Scotsman: Too Many Turning Pro And Going Nowhere

You can question elements of American college golf's health, sanity or nobility, but it remains a valuable place for budding players to find their games. As NCAA golf gets its moment the next few moments, it's important to remember the role it is playing as a minor leagues of sorts in weeding out talent. Throw in the amazing success of Texas' Jordan Spieth, and the concept of college golf is working very well.

Which brings us to the situation in Europe where, without a similar system for players to find their game (or another career), the situation is not posive. Martin Dempster in the Scotsman issues a tough love column for the many aspiring players throwing out amateur golf as an option to toil in Europe's version of the minor leagues.

Thanks to reader Chris for this. Dempster writes:

Somehow, we have to get back to the days when players leaving the amateur ranks are only ones with realistic hopes, not those with hollow dreams. Career amateur Nigel Edwards, the Great Britain & Ireland captain, is singing from the same hymn sheet. “It’s not that we don’t want players to turn pro,” said the Welshman, who works as director of coaching for England Golf. “We do and we want them to go on and become very successful. Players like Stephen Gallacher, Justin Rose, Danny Willett and Jamie Donaldson have all done that, as have some players on the ladies’ side. But the ones that are not successful are lost to the game, I’d say, so something – I’m not sure what – has to be done.”

In sports like football and rugby, tough decisions are normally made by other people, In an individual one like golf, dreams can be pursued as long as someone wants, provided, of course, they have funding. Too many, unfortunately, are kidding themselves and we need to try to educate the next generation of Scottish golfers better and more constructively than is the case right now.