In the sport of golf, the distinction between professional and amateur is something that is thoroughly maintained. An amateur golfer who breaches any of the rules of amateur golf runs the risk of losing their amateur status, meaning that they will not be allowed to play in any amateur competitions until they have regained their amateur status. On the other hand, a professional golfer is not permitted to take part in amateur competitions unless they notify the committee, who are then required to acknowledge and confirm the participation. It is hard for a professional to regain amateur status, and below we are going to take a closer look at the differences between an amateur golfer and a professional golfer.
Different Views on Golf
Amateur golf players usually just play golf for fun and for the love of the game. They do not consider it to be a full-time job. They will have a game of golf in their spare time such as at a gathering event with their colleagues or when they meet other members of the golfing community. On the other hand, a professional golfer considers golf to be a full-time job – they play the sport with dedication and responsibility. Many professional golfers also make a living not far from the golf course, such as being a trainer or overseeing a golf course and club.
To become a professional golfer, a player must pass several qualifications. After the qualification test has been passed, they will receive their professional card, and can start calling themselves a professional. It costs anywhere between $2800 and $4000 to complete this course, so players must be serious about their golf when they are considering going professional.
Participation in Golf Events
In golf competitions, amateur golfers are not permitted to receive any sort of participation money or prize money. If you are an amateur golfer, then you will only be allowed to take part in amateur golf events – failure to stand by this law could see you end up losing your status as an amateur golfer, meaning that you will not be able to take part in any future amateur golfing events.
On the other hand, a professional player can play on golf tours where there is a lot of money up for grabs. They use golf to make a living, so they are allowed to make money from the events that they take part in. In addition to this, all the best professional golfers such as John Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, and Justin Thomas can also make a lot of money from endorsements and sponsorships.
When it comes to golf tours that pay out the most, professional players will want to win big events such as the Tour Championship since this competition pays out a staggering $15 million to the winner. Other big events such as The Players Championship, the US Open, The Masters, and The PGA Championship pays out a few million to the player that is skilful enough to go on and win it. So, as can be seen, there is a lot of money up for grabs on golf tours for those who play at a professional level and are at the top of their game, and those of you who like to do a little gambling, here are some of the best golf betting sites.
Different Types of playing Styles
Professional golfers will spend a lot of their time training with some professional instructors, while those who are amateur golfers will rarely spend the money to get lessons from top instructors. In fact, very few will bother going to driving range to try and improve their swing. Therefore, there really can be no surprise that there is a huge difference between the swings of amateur and professional golf players.
Th difference in their swinging style can be seen when they are performing a downswing. You will see that a professional player performs a downswing by hitting the golf ball from inside the line of the target, meaning that their golf club can produce a quick impact. On the other hand, you will see that amateur golfers make their downswing from outside the line of the target, which means that they must pull their golf club across their body to hit the ball. Unfortunately, this type of motion is one that robs them of swing speed and accuracy.
Also, when making a backswing, an amateur golfer will rarely do a full shoulder turn, meaning that their left arm is bent during their backswing. This is a motion that will rob them of their leverage for the downswing. Professional players, on the other hand, will keep their left arm straight when performing their backswing. This style is one that allows them to hit the ball with more power than an amateur player.
Becoming a professional golfer is obviously something that is not easy, but if you would really like to pursue a professional golfing career, then you will need to do it wholeheartedly. You will have to start from the very bottom and work your way to the top and follow the different certification programs to become a professional. Overall, though, you need to play golf for all the right reasons and not just because you think it is a shortcut to fortune and fame.
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