18SP 012: Crowd-funding and Life on the Mini Tour | ProUKnow - a podcast by Jeff Pelizzaro: Top 50 Golf Fitness Pro, Author, Physical Therapist, Fellow Golfer

In this episode, Justin Bryan and Van Pierce share the highs and lows (more lows than highs!) of the mini tour life and how their new website (ProUKnow.com) just might be a game changer in how these golfers can afford to play in these costly events in hopes of achieving their ultimate goal of getting to the big show.

Justin and Van are two friends and former golf teammates from St. Louis that decided that the mini tour golfers need a better way to support their future and provide some financial security to be able to showcase their talent.  From this mission they have created ProUKnow.com, which is a Crowd-funding website dedicated to mini tour and Web.com golfers.

Much like the very popular  website Kickstarter.com which has propelled hundreds and thousands of entrepreneurs ideas into successful products and brands, these guys are looking to do the same for the aspiring tour pro.

And they know this business first hand as Justin is currently playing on the mini tour circuit and Van played on the tours for a short period of time after graduating from college.

In this episode, they share the highs and lows (more lows than highs) of the mini tour life and how their new website just might be a game changer in how these golfers can afford to play in these costly events in hopes of achieving their ultimate goal of getting to the big show.

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The Guys’ Backgrounds

Justin Bryant:



* Currently playing mini tour golf

* Played at Wake Forest for coach Jerry Haas

* Living in St. Louis, traveling to Jupiter in winter months



Van Pierce:



* Currently in Law school at St. Louis University

* Played football at Drake University

* Played college golf at Chapman University

* Played some mini tour golf



 

Intro video to ProUKnow



Highlights



* Life on the mini tour

* Justin describes the difference between the mini tour, Web.com, and PGA

* The mini tour life is not the glitz and glamour lifestyle that most would imagine.

* Guys living in motel rooms, tents, cars while traveling from tournament to tournament

* Different mini tour events:



* Adam’s Golf Tour

* eGolf Tour

* SwingThought.com (formerly Hooters and NGA)

* PGA Canada

* PGA Latin America





* Typical purse these days in a min tour event is $12-16,000

* The competition is super steep with winning scores sometime in the range of 20 under par (that’s some serious golf)

* If you’re not in the top 10 money earner on a mini tour, you are likely NOT making money!



What does the Average Tour player spend per year (not PGA)?



* $50,000-$60,000 for a full time mini tour player

* Upwards of $75,000 for the Web.com player

* Getting more expensive every year

* Expenses include (from Justin’s profile page):



* Weekly Tournament Costs



* Entry Fee: $900

Travel: $400

Hotel: $420

Food: $180

Total:$1,90020 Tournaments= $38,000





* Q Schools



* PGA Canada: $2,500 entry + $1,200 expenses= $3,700

* Web.com: $5,200 entry + $6,000 expenses= $11,200





* Other Expenses



* Lessons with Instructor

* Practice Facilities

* = $7,100











 What is ProUKnow.com?

Further episodes of The 18STRONG Podcast

Further podcasts by Jeff Pelizzaro: Top 50 Golf Fitness Pro, Author, Physical Therapist, Fellow Golfer

Website of Jeff Pelizzaro: Top 50 Golf Fitness Pro, Author, Physical Therapist, Fellow Golfer