Michael Jordan is very likely the most accomplished basketball player to ever play the game.
However, as you learn more about Jordan and the other things that he loves to do, you will find that golf is at the top of the list.
Michael Jordan plays a lot of golf, enough to even build a golf course in South Florida.
However, considering how much he plays and how good he is, many people wonder if Michael Jordan ever became a professional golfer.
If you are wondering if Michael Jordan ever went pro, we have all the answers you need and also some interesting information about both golf and baseball.
Did Michael Jordan Play Pro Golf?
No, Michael Jordan did not play pro golf.
Though Michael Jordan is thought to be a great golfer, his game is not quite at the skill level that is expected from professional golfers.
This is not to say that he is not a great player; in fact, Jordan can hang in there with the pros when he gets a chance to play with them.
Many golfers have had a chance to play with Michael Jordan because he is so involved in the sport and likes to play any chance he gets.
It’s also been reported that a friendly wager or two can happen between sports professionals while playing a match against each other.
Michael Jordan gets a chance to play with professionals often; one golfer named Rickie Fowler even said that playing golf with Jordan is good for his game.
When you play with great golfers who like to compete, you can learn from them and they can push you to enhance your game.
Of course, the professionals sometimes have to give Jordan some strokes, but isn’t that what we love about the game of golf?
After trading a few strokes, you simply play a match as you normally would, as if the players are all playing at the same skill level.
No other game is quite like this.
For example, how would Jordan make it fairer for Fowler to play him in basketball?
He really can’t.
We know that Michael Jordan is a very talented athlete, but the chances of seeing him make it on a professional golf tour may be slim.
Which Is Harder: Golf Or Basketball?
There have been lots of studies done through the years to determine which sport is the most difficult.
However, it’s really impossible to say which is the hardest.
What is most difficult for one could come easily to another person.
Interestingly, Michael Jordan said that golf is more difficult than basketball.
Let’s take a look at a few of the key differences between the sports and why one may be considered harder than the other.
In addition, we will look at which is easier to become a professional in: golf or basketball.
1. Physical Difficulty
When it comes to physical difficulty, basketball is the clear winner.
Basketball requires a player to maintain a very high rate of speed for a very long time, and therefore your heart rate stays high.
Basketball players are typically in very good physical condition, and they must spend quite a bit of time in the gym to be able to improve their overall stamina and speed.
Some people can’t get to this point of physical fitness in their lifetime, and basketball players have to do this day after day.
The game is hard, and golf does not even come close to being that physically demanding.
That being said, it is still very important for golfers to be in good physical condition.
The stronger your body is, the better you can swing the club and the more distance you can get as well.
Physical difficulties in golf can occur because of exhaustion or an inability to stay loose for an entire 18-hole round.
If you play golf and walk the course, you will also cover about five miles of distance.
However, physical difficulty experienced during a round of golf doesn’t compare to basketball, and no golfer will tell you that it does.
However, when it comes to the mental game, that is when we start to see just how difficult golf can be.
2. Mental Game
The mental game of golf is very difficult.
In order to play really great golf, you must have a strong mental game and also be able to stay mentally strong even after hitting bad shots.
While playing golf, you have to focus intently on what you are doing and be very careful about the decisions that you make on the course.
It is often said that the golfers who win on Sunday afternoon are those who were able to remain the strongest mentally throughout their round of golf.
This is partly what makes some professional athletes interested in playing golf.
They look at the sport as a challenge and realize that although it is not as physically demanding, it is just as, if not more, mentally demanding than the sport they play.
The mental game in basketball is a factor, but with all teams having to work together, there is a little less emphasis on individual players and their mental focus throughout a game.
In golf, we see this happen all the time.
Players have a two-shot lead going into the final hole and end up three shots back after they play that hole.
It’s just an unfortunate reality of the game of golf and how it is played.
3. Money And Access
It’s certainly easier to find a basketball court to go work on your game than it is to find a golf course.
In addition, it’s much cheaper to find a place to play basketball, as golf can be expensive.
Those who are working their way up the ranks to become professional golfers often have to join a private country club so that they have access to a course.
This is frustrating and something that keeps many people away from the sport.
Yet, to play basketball, you will need sneakers, a ball, a few friends, and maybe a jersey.
Golf is an entirely different scenario that requires at least a $1000 investment, but very often, it will be more than $1000.
Many people spend $5000 or more when just starting to golf.
Overall, the access to basketball is a bit better, and in the end, professional basketball players typically make more money.
Golfers typically don’t make as much as basketball players, but they do make good money when they play well and win.
Many sports like basketball, football, and baseball require players to sign a contract, but once that contract is signed, they still get paid even if they aren’t playing well.
Money and access to the game will set the two sports apart, but let’s face it—if Michael Jordan became a professional golfer, he wouldn’t be doing it for the money.
At this point in players like Jordan’s careers, they are all about wins and competition, and money is secondary.
4. Team Vs. Individual
Basketball is a team sport, and with the exception of something like the Ryder Cup, golf is an individual sport.
There are arguments for both sides as to which is harder.
In golf, if you hit a bad shot, it is your fault.
In basketball, if you lose a game, it is partially your fault, but you can’t take all the blame.
This can be good or bad depending on the situation.
Sometimes great basketball players get stuck playing on a team that is not very good.
These players often wish they were on a team by themselves so that they could finally win.
There are not many individual sports like golf, and that is part of what makes it appealing to people.
You have to be a certain type of person to be ok with taking the full blame for any mistakes that occur during your game.
If you feel strongly that you can handle that kind of pressure, golf is likely a good fit for you.
Until professional basketball players sign their contract and are selected by a team, they will likely have some time when their basketball skills are tested individually and not as part of a team.
This is where the two sports can overlap a bit.
5. Physical Attributes
Basketball players are almost always tall.
Of course, there are exceptions to this, but being tall certainly helps your basketball game.
However, when it comes to golf, we see both tall and short players.
There is really no one specific body type that works best for golf.
However, if you are looking to generate a lot of clubhead speed and power, the taller you are, the easier it is.
Luckily, with the importance of the short game and putting in golf, it is also equally important to be good on the greens, and this will not be impacted by your height.
It may be a little harder physically to play basketball than it is to play golf, but you will see plenty of golfers and basketball players overcome physical challenges during their time spent playing.
6. Time Commitment
Which sport takes more time to master: basketball or golf?
This really depends on the level of player you are trying to become.
If you want to become a professional in any sport, it is going to take extreme amounts of time to get there.
However, you may be able to play basketball quicker than golf recreationally.
The learning curve for golf is a slow one, and players will have to be patient because it takes time and practice to master skills.
It takes time to be a great golfer, and you can lose the skill quickly.
Even great players will tell you that after a few weeks of not playing, the club can feel almost like a foreign object in your hands.
When you become a great basketball player, it can be a little easier to retain those skills long-term.
Why Do So Many Professional Athletes Play Golf?
Michael Jordan is not the only sports professional who loves the game of golf.
Many football players like Tony Romo and Josh Allen also love to play, and there are even hockey players who are very good at golf.
The question that often comes up is what it is about the sport that makes people so interested in playing?
Typically speaking, the reason is that golf is always accessible to these types of stars and professionals.
Golfers don’t need a team of people to be able to go out and enjoy the game they love.
For players like Michael Jordan, whose basketball days are behind him, golf gives that glimpse into the competitive world of sports yet again.
In addition, there are some skills that professional athletes have that can be useful on the golf course.
These helpful skills could be hand-eye coordination, flexibility, the ability to pivot and transfer weight, and overall body awareness.
Therefore, the learning curve for some of these players is considerably easier.
Does Michael Jordan Have a Golf Course?
In the fall of 2019, Michael Jordan opened a golf course in Hobe Sound.
The golf course is called Grove XXIII.
This is a highly exclusive golf club that is invite-only.
If you are a friend of Jordan’s or he thinks you would be a good fit for the club, then you can join the club and play there.
This is a unique golf course that allows golfers to play four different nine-hole loops.
The course is essentially designed for players who want to have competitive matches against other players—something that happens quite often at Grove XXIII.
Most of us will never have the chance to play Grove XXIII, but we certainly can no longer doubt just how into the game of golf Michael Jordan is.
Anyone willing to invest in a full golf course and then actually spend time there likes the sport quite a bit.
Conclusion
We hope you now feel like you can understand Michael Jordan’s involvement in the game of golf.
He has played for many years and has made a name for himself in the sport, but he is not a professional.
Other basketball players like Steph Curry have shown that golf and basketball can often be a good combination, and there are many reasons to play both.
Regardless of your preference, we can all agree that both golf and basketball are difficult sports that require quite a bit of dedication and time on the part of a player.
If you are new to the sport, rest assured knowing that Michael Jordan thinks this is one of the most difficult sports that he has ever played.
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