Club Pros deserve every spot they get in PGA Championship

[3whacker]

The Championship is put on by the PGA...they should put as many players as they want playing in THEIR tournament, the PLAYERS have their own tournament

[smashdn]

> @Texsport said:

> The PGA is totally disrespecting club pros with their repositioning the PGA Professional Championship to May. At the same time, they moved the PGA Club Championship - the tournament in which club pros qualify for the PGA Championship - to April!

>

> Many, many courses in the northern part of the country are not even open for the season yet. This April date virtually eliminates northern pros from having a realistic chance to qualify, since many haven't hit a single shot since September or October the previous year - 7 months! Obviously, the PGA Club Professional Championship should be in the fall, when every qualifier has an even chance!

>

> RIdiculously bad treatment of those members, and arguably reduces the quality of club pros playing at the PGA Championship.

>

> Additionally, playing the PGA Championship in cold weather is short changing everyone. I certainly hope they reposition future PGAs to warmer locations.

 

+++++ I said the same thing. Guys in the northern tier of the country's courses are just waking up. They and their assistant pros are trying to get Dr. Smellman's slice under control before he makes his spring break buddies trip to Boca while the tour guys have been going since... well they have the opportunity to not stop playing tournament golf all year round with the wrap-around season.

 

I don't know what the immediate answer is. The pro/tournament game has changed. 70 years ago club pros were touring pros to a greater extent than today. You had to. You couldn't make enough money as a tour pro unless you were winning. You just couldn't afford to travel. Now it is different. T20 a few tournaments in the year and you certainly won't go hungry.

 

I liked the PGA when it was at Southern Hills in August and guys shoes were filling with sweat.

[disco111]

> @3whacker said:

> The Championship is put on by the PGA...they should put as many players as they want playing in THEIR tournament, the PLAYERS have their own tournament

 

As you pointed out, it's their tournament. But the question, at least for me remains, why are they being limited to only 20 spots? So it's a major and those 20 spots are not available to 20 tour players that make their living by playing, not giving lessons and selling stuff. The saying goes "catch lightning in a bottle" and that can happen for a tour player at any time, because he's constantly playing, but for a club pro it should be "catch the whole thunderstorm in a bucket", for he's not playing all the time. Even if he happens to be playing "all" the time, if his game was good enough, he'd be out there on tour and then he's a tour player and not a club pro any longer. Here's a question to ponder, why can't the Players offer up some spots for the club pros? Wouldn't that be quid pro quo................

[TheInfidel]

> @BNGL said:

> The real question is should we start giving PGA pros spots in the Ryder Cup....since you know the PGA puts that on as well.

Some of them would have hit a shed tonne more fairways in Paris than Phil!

[golfandfishing]

I worked for a guy that played in the 1969 PGA at NCR country club. He was the group in front of Palmer and said he was certain that he was going to kill someone on the first tee.

 

> @wmblake2000 said:

> I have a friend who qualified for PGA back in the day. It was one of Arnie's last times to play the PGA. My friend said the biggest thing was hitting a tee ball with the fairways lined with people. It was a total buzz. He finished next to DFL in missing the cut. Arnie finished DFL. My pal can always say "I beat Arnold Palmer."

 

 

[KMeloney]

> @JAMH03 said:

>

>

 

Did Google Translate spit this out?

 

 

[legitimategolf]

If anything, there should be more PGA pro's in the field! Fill it up! As someone else pointed out, the PGA Tour has their own tournament, the Players Championship. Why should they get so many spots in the PGA of A's own tournament? What have they done to bring new people into the game? etc.

 

They could put like 70 PGA pros in the PGA Championship and it would still be a stronger field than the Masters!

[DavePelz4]

> @legitimategolf said:

> If anything, there should be more PGA pro's in the field! Fill it up! As someone else pointed out, the PGA Tour has their own tournament, the Players Championship. Why should they get so many spots in the PGA of A's own tournament? What have they done to bring new people into the game? etc.

>

> They could put like 70 PGA pros in the PGA Championship and it would still be a stronger field than the Masters!

 

But...there is already the PGA Pro Club Championship.

[legitimategolf]

> @DavePelz4 said:

> > @legitimategolf said:

> > If anything, there should be more PGA pro's in the field! Fill it up! As someone else pointed out, the PGA Tour has their own tournament, the Players Championship. Why should they get so many spots in the PGA of A's own tournament? What have they done to bring new people into the game? etc.

> >

> > They could put like 70 PGA pros in the PGA Championship and it would still be a stronger field than the Masters!

>

> But...there is already the PGA Pro Club Championship.

 

Yeah but these guys work so hard. They deserve the opportunity to tee it up alongside the likes of Tiger and Phil. It is the least we can do for them.

[manku]

Don't really know what the PGA pros do...run an overpriced pro shop? or help put together some member/guests at a high end club? a couple lessons for Al Czervik? I learned how to play at a 9 hole college course..was right behind my room senior year...50 cents a round, and I don't believe they had a PGA pro. Didn't affect my passion for the game.

Seems to me that the maintenance crew has a lot more to do with my enjoyment of a course than the pro...why don't they get spots!

PS. Having said that, I really don't care one way or the other. All PGA events are background television until Sunday afternoon...by which time the club pros will be long gone.

[BNGL]

 

 

> @manku said:

> Don't really know what the PGA pros do...run an overpriced pro shop? or help put together some member/guests at a high end club? a couple lessons for Al Czervik? I learned how to play at a 9 hole college course..was right behind my room senior year...50 cents a round, and I don't believe they had a PGA pro. Didn't affect my passion for the game.

> Seems to me that the maintenance crew has a lot more to do with my enjoyment of a course than the pro...why don't they get spots!

> PS. Having said that, I really don't care one way or the other. All PGA events are background television until Sunday afternoon...by which time the club pros will be long gone.

 

Hell yes let’s gets some sups in there!!!

 

[BNGL]

> @"Darth Putter" said:

> > @BNGL said:

> > The real question is should we start giving PGA pros spots in the Ryder Cup....since you know the PGA puts that on as well.

>

> They couldn't do worse.

>

> I'll call up Coach Mike Small and see if wants to be Captain.

 

I know a couple guys that if you gave them a month to practice and play competitively, they wouldn’t look out of place. Not saying they’d win, but definitely have the game to play. Both are past club pro champions, state open champions, played high level tour golf (5-6 events per year and perennial PGA qualifiers).

 

[buckeyefl]

> @manku said:

> Don't really know what the PGA pros do...run an overpriced pro shop? or help put together some member/guests at a high end club? a couple lessons for Al Czervik? I learned how to play at a 9 hole college course..was right behind my room senior year...50 cents a round, and I don't believe they had a PGA pro. Didn't affect my passion for the game.

> Seems to me that the maintenance crew has a lot more to do with my enjoyment of a course than the pro...why don't they get spots!

> PS. Having said that, I really don't care one way or the other. All PGA events are background television until Sunday afternoon...by which time the club pros will be long gone.

 

PGA pros are involved in nearly every aspect of the game/business. You've ( and every other golfer) had a ton of interaction with their work but apparently never knew it.

 

What we need to focus on is keeping those shifty Sups out of the tournament. ;)

[BNGL]

> @buckeyefl said:

> > @manku said:

> > Don't really know what the PGA pros do...run an overpriced pro shop? or help put together some member/guests at a high end club? a couple lessons for Al Czervik? I learned how to play at a 9 hole college course..was right behind my room senior year...50 cents a round, and I don't believe they had a PGA pro. Didn't affect my passion for the game.

> > Seems to me that the maintenance crew has a lot more to do with my enjoyment of a course than the pro...why don't they get spots!

> > PS. Having said that, I really don't care one way or the other. All PGA events are background television until Sunday afternoon...by which time the club pros will be long gone.

>

> PGA pros are involved in nearly every aspect of the game/business. You've ( and every other golfer) had a ton of interaction with their work but apparently never knew it.

>

> What we need to focus on is keeping those shifty Sups out of the tournament. ;)

 

Pump the brakes...give me a month of minor league golf events and I’ll be ready! Lol

 

Manku does have a point though, I’ll admit I’m a little aloof and we’re fortunate that we don’t deal with day to day problems of most every other course in the country (we don’t have a down season, we just close up from 1 June to November sometime). But talking to our pros and apprentices, they industry is changing and the pro of yesteryear being on the range and a good player is becoming marginalized. Now it’s really just a paper pusher position. That might not be the case everywhere I fully admit that, but our guys are having some great ideas for the future utilizing drop shipments instead of carrying a large inventory so they’re evolving to meet modern times. Might be a rant that is totally pointless and irrelevant but makes sense to me lol.

 

 

[James the Hogan Fan]

3 Club Pros made the cut. One of them at T36. Tiger, Bubba, Stricker, DeChambeau not so much. Sure there were 8-10 of them who were double digits over par, but so was Padraig Harrington. Go club pros!

[Golfer4Life]

> @"James the Hogan Fan" said:

> 3 Club Pros made the cut. One of them at T36. Tiger, Bubba, Stricker, DeChambeau not so much. Sure there were 8-10 of them who were double digits over par, but so was Padraig Harrington. Go club pros!

 

Speaking of DeChambeau, he missed the cut and was already blaming the course setup. What a freaking baby!

 

 

[LeoLeo99]

I'd rather see Romo and Curry than 20 club pros that I've never heard of.

[LeoLeo99]

> @Golfer4Life said:

> > @"James the Hogan Fan" said:

> > 3 Club Pros made the cut. One of them at T36. Tiger, Bubba, Stricker, DeChambeau not so much. Sure there were 8-10 of them who were double digits over par, but so was Padraig Harrington. Go club pros!

>

> Speaking of DeChambeau, he missed the cut and was already blaming the course setup. What a freaking baby!

>

>

Your hate is strong.

 

[Golfer4Life]

> @LeoLeo99 said:

> > @Golfer4Life said:

> > > @"James the Hogan Fan" said:

> > > 3 Club Pros made the cut. One of them at T36. Tiger, Bubba, Stricker, DeChambeau not so much. Sure there were 8-10 of them who were double digits over par, but so was Padraig Harrington. Go club pros!

> >

> > Speaking of DeChambeau, he missed the cut and was already blaming the course setup. What a freaking baby!

> >

> >

> Your hate is strong.

>

 

Hate? Lol.....Did you even read his statement after the round? It has nothing to do with hate. I don’t have time in my outstanding life to hate anyone.

 

[golfandfishing]

> @LeoLeo99 said:

> I'd rather see Romo and Curry than 20 club pros that I've never heard of.

 

No way. I also had never heard of Stephen Curry until he tried to play a web event. He must not be that well known, everyone pronounces his name wrong.

[braincramp52]

What I find appalling is when someone starts a thread and then never comes back to participate. Oh wait, we're talking about golf.

[BMC]

> @manku said:

> **Don't really know what the PGA pros do**...run an overpriced pro shop? or help put together some member/guests at a high end club? a couple lessons for Al Czervik? I learned how to play at a 9 hole college course..was right behind my room senior year...50 cents a round, and I don't believe they had a PGA pro. Didn't affect my passion for the game.

> Seems to me that the maintenance crew has a lot more to do with my enjoyment of a course than the pro...why don't they get spots!

> PS. Having said that, I really don't care one way or the other. All PGA events are background television until Sunday afternoon...by which time the club pros will be long gone.

You're first line is correct. At busy private clubs the PGA Pros do a lot. At the typical public course it varies widely.

Our busy 54 hole private runs about 6 competitions a week - ladies, seniors, men, juniors. Many clinic and lessons. It's not typical, but our NINE Class A pros work very hard and contribute to the member's enjoyment.

 

[dlygrisse]

Yeah because we need more Chris Kirk’s and Troy Merrit’s In the field. SMH. Hey Tiger and Sergio missed the cut, but 3 club pros made it! Must be some kind of conspiracy.

 

> @LeftArmBender said:

> So we need to send 20 of them to miss a cut at a major?

>

> Maybe like 3. I’d prob be more on board for 1, though.

 

 

[dlygrisse]

> @GoGoErky said:

> > @Texsport said:

> > The PGA is totally disrespecting can’t lub pros with their repositioning the PGA Professional Championship to May. At the same time, they moved the PGA Club Championship - the tournament in which club pros qualify for the PGA Championship - to April!

> >

> > Many, many courses in the northern part of the country are not even open for the season yet. This April date virtually eliminates northern pros from having a realistic chance to qualify, since many haven't hit a single shot since September or October the previous year - 7 months! Obviously, the PGA Club Professional Championship should be in the fall, when every qualifier has an even chance!

> >

> > RIdiculously bad treatment of those members, and arguably reduces the quality of club pros playing at the PGA Championship.

> >

> > Additionally, playing the PGA Championship in cold weather is short changing everyone. I certainly hope they reposition future PGAs to warmer locations.

>

> There are pros from the north who work warmer climates in the winter. Okay. Sure. And there are many more who don’t. What’s your point?

 

 

[Golfer4Life]

> @LeoLeo99 said:

> I'd rather see Romo and Curry than 20 club pros that I've never heard of.

 

I’m sure you would, lol......They have those celebrity tournaments, those are perfect for those two.

 

[ilikegolf26]

Nah, maybe give them like 5 spots. No reason for 20 of these guys to show up, shoot a couple 76s and then go back to selling sleeves of ProVs and trying to bag member Mrs. Jones by the weekend.

[ilikegolf26]

> @legitimategolf said:

> If anything, there should be more PGA pro's in the field! Fill it up! As someone else pointed out, the PGA Tour has their own tournament, the Players Championship. Why should they get so many spots in the PGA of A's own tournament? What have they done to bring new people into the game? etc.

>

> They could put like 70 PGA pros in the PGA Championship and it would still be a stronger field than the Masters!

 

Uhhhh, Tiger alone has brought more “new people into the game” than all 20 club pros that started in this field.

[OldTomMorris]

They should consider creating an exemption category for up to 4 amateurs - US winner & runner-up, British winner and Asian winner. I don't think its a good look for one major to exclude amateurs.

[BNGL]

> @OldTomMorris said:

> They should consider creating an exemption category for up to 4 amateurs - US winner & runner-up, British winner and Asian winner. I don't think its a good look for one major to exclude amateurs.

 

Why is it a bad look that the Professional Golfers Association of America’s crown jewel has no amateurs in the field?

 

[tiderider]

field is limited to pros ... amateurs get into the masters ... pga is for pros ...