Q-School

[Sandpiper3]

Does anyone know how this all works? I know that there are 3 stages, with 4 rounds in the first two, then 6 in the last, and u must get into the top 30 & ties in the last 6 rounds. Obv theres local qualifying to get to the first stage (right?)? Or do you just pay up to get into the first stage and go from there?

Also how many from each stage go on? Because there were 11 diff "tourneys" in the first stage, then 6 in the second stage. So is there a set amount from each "tourney" in the stages, or do they just make a denomination from however many entries there are to get the specific # in the final stage?

Im really curious as to how this works, im going to be definately watching it these next days as it seems to be the most intense touranament in golf (also my goal is to get to that level, so might as well absorb as much as i can).

[demon]

the first stage is a regional qualifier. when i tried out for it many years ago it was a lot more inexpensive than it is today. if money is an object there are many ways getting on the pga tour that is more reasonable.

1. Monday qualifiers at pga tour events, sign up with the regional pga office for a monday qualifier, they take the top four lowest scores into that tour event. Careful, the big dogs show up for these but none the less it is a good learning experience.

2. US Open has a regional qualifier as well, the entry fees are much cheaper than q school. Win the US open and you will have a 5 year pga tour exemption.

3. Local nationwide tour has qualifiers as well. I tried out for the San Jose Open and it was only 150.00 for the two rounds of golf that I played (cart was included). Win a buy.com event and you will get a one year expemption on the nationwide tour the next year.

4. Win US amateur and that will get you in the door for some majors.

many, many more ways to get on, Q-school is a good opportunity since most of the prize money can be used towards you first year pga tour career.

[Sandpiper3]

many, many more ways to get on, Q-school is a good opportunity since most of the prize money can be used towards you first year pga tour career.

I didnt know that there was prize money in Q-school?

[demon]

Originally Posted by Sandpiper3

I didnt know that there was prize money in Q-school?

big time money, i think it was 50,000 for medalist when i tried out, that was a long time ago so i am sure it is up a lot more than that now.

[Sandpiper3]

i think it was 50,000 for medalist when i tried out,

Is that per stage? or only for the final stage?

[Augster]

LOL! From what I read, it's still only $50K for the winner. J.B. Holmes won it last year.

Nobody gets paid until this week. All the other tourneys are qualifiers. Starting today is the 6-round final tourney that take the top 30 plus ties into the PGA (plus prize money).

[demon]

Damn, I didnt pass the regional qualifier 8+ years ago and it was 50k then. 50k will last a couple of months on tour, you can get caddies for free cause a bunch of guys just want to be involved and will volunteer just to be in the action.

[Sandpiper3]

http://www.pgatour.com/story/9454865

Ok, JW about how much Q-School is costing here, according to this (assuming im reading it right?) its approx 13,500$ if you pay for each Stage ASAP?

(ASSUMING i got this right, and you wait till the end deadline, Q is guna set you back 15 grand)

I must not have read that right? 15 g's just to try and qualify for the PGA?

THE BETTER YOU PLAY, THE MORE YOU PAY! ....eeek

[demon]

Originally Posted by Sandpiper3

http://www.pgatour.com/story/9454865

Ok, JW about how much Q-School is costing here, according to this (assuming im reading it right?) its approx 13,500$ if you pay for each Stage ASAP?

(ASSUMING i got this right, and you wait till the end deadline, Q is guna set you back 15 grand)

I must not have read that right? 15 g's just to try and qualify for the PGA?

THE BETTER YOU PLAY, THE MORE YOU PAY! ....eeek

I think the total out of pocket was 5k when I did it, 2.5k up front and 2.5k if you pass the regional qualifier and I was very upset with myself to not play well in the regional. Looks like it can range from about 10k - 14k (roughly), they are making quite a bit of money of this since there are litterally thousands if not about 10,000 trying out. The first stage you have tons of people playing and most are weeded out here (like me, lol). So I paid 2.5k for a few rounds of golf, it was some of the most expensive golf I have ever played.

Here is the purse
Cash Chart:
Total Purse: $1,087,500
1st Place: $50,000
2nd Place: $40,000
3rd Place: $35,000
4th Place: $30,000
5th Place: $27,500
6th-30th: $25,000

[BigJim13]

Originally Posted by demon

So I paid 2.5k for a few rounds of golf, it was some of the most expensive golf I have ever played.

What were the courses like, nice, hard? I know they have to be harder than the avg but how much so?

[demon]

You can get some sponsorship to pay for part or all of your Q-School. I know I had some friends invest in some guy to participate about 5 years ago. They had deals that if he were to make the pga tour that he would be a billboard for them for a discounted rate. It is a tax write off for them since it is kind of an advertisement expense.

[Sandpiper3]

You can get some sponsorship to pay for part or all of your Q-School. I know I had some friends invest in some guy to participate about 5 years ago. They had deals that if he were to make the pga tour that he would be a billboard for them for a discounted rate. It is a tax write off for them since it is kind of an advertisement expense.

Yea, ive had a few ppl saying jokingly to me if i go to Q-school, theyd sponsor me through it, so id get a little covered. They said their business could use a write off like me

[demon]

Originally Posted by BigJim13

What were the courses like, nice, hard? I know they have to be harder than the avg but how much so?

Yes the courses are setup like a pga tournament, I played at La Purisima and that course is one of the hardest courses I have ever played and it was twice as hard when it was set up for Q-School.

If you ever get down to central coast california play it, it will be the best money you have ever spent. http://www.lapurisimagolf.com/

Look at that slope rating 143 and it plays a lot harder than that.

[Augster]

Q-school winner got $50K again this year. Amazing. I remember it used to be, like you say, $5K to enter. And the winner got $50K. Now it's like $15K and the winner still gets the same amount.

Raising the price is really only a deterrent to weed out folks that have "declared themselves professionals" and just try to catch lightning in a bottle to make it to the next stage. I'm sure just too many players used to sign up.

Kind of like the US Open. Golf has gotten so popular, and so much more money, in the Tiger era that the US Open has had to keep lowering the handicap requirements to try to qualify. Not so long ago the handicap was like 2.8. I think it's about scratch now and in a year to two it'll be Plus 1 or more. Just too many people, but the USGA doesn't want to raise the paltry $100 fee so as to exclude your legitmate amateurs.

[Sandpiper3]

Kind of like the US Open. Golf has gotten so popular, and so much more money, in the Tiger era that the US Open has had to keep lowering the handicap requirements to try to qualify. Not so long ago the handicap was like 2.8. I think it's about scratch now and in a year to two it'll be Plus 1 or more. Just too many people, but the USGA doesn't want to raise the paltry $100 fee so as to exclude your legitmate amateurs.

Augster

Nope, the hdcp req. for qualifying for any pro tourney is still at a 2 index.