Ever since you can remember, you’ve loved golf. From that first set of toy clubs, to the time you first scored a bogey, golf has been one of the great loves of your life. Now it’s time to take the next step and see if you have what it takes to be a golf professional. If this is the situation you’re in, you may want to consider enrolling in one of the country’s many golf schools.

Although it can sound too good to be true, enrolling in a school, academy or university specifically tailored to take you from keen amateur to professional is actually a proven way to take that all-important golfing step.

But what about your education? Sure, it would be great to play golf all day, but even the most obsessed person with the sport realizes that without a decent education, the chances for success are limited. And who wants to limit themselves? Also, ask yourself this: when you’re watching the Open, the Masters or pretty much any televised golf tournament, how many golfers are unable to string a coherent sentence together and how many seem to have left education not long after a parent stopped dropping them off at the school gate?

Almost none. That’s because being a professional golfer requires a combination, not just of golf skills, but also of strong educational qualifications and a desire to succeed.

Golf schools are without a doubt one of the best ways to achieve this, especially when you choose well. After all, the golfing industry is worth countless dollars and supports many people who have followed their dream to make golf not just a passion, but also a source of income.

For those serious about a career in this industry, deciding to combine the sport with an academic foundation can be the best way into the sport. All that you have to decide now is which university to choose. Obviously, personal situations need to be taken into account, but beyond this there are a few key things that you will need to consider during your selection process.

On a practical level, you will need to think about location. For a sport that is played outdoors, this becomes an important point. If you live in a state where snow and rain seem more common than sun, then you may have to bite the bullet and look to relocate for the length of your education. This is, of course, no different from many of your peers who will be criss-crossing the country to enroll at their college of choice.

Once you’ve settled on a location, spend some time surfing the net and searching for golf schools in the area. If you find more than one, look on forums for feedback and even ask a career counselor if he or she can let you know which ones have the best reputations.

Once you have a short list, look for how they combine golf and education. There needs to be a decent mix of the two, or your future prospects may suffer.

Then look at the facilities on offer. If you’re serious about a career in golf, then you are going to want a college or university to be able to offer state of the art facilities. There should also be indoor training using computer technology that can help with the technical side of the game.

Once you have found somewhere that ticks all these boxes, contact them and ask for a prospectus. Who knows, that initial inquiry at one of the country’s golf schools might be the first step on the green that leads to a victorious 18th hole in life.