Perhaps firstly we should define what each is. An elite player for this post is someone who plays inter-club for the top team, national amateur events, professional golfers etc. Club players are just that. If we boil it down to the very essence of the question – what is the difference? I’m sure we would get a multitude of answers. Here is my take:
Pros and Elites swing it better!
Some do. I’ve seen club players with great swings and some can hit the ball beautifully. I’ve seen pros and elites swing it like an octopus fighting a bear.
Pros and Elites have all the best equipment!
Some do. The top guys have endless access to anything they want. Some, however, play old equipment that works for them. Daniel Berger, for example, plays a 12 year old set of irons.
Pros and Elites practice all the time!
Some do. Others have jobs to do. Take an assistant pro at a golf club. They probably work 50-60 hours a week selling Powerade and regripping clubs rather than working on their games.
Pros and Elites have better short games!
This is true. I’ve played with some guys who could get it up and down from a bat cave. I have seen some that couldn’t miss the cup even if they faced backwards.
Pros and Elites always hit it straight!
Nonsense. In fact the majority favour a particular ball flight. Whether it be left-to-right or right-to-left they have a preference. I’ve played with guys who couldn’t hit earth and still beat me like a drum.
Let’s save you the suspense. The difference is – Pros and Elites fuck it up less than club players. When they do miss, the miss isn’t massive and isn’t too damaging to the scorecard. Where a club player may have a double bogey, the elite player may be able to turn a bad shot into a par or bogey at worst. Pros and Elites play to their strengths and avoid their weaknesses (on the course) like the plague. They play to miss it the best.
Golf is a game of misses. Hogan said he really only 5 or 6 shots he was happy with a round meaning 62 to 64 shots he wasn’t happy with. You can get better scores not by hitting like Steve Elkington but by managing where you miss the shot. Slicer? aim a little left. Low ball hitter? Aim away from forced carries. Balky putter? Never leave yourself a downhill putt. Two way miss? Come see me immediately!!
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