Sometimes life is not so good....

[IrishGolfer]

OK, so you’ve worked your arse off all year and you have your “chance in a lifetime” to make it on the tour. You ante up your entrance fee, organise flights, hotels, car hire, caddy, etc. Everyone’s rooting for you back at home and you go out and shoot 80, 80. And you are one of your country’s top playas!

Jeeze, it’s a tough life. See Colm Moriarty's score at the 2005 European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage at The San Roque Club, Spain.

http://scores.europeantour.com/leade...5994&iTourId=3

I can’t believe that people would even consider life as a pro.

[DaveE]

I envy their passion and commitment.

It's not that I don't like what I do but I've never been one of those people who talk about loving their work or wake up and just can't wait to get to the office.

I know a few people like that and I can't decide whether I want to be jealous or kick em in the crotch.

[Bravo]

About 10 years ago, I had a next door neighbor who had a brief career on the tour. He had his card for 1-2 years...

He told me he was really glad that he did not make it..(ironic?!). Said the pressure was incredible to pay off his investors etec..

[Andy_79]

Aye, it's a tough life. Such a fine, fine line between success & failure. It can all boil down to a three-foot putt at times. I'm sure it is heartbreaking if you don't make it through.

I caddied for Moriarty round Portstewart in the Interprovincials a few years ago, Mark. I remember him having a small mark worn away on his GBB where he had obviously been nailing it. Quite remarkable. His ball-flight was top el notcho !

I have beaten Graeme McDowell & have taken Micheal Howey (fellow European Tour player) down the last hole, too. That was a fair few years ago, right enough...

I feel pity for Moriarty - he's a great guy & a quality golfer. Hope his day comes sooner rather than later....

[Bravo]

Originally Posted by Andy_79

I have beaten Graeme McDowell & have taken Micheal Howey (fellow European Tour player) down the last hole, too. That was a fair few years ago, right enough....

A bit of trivia for you Andy...Graeme McDowell played his college golf here and his coach lives on the 13th hole of my course...

http://uabsports.collegesports.com/s...an_alan00.html

Small world.

[Andy_79]

Small world indeed, dood. That college in your town, then ?? I went to school with Graeme & he learned his golf at nearby rathmore golf club, which is part of the world-renowned Royal Portrush. They are just 4 miles from me here. One of those guys who succeeded in both sports & accedemics. Fair play to him, though...

[The master]

Yea that sucks, is this the same colm moriarty that was playing at Clandyboye about 3years ago, I think it is, I remeber watching him playing in the county down open, he was class.

I also watched graeme play last year, he came to my local club for some day, can't remeber what it was, he was impressive, I heard when he left for college in America he wasn't a great player, he was ok, but over in America was when he really started to get good.

[Bravo]

Originally Posted by The master

Yea that sucks, is this the same colm moriarty that was playing at Clandyboye about 3years ago, I think it is, I remeber watching him playing in the county down open, he was class.

I also watched graeme play last year, he came to my local club for some day, can't remeber what it was, he was impressive, I heard when he left for college in America he wasn't a great player, he was ok, but over in America was when he really started to get good.

When Graeme graduated, he was the #1 college golfer in the U.S.....

[The master]

Yeah that's what I heard, he just got sooooo good, in the few years he was there, I've heard more sucess stories, of good scratch or +1 18 year olds going to college in America and comming back like off +4 or 5 completely different players.

I think it is playing so many different tournaments week in week out, and playing matchplay against a lot of other great players. It can only do your game good.

[Andy_79]

Yeah, he was 'ordinary enough' then, considering. He ended up having the lowest stroke average *ever* whilst at college, beating Tiger & Luke Donald's records. He has done supremely well.

What club you a member of, mate ? I played in that County Down Open this year. Not a bad course with really good greens, but they will have to do something with that 2nd green. It was blowing a gale that day & I nailed a 7-wood pin-high right, then 4-stabbed. My mate in the group ahead hit to a near identical position and SIX stabbed !! T'was a joke !! Good course, all the same - enjoyed it. That Index one hole - the 4th - is a bastardo of a hole, eh !?

[Andy_79]

Originally Posted by The master

Yeah that's what I heard, he just got sooooo good, in the few years he was there, I've heard more sucess stories, of good scratch or +1 18 year olds going to college in America and comming back like off +4 or 5 completely different players.

I think it is playing so many different tournaments week in week out, and playing matchplay against a lot of other great players. It can only do your game good.

It is the whole America vs. Northern Ireland thing, mate. Our wee 1.6 million population country doesn;t stand a chance. They have the weather, facilities, financial backing & a whole host of other opportunites none of us over here can even dream of. Would be different class doing something like that.....!

[Bravo]

Originally Posted by The master

I also watched graeme play last year, he came to my local club for some day, can't remeber what it was, he was impressive, I heard when he left for college in America he wasn't a great player, he was ok, but over in America was when he really started to get good.

His college coach is really a great teacher - not only of the mechanical skills but of game management and how to mentally appraoch tournament play...I think Graeme would tell you that Alan helped him improve....

[Andy_79]

Would be great to just spend, say, a couple of hours with someone like that. . .

[The master]

Yea I'm a member of both Bangor and Clandyboye.

I played in this years county down open, it was a effin joke!! Can you not remeber the wind that day! I think Crowe shot 69 and my mate was 2nd cloest on 75. It was tough.

Yeah the dufferins greens are subperb, very quick, and always well looked after.

Don't talk to me about the 4th nasty wee bitch of a hole, I just poke a 2 iron up it and hope for the best that usually leaves me a crisp 9 iron or so, I make so many high numbers on that hole.

True are we country jus isn't the land of opportunities is it?

When I was 14 years old, I was probably a better golfer than I am now, and I thought I would definetley be going to college in america etc... it's crap now, and I couldn't be bothered taken golf that serious so I'm going to be a amature all my life and play in the north etc.. should be fun...

Yeah bravo thats koool, I haven't had a lesson in months I need one.

Also someone who can work on the mental side of the game with you, can really help, it plays such a big part in golf.

[dave.]

How many qualify?