It is exactly what Ben Gear, the new club professional at Parkes Golf Club, did before joining the trainee professional program at the ripe old age of 26.

While he acknowledges it was a late start, Ben believes the life experiences he had before becoming a professional set him up mentally for the challenges ahead.

“It was a late start and I kind of fell into it as well,” Ben said.

“I had played a lot of other sports and grew up in a sporty household.

“My dad was right into cricket.

“I ran into someone in Canada who suggested I do it and it began from there.

“I began the program at the age of 26 at my home club of Asquith.

“The pro at Asquith got the job at Monash Country Club so I did my second year there before I completed my program at Terry Hills.

“I went to Terry Hills because it gave me a better opportunity to work on my golf and the facilities are great.

“I did pretty well in the trainee events which was good and finished my trainee-ship in 2010.”

After a six month stint as the pro at Asquith, Ben was presented with a fantastic opportunity to teach at as golf school over in China.

“In my first six months as a pro, I was competing in pro-ams, but wasn’t doing anything too exciting.

“A couple of things happened in my life and I decided to do the first of two stints in China at a golf school in Shandong Province which was really good.

“In fact, my entire time in China left me with some great life experiences and some really good friendships.”

In between his stints at China, Ben spent a year long stint at the prestigious Royal Canberra Golf Club.

He and his partner Som have enjoyed their time in the area so far and he has good plans to help the club in the future.

“I really want to grow golf in the region,” Ben said.

“There is a great opportunity to grow on the work Simon Houston (former Parkes professional) did.

“I’m really excited to get the juniors flourishing and will look to run a weekly session with them as well as some coaching clinics during the school holidays.

“I’m excited for what the future will hold.”