The European Tour Qualifying School with Golf On The Edge – Episode #15
Posted on 26. Oct, 2009 by Andy Brown in Golf, St Andrews
In this episode which took place during the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship I met Ross Biddiscombe, author of Golf On The Edge 2: Q School Complete and also Golf on the Edge: Triumph and Tragedies of Q School.
Ross, a sportswriter and journalist for over 25 years, came up with the idea of writing a book focusing on the highs and lows of the PGA European Qualifying School (otherwise known as Q School) back in 2006. During his years working within the sports arena he had spoken to many golfers and heard their stories about the dramas, pressure and joy of going through Q School.
During our chat Ross gave me a brilliant insight into all the stages of Q School in Europe which golfers must undertake. We discussed how golfers pay £1300 for the privilege of attending Q School and then try and make it through 14 rounds of golf to be amongst the top 30 and ties who qualify for category 11b membership of the European Tour. It seems like it comes down to a mixture of concentration, dedication and some luck too. Ross admitted to me that these golfers are just normal guys like you and me, with a mortgage to pay and mouths to feed. At the end of the day qualification through Q School can often come down to an 8 foot putt – the difference often between a successful professional golfing career globetrotting the world and one spent working behind the till at your local golf club. As Ross has witnessed many times at Q School, there’s an incredibly fine line between success and failure.
Ross explained to me how almost every professional golfer has gone through Q School at the beginning of their golf careers. He talked me through some of their stories and described how sometimes even former PGA Champions have to return to Q School as well to re-start their careers. This will be the case for Scott Drummond and Andrew Oldcorn unless they have a dramatic change of form within the next few weeks. While researching his second book, Golf On The Edge 2, Ross followed 7 golfers for 12 months as they progressed through Q School in 2008 trying to make it on the golf circuit. This book makes a great read and gives a great behind-the-scenes look at the human drama that goes on within Q School for golfers trying to get their players card.
Ross told me that on 28th November he is heading down to PGA Golf de Cataluyna in Spain to follow the action as golfers try to qualify for this year so that they can play on the European Tour in 2010. During our chat he discussed with me some of the players who we should all be watching out for next year, such as Stiggy Hodgson, Wallace Booth, Gavin Dear, Matt Haines and Chris Paisley.
For details of who will be participating in Q School this year check out the European Tour website.
For more information about the Q School, buying Golf On The Edge 2: Q School Complete and also Golf on the Edge: Triumph and Tragedies of Q School please visit GolfonTheEdge.co.uk
Finally, the Question of the Day:
What is your golfing dream? Is it to win the monthly medal or Captain’s Day. Please leave your comments below and we’ll have fun reading them!
Jai ram
04. Nov, 2009
Interesting reading.
I tok up golf seriously just a few years ago. My primary goal is to get some weekly exercise. In the process if I can bring down my handicap to15 that would be great.
Charles Mitchell
02. Nov, 2009
Firt of all thank you for interesting articles. Now aged 74 years still enjoy playing just for fun and exercise with friends. Lack of distance now a problem though I feel the same, must be missing something. Once again thank you I send your mail to my son who is also a golf nut playing most days.
gary campbell
30. Oct, 2009
1.to see my 18 yr old grandson as a pro currently he is off +2 and is in england squad.
2.for me to get to 15 hcap by age 65 currently i am 17 hcap at age 63
Kent W.
30. Oct, 2009
To somehow manage to get down to scratch golf. Best round ever is a 74. One day……
Colin
29. Oct, 2009
Would like to play to scratch again as I did 15 Years ago! Now play to twelve and am not improving, who’d a guessed hey. Scarily unfathomable game ———– luv it.
Gordon Reynolds
29. Oct, 2009
To play once again in the carnagie shield at Royal Dornock, and maybe get to the final and have on last go at a win. It is now over twenty years since I last played Royal Dornock as I emigrated to Australia in 1988, but I still remember every hole like I played it Yesterday
cGrant
29. Oct, 2009
The dream is to add another 300 yards to my drive. That’s the dream.
Dennis
29. Oct, 2009
l played the Old Course & it was awesome so l guess l have to say it would be nice to do Agusta & to shoot 80 or lower.Best Regards, Dennis
Johnny Braswell
29. Oct, 2009
I am having a good time playing golf with my wife of many years, Iam 75 and look forward to getting better with your help. Thank you .
Fred
28. Oct, 2009
I always enjoy getting mail from you Andy. I would like to meet you and have a quafe.
Fred
Grahame Bush
28. Oct, 2009
Like Bob White my dream is to shoot my age in a round. I would then wish to repeat this every year for at least a ten year period – I am MORE than happy to delay this dream until I reach 80 or 85 though & that is why I play such terrible golf now (That’s MY excuse & I am sticking to it!!!). Presently at 65 I am more than happy to wait another 20 years for my success.
Rolly
28. Oct, 2009
Hi Andy,
I’m a 83 year old playing off a 19 handicap at my local course the Kloof Country Club a 5778 m course with mature trees bent/poanna greens, three water holes and a SAGU rating of 70.
You ask for our “golfing dream” Well mine was a hole in one, which I got on the 143m second on 08.03 08; then it had to be “breaking my age” and I did that on 15.10.09. Finally I played the worlds longest par 3 – 500 m long bit with the tee 395 mabove the green. You fly to thr tt box in a helicopter ! I had three shots but was woefully short. This Extreme 19th is at the Legends golf Course South Africa.
Regards,
Rolly.
George Kagawa
28. Oct, 2009
Ross is an outstanding writer. The stories are heart-renching and give a great insight to what these aspiring golfers are up against. Good work!
Bob Wright
28. Oct, 2009
I am 71 years old and my dream is to shoot my age before turning 75. My best to date is 77.
keen yee
28. Oct, 2009
Win competition golf.
Thank you for your good work.
Pete Crocitto
28. Oct, 2009
I would like to have my game at place where I can play well at national USGA events, be a very good ball striker and putter of the ball. It would really nice to have a local golf professional which understands your golf swing and and is able to help me. Very hard to improve without that second pair of eyes.
Bill Burch
28. Oct, 2009
Good Morning Andy,
Just finished reading the article about Q school. You mentioned 14 rounds in there, and I am curious are you sure about that. Here in the states the Q school is only 6 rounds – or as those trying to get through- 108 holes of pure Hell!!
In regards to my dream, to win more on the mini-tour I play on.
Thanks for keeping in touch.
Bill
Andy’s Reply:
Thanks for your comment Bill.
Yes there are 6 rounds in the final qualifying but if you hadn’t prequalified and had to go through the stages you would end up playing 14 rounds in total.
Cheers
Andy
Jan Schekkerman
28. Oct, 2009
Fantastic story
Like we say in Holland
Many are called few are chosen
But if you are chosen the rewards can be fabulous
greetings
Jan
Rog. Liot
28. Oct, 2009
My dream is to cut out my” Handicap” hole or holes to get down to single figures by the time I’m 70. The potential is there (2 1/2 years to go.) Al these help hints are helping. Thanks.
Stanley Greenwood
28. Oct, 2009
My dream would be to stop swinging outside to in. I am 71 years of age and I have been trying for a long time
douglas.dewar
28. Oct, 2009
just to play decent golf again
Martin Kennedy
28. Oct, 2009
My dream?
To have a good sense of control of the golf ball ALL the time!!!! DREAM ON!!!!
martin@vizcomm.co.uk
Joe Edwards
28. Oct, 2009
My dream is to break 80 round Henley just once. Not a big dream but as unlikely as most golfing dreams.
Allan Clayton
28. Oct, 2009
to play a round with Miguel Angel Jimenez and Darren Clarke
and smoke a big cigar
Geoff
28. Oct, 2009
My goal is to play to a 10 handicap. Been playing four months after a 20 year break and won two monthly medals and the Club Handicap Championship last weekend. So I am a pretty happy golfer at the minute
Phillip Twynam
28. Oct, 2009
To win biggest club competition. Using your processes but bombed out at the crucial time.
Joe Cascio
26. Oct, 2009
My dream? To play Augusta. At least once.
JoeC (@joecascio)