol. Well, that is how you play your second round. Same tees, same pins, so let "Bubba" hit the shots that you didn't hit as well as you would have liked the first time around. Did you hit a good shot the first time? Use all of those feelings and visualization and do it again. Either way, you should have a ton of positivity going in that 2nd round. You know what you need to shoot. You know which shots you can already hit that day. And you have your "Bubba" to replay the ones that you missed a bit. Go kick the 2nd round's Word not allowed.

 

6. Finally, all that stuff about how you SHOULD pass and can you pass and how many times will it take you and yada, yada, yada? Well, that's what the test is supposed to reveal. And it will. So get comfy with it. That's the point. Everyone there feels the same thing. Don't feel like you are the only one. Embrace the group nature of the tension and swim around in it. Acknowledge the tension. That's the water you wanted to be in, isn't it? Some guys will act cocky, some like they don't care (they may or may not be faking it), some like they are nervous, some will be white as a ghost. You just be calm, comfortable, and composed. You chose this career path, didn't you? You wanted this, you enjoy this, you knew you could do it, and none of that has changed. You may or may not pass on the first try, but you will pass, and pretty quickly. And remember all those "What If" questions from earlier in my diatribe if you don't pass? Well, guess what. Your parents will still love you and everything else can be solved by just going back and passing the next time, so lift that weight off your shoulders.

 

Rod Perry, the 2013 PGA Professional National Champion, took 2 tries to pass his PAT. (Rod will be playing in the P.G.A. Championship again this year, 2016)

 

So, yeah, either way, you're going to be fine.

 

Thanks for the post man, that was awesome to read from start to finish. This is a mental thing for me. I'm already an Assistant and in the program so yes this is what I want to do. I just don't want to let my boss (and best good buddy) down. A lot of people are pulling for me to pass. Next time I take it I'm going to do my best to be as comfortable as possible and not worry about the pass fail thing. Our head professional at our sister facility took it 6 times before he passed and he's a stick.

[jslane57]

Passed on the first try back in the mid 1990's. But man, the PAT can be a brain f#$% for sure. There is no other time in golf that you are seriously trying not to go high as apposed to trying to smartly go low. Some very good advice on this thread. Don't worry about being on tour, I heard so many great/hilarious stories about the tour that I *almost* wish I had had that chance:) And lastly, your ability to manage a golf facility, run golf tournaments, and teach quality golf lessons has no bearing the number of times it took you to pass the PAT. Good Luck!

[Mulligan26]

Thanks guys, looking forward to the next tour stop

[bph7]

Make some birdies, play aggressive and don't worry another the number. Making just like 4 birdies over the 36 just makes it so much easier than grinding out pars.

[b.helts]

Make sure you play in a tournament or two (or more) before the PAT to get some reps in.

 

I passed first try in early 2000s.

 

Good luck man.

[benclab]

Took me 3 times. First time I was kinda hung over, second time I had the lowest score and no one passed. It was blowing 30 to 40 all day. The third time I made it with ease, 73-73. I hit iron a lot and played safe all day and passed by 9 I think. I used to have an old Ping i3 blade 1 iron and used it on the whole back 9.

[Mulligan26]

That's badass, 1 iron all day for the pass.

 

Anybody in here still an active PGA member?

[Forged4ever]

Fairways & Greens Pins & Cups My Friend,

Richard

[Dan Drake]

That's badass, 1 iron all day for the pass.

 

Anybody in here still an active PGA member?

 

Still, lol. I was just elected last week!

[spro]

Passed on #1. IMO if you can shoot the target score playing your game- do that! (Don't go out and hit irons off every tee if you're used to hitting driver). Playing an unfamiliar strategy will only make you more uncomfortable, again IMO.

[bruinsPATSirish]

That's badass, 1 iron all day for the pass.

 

Anybody in here still an active PGA member?

 

Still, lol. I was just elected last week!

 

Yes sir

 

 

Took me three tries.

 

First: Hit the ball great, couldn't putt my way out of a brown paper bag. Missed by 2

 

Second: One of the easiest courses I have ever played and went conservative off almost every tee. Didn't play my game and missed a lot of shots. Missed the number by 5+

 

Third: Said screw it and played aggressive as hell (like I usually do) and had 6 extra shots to play with on the 36th hole. Hit drivers and made an eagle and 5 birdies in the 36 holes. Made a few boges but it didn't matter.

 

My advice: play your game. Don't try and shoot a number. What is the goal every other time you peg it? TO SHOOT YOUR BEST SCORE! Just do that! Prepare yourself for the course and for the day. Practice, practice, practice. Get your short game sharp and mentally just let it go and play some golf.

[Forged4ever]

I look at Playing "conservatively" intentionally to playing the prevent defense in football.

 

Why would a defense play differently with the lead and two minutes on the clock than they did to get that lead and had Played for 58 minutes?????

 

If you are not conservative by nature and you are an aggressive Player, WhyTF would you, under the most intense pressure that you have ever Played under, and the highest stakes to date, your livelihood, go with a mindset and mentality that is foreign to you????

 

Trust me here and no I've never Played the PAT however I'm willing to be that for most, "conservative" leads to tentative and doubt, and nothing will destroy a swing, game or score more than uncertainty and doubt.

 

Hell, you'd be lucky to hit quality shots off a mat on the line with that mentality and mindset.

 

Under the pressure of Playing for your livelihood and professional future???

 

LMAO, yea, lemme know how that works out for ya ;)

 

Play YOUR game-

 

The game that got ya to that tee!!!

 

The best to All, you're the heart and soul of our game!!

 

My Best,

RP

 

[jslane57]

I look at Playing "conservatively" intentionally to playing the prevent defense in football.

 

Why would a defense play differently with the lead and two minutes on the clock than they did to get that lead and had Played for 58 minutes?????

 

If you are not conservative by nature and you are an aggressive Player, WhyTF would you, under the most intense pressure that you have ever Played under, and the highest stakes to date, your livelihood, go with a mindset and mentality that is foreign to you????

 

Trust me here and no I've never Played the PAT however I'm willing to be that for most, "conservative" leads to tentative and doubt, and nothing will destroy a swing, game or score more than uncertainty and doubt.

 

Hell, you'd be lucky to hit quality shots off a mat on the line with that mentality and mindset.

 

Under the pressure of Playing for your livelihood and professional future???

 

LMAO, yea, lemme know how that works out for ya ;)

 

Play YOUR game-

 

The game that got ya to that tee!!!

 

The best to All, you're the heart and soul of our game!!

 

My Best,

RP

You're correct. You got to be yourself. I like the idea of a Conservative game plan, and an aggressive swing. The PAT is just a different animal, you can't really flirt with risk/reward.

[nikegal]

I look at Playing "conservatively" intentionally to playing the prevent defense in football.

 

Why would a defense play differently with the lead and two minutes on the clock than they did to get that lead and had Played for 58 minutes?????

 

If you are not conservative by nature and you are an aggressive Player, WhyTF would you, under the most intense pressure that you have ever Played under, and the highest stakes to date, your livelihood, go with a mindset and mentality that is foreign to you????

 

Trust me here and no I've never Played the PAT however I'm willing to be that for most, "conservative" leads to tentative and doubt, and nothing will destroy a swing, game or score more than uncertainty and doubt.

 

Hell, you'd be lucky to hit quality shots off a mat on the line with that mentality and mindset.

 

Under the pressure of Playing for your livelihood and professional future???

 

LMAO, yea, lemme know how that works out for ya ;)

 

Play YOUR game-

 

The game that got ya to that tee!!!

 

The best to All, you're the heart and soul of our game!!

 

My Best,

RP

Conservative game plan, aggressive swing.

I would definitely agree if your normal "game plan" is conservative. If your normal game plan is a more aggressive style, while you don't want to go pin hunting for sucker pins, and we did not have any that I would call true sucker pins, I feel that you should Play whatever style that allows you to Play without thinking or going counter to your normal Playing style. That being said, if one starts out and is "fighting it" and not on their "A" game then obviously they would be wise to just Play for fairways and greens and stay away from trouble. I do not believe that there is a universal game plan any more than their is a universal correct way to swing or a single club to swing. It is such an individual thing. My only advice is to stick to your PSR, manage your misses, and while you may not be swinging like a Pro that day, THINK like one. I wish you all the very best :) Fondly, Maddie

[jslane57]

I look at Playing "conservatively" intentionally to playing the prevent defense in football.

 

Why would a defense play differently with the lead and two minutes on the clock than they did to get that lead and had Played for 58 minutes?????

 

If you are not conservative by nature and you are an aggressive Player, WhyTF would you, under the most intense pressure that you have ever Played under, and the highest stakes to date, your livelihood, go with a mindset and mentality that is foreign to you????

 

Trust me here and no I've never Played the PAT however I'm willing to be that for most, "conservative" leads to tentative and doubt, and nothing will destroy a swing, game or score more than uncertainty and doubt.

 

Hell, you'd be lucky to hit quality shots off a mat on the line with that mentality and mindset.

 

Under the pressure of Playing for your livelihood and professional future???

 

LMAO, yea, lemme know how that works out for ya ;)

 

Play YOUR game-

 

The game that got ya to that tee!!!

 

The best to All, you're the heart and soul of our game!!

 

My Best,

RP

Conservative game plan, aggressive swing.

I would definitely agree if your normal "game plan" is conservative. If your normal game plan is a more aggressive style, while you don't want to go pin hunting for sucker pins, and we did not have any that I would call true sucker pins, I feel that you should Play whatever style that allows you to Play without thinking or going counter to your normal Playing style. That being said, if one starts out and is "fighting it" and not on their "A" game then obviously they would be wise to just Play for fairways and greens and stay away from trouble. I do not believe that their is a universal game plan any more than their is a universal correct way to swing or a single club to swing. It is such an individual thing. My only advice is to stick to your PSR, manage your misses, and while you may not be swinging like a Pro that day, THINK like on. I wish you all the very best :) Fondly, Maddie

Hah. I was editing my short, brief, and somewhat flippant response while you were typing. I hope this guy passes the PAT! I know he is getting good mojo from all the posters on this thread!

[PutterKilledTheDream]

This is a bit of theater IMO. I can't imagine sections are all that different, but the courses are typically very easy, set up easy, and there certainly aren't any sucker pins. You get to chose where you want to take the PAT in advance so there's plenty of time for practice rounds to familiarize yourself with the layout. Some of these posts make it sound like this is some extreme high-pressure diabolical test.... it's not.

 

Be honest with yourself, the state of your game, and play your game. If you don't hit the number the first go, try again. There's no limits so other than the pressure you put on yourself it's really not as big a deal as some here are making it.

[jslane57]

This is a bit of theater IMO. I can't imagine sections are all that different, but the courses are typically very easy, set up easy, and there certainly aren't any sucker pins. You get to chose where you want to take the PAT in advance so there's plenty of time for practice rounds to familiarize yourself with the layout. Some of these posts make it sound like this is some extreme high-pressure diabolical test.... it's not.

 

Be honest with yourself, the state of your game, and play your game. If you don't hit the number the first go, try again. There's no limits so other than the pressure you put on yourself it's really not as big a deal as some here are making it.

Yes, and no. If your game is good enough to think about mini-tours, place in Pro-ams, make the cut at the state open...yeah, the PAT is easy stuff. But there are plenty of folks who want to manage golf facilities, run tournaments, and truly love the game, that want to be class A PGA members. Some of which have to have a very special day to pass the PAT. A couple of the best pro-shop employees I've ever met left the business because they just never could quite pass the PAT...

[isaacbm]

I look at Playing "conservatively" intentionally to playing the prevent defense in football.

 

Why would a defense play differently with the lead and two minutes on the clock than they did to get that lead and had Played for 58 minutes?????

 

If you are not conservative by nature and you are an aggressive Player, WhyTF would you, under the most intense pressure that you have ever Played under, and the highest stakes to date, your livelihood, go with a mindset and mentality that is foreign to you????

 

Trust me here and no I've never Played the PAT however I'm willing to be that for most, "conservative" leads to tentative and doubt, and nothing will destroy a swing, game or score more than uncertainty and doubt.

 

Hell, you'd be lucky to hit quality shots off a mat on the line with that mentality and mindset.

 

Under the pressure of Playing for your livelihood and professional future???

 

LMAO, yea, lemme know how that works out for ya ;)

 

Play YOUR game-

 

The game that got ya to that tee!!!

 

The best to All, you're the heart and soul of our game!!

 

My Best,

RP

I agree! Play your game. I passed mine in 94 on the first try. I was a cocky, full of myself kid. I played a practice round and the course seemed like a pitch and putt to me. My goal was to be low man!

 

Super non passive brag alert:

I shot 62,64 and a member at my club said "if I see you folding shirts around here with the ability to shoot those scores, I'm going to smack you!" So he got 10 guys together to raise some money for me to go out on the road. You never know where things can lead. Just be yourself and play your normal game.

[pinhigh27]

This is a bit of theater IMO. I can't imagine sections are all that different, but the courses are typically very easy, set up easy, and there certainly aren't any sucker pins. You get to chose where you want to take the PAT in advance so there's plenty of time for practice rounds to familiarize yourself with the layout. Some of these posts make it sound like this is some extreme high-pressure diabolical test.... it's not.

 

Be honest with yourself, the state of your game, and play your game. If you don't hit the number the first go, try again. There's no limits so other than the pressure you put on yourself it's really not as big a deal as some here are making it.

Yes, and no. If your game is good enough to think about mini-tours, place in Pro-ams, make the cut at the state open...yeah, the PAT is easy stuff. But there are plenty of folks who want to manage golf facilities, run tournaments, and truly love the game, that want to be class A PGA members. Some of which have to have a very special day to pass the PAT. A couple of the best pro-shop employees I've ever met left the business because they just never could quite pass the PAT...

 

Meh for a scratch with any tourney experience it should be easy . 99 % of the problems with PAT I see are people not being honest about their cap and playing ability. If you're shooting 78s with your buddies at average muni you probably aren't gonna do well on PAT

[PutterKilledTheDream]

This is a bit of theater IMO. I can't imagine sections are all that different, but the courses are typically very easy, set up easy, and there certainly aren't any sucker pins. You get to chose where you want to take the PAT in advance so there's plenty of time for practice rounds to familiarize yourself with the layout. Some of these posts make it sound like this is some extreme high-pressure diabolical test.... it's not.

 

Be honest with yourself, the state of your game, and play your game. If you don't hit the number the first go, try again. There's no limits so other than the pressure you put on yourself it's really not as big a deal as some here are making it.

Yes, and no. If your game is good enough to think about mini-tours, place in Pro-ams, make the cut at the state open...yeah, the PAT is easy stuff. But there are plenty of folks who want to manage golf facilities, run tournaments, and truly love the game, that want to be class A PGA members. Some of which have to have a very special day to pass the PAT. A couple of the best pro-shop employees I've ever met left the business because they just never could quite pass the PAT...

This is my opinion only of course, but those folks don't need PGA credentials to run pro shops. A business degree grad would be better suited. The PGA accreditation should, IMO, at the very least be more specialized toward the teaching aspect of the game, and a guy who can't break 80 in back-to-back rounds on a 6000 yd public track has no business teaching. Flame away..,,,