Back to the Futures: The Real Cost of Chasing My Golfing Goal
by stephconnelly on Jul 26, 2010 11:22 AM EDT
in Pro Golf
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PrintI’ve been thinking a lot about how to explain the financial workings of being on the Futures Tour. It is something that is hard for me to talk about. But as many have requested the information, I’m going to do my best to explain.
Here’s a ledger to show all of the costs. This is a brief and rounded breakdown as I would rather not post my exact finance information, but there are many more categories and money spent.
- Qualifying School: $1,000 Futures Tour, $5,000 LPGA
- Tour Membership: $350 Futures
- Entry Fee: $500 per tournament x 17 events
- Hotel: $85 per night x 7 nights x 17 events
- Caddy: $500 per week x 17 events
- Gas: $50 per week x 17 events
- Travel: $100 to each event
- Food: $50 per week
When budgeting, you have to think of everything you can imagine that goes into expenses - more than you would even think. Food, gas, car maintenance, entry fees/qualifying school entry, travel expenses (airfare/rental car/hotel), caddy when necessary, lessons/equipment/practice rounds/yardage books – it is an exhaustive list though some costs are omitted.
The cost for golf itself is stifling. Each tournament entry is $500 – there are 17 events - and qualifying school entry is $5,000.
Put it all together. For an entire year on the Futures Tour, the grand total is around $31,865 - $36,865 for me. Depending on the player, it could be as high as $45,000.
The top 5 on the money list at the end of the year will most likely break even. Outside those five, chances are very slim to end the year in the black.
What do I do to be able to afford chasing this dream of mine? Well, I work as a waitress when not traveling and take any pro-am opportunity that arises. I am lucky to have had the help of some family and friends to get started, but I still rely greatly on my parents.
People always ask, “What about sponsors?” Frankly, they are very hard to find.
Many girls stop chasing their dream as professionals not because they don’t believe in themselves anymore, but because they simply cannot afford it any longer.
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Thanks for sharing, Steph
Obviously that wasn’t easy to write. You’ve highlighted the absolute pressure even “successful” players feel.
"(I)f you think you've got an inside track to absolute truth, you become doctrinaire, humorless and intellectually constipated." Saul Alinsky
Wow.....talk about pressure!
Thanks for the glimpse into the $$$$ side of the tour. Best wishes chasing your dream!
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
Yea Steph...thanks..this is what I
asked for….It also kind of validates my own estimates of costs…I know it isn’t always easy to find the dollars….And I agree, that sponsors are now far and few between….Years ago, in much better times, I organized an Investors group of 8 men who put young talent out on the Asian, and an;y other tour they could play for experience…We guaranteed 3 years for each player we supported….I don’t know if that is even possible anymore…None of the group had any aspirations of making any money…I think the tax laws may have even changed….If you don’t mind answering, what kind of attrition rate do the girls have….you said that some just stop chasing the dream….And what is a realistic figure of those that will succeed….I kind of look at maybe 5% or less….How much of the time on the road is devoted to practice ? Where do most of the girls come from ? How much college experience do they have ? What about the foreign players…..who supports them? It has to be even more expensive for them, and especially if language is a barrier….Do you girls get equipment and clothing contracts ? When I had LPGA kids staying with us, most got the equipment, but not clothes….Just remember….It ain’t how, only how many….and it ain’t over till the fat lady sings….one shot at a time Steph….no doubt you have a good head on your shoulders and will get it done….KUDOS…..STUB
Steph,
I suppose because players like you make it look so easy most of the time when you are on the course it is easy to assume that the financial side of pursuing a career in pro golf would be easy too. Now we know that it’s not.
That gives me even more respect for you. You have chosen the hard road, the one where you have to give up a great deal and go the extra mile in order to pursue your dreams. Those nights on your feet waiting tables after practicing all day surely cannot be easy. But, so long as you make the sacrifices, you’ll have a chance to answer that great question we all ask ourselves: “can I make it doing __” where the blank is our dream.
Hold your head up and know that many of us armchair and Sunday morning players have a lot of respect for you, and that many of us hold the same hopes for you that you hold for yourself: that one day you will lift the winner’s trophy on the 18th green of an LPGA event.
Good Luck!
Thanks, and good luck
One way to justify the cost is to consider what you laid out is about what it costs each year (w/o much financial aid) to attend an Ivy League school. You get to see more of the country, meet a more diverse group of people (on and off tour), and pursue your dream doing what you’re doing than doing that.
I can see now why if you can’t get or don’t want a golf scholarship that covers basically all the costs of higher education, it makes perfect sense to turn pro instead and at least try to cover your costs for 4-6 years. But also why getting and having a degree is not a bad idea if you’re not a Cristie Kerr or Morgan Pressel talent as a teenager.
If my back heals quickly, I’ll be at the Syracuse event. I’d love to chat with players who’ve made a variety of choices about the timing of turning pro for a piece I’m working on. Can you help spread the word? Anyone who wants to email me can find my address in my profile at Mostly Harmless.
BTW, former Waggle Room correspondent Tiffany Joh has finished 1-2 in her last 2 FT events!
http://mlyhlss.blogspot.com/2010/07/another-shin-wins-this-week-but-t-joh.html
by The Constructivist on Jul 26, 2010 1:54 PM EDT reply actions
Tiffjoh has been playing some really nice golf of late.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroom, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 26, 2010 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah!
I was angling to caddy for her in the pro-am in Syracuse this week, but hurt my back doing lawn work, of all things. Now I’ll be happy if I can make the drive and walk the course by Friday…. Off to the chiropractor’s!
by The Constructivist on Jul 26, 2010 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
TC – good luck at the back cracker’s place.
Unless Syracuse is done differently than Cincinnati (Mason really), on the Futures Tour the Pro-Am is one pro with three amateurs in two carts. A caddy would be superfluous. Maybe you’ll be all better by Friday and you’ll be able to caddy for someone.
"(I)f you think you've got an inside track to absolute truth, you become doctrinaire, humorless and intellectually constipated." Saul Alinsky
Diane...what days do they play ?
Pro-am on Wednesday….than Thursay, Friday and Saturday, or do they have pro-am on Thursday, than go Friday, Saturay and Sunday ? Sure cut the kids expenses if it ends on Saturday….Head out of town on Sunday….STUB
can't risk it
Playing in the NYS Mid-Am qualifier on 8/16 and don’t want any setbacks in my prepping!
Plus I can’t imagine anyone wanting me to carry their bag in an actual tournament!
by The Constructivist on Jul 26, 2010 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Those are some pretty stout numbers, Steph. Are those your budget figures ? You didn’t even include things like your cell phone bill, car insurance, personals, clothing….
If those aren’t your numbers, how many of the girls are taking a caddy from place to place ?
How often do you take advantage of tournament housing ?
And $50 a week for food ? I take it that doesn’t include beer. :-) I’ve been sitting here wondering how I would manage on $50 a week with so much time spent driving from place to place.
Have you given yourself a time frame for chasing the dream ? Some of these girls have been on the DFT for years and years and years, but don’t seem to be any closer to the LPGA than when they started.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
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