Native New Englander Pat Bradley, a member of the LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame, was a guest speaker at the LPGA Futures Tour's seminar at The International at Concord tournament in New Hampshire
The 31-time LPGA Tour winner addressed the Futures Tour rookies in a financial planning seminar and answered questions from the players.
She described how she launched her LPGA career in 1974 with $12,000 and learned to stretch her money. She also noted how she would travel on a budget by staying in private housing – an option also currently used today by many Futures Tour pros.
Bradley grew up in Massachusetts, but made her professional start in Nashua, N.H., just down the road from where The International at Concord event is hosted. When she went to the LPGA’s Qualifying Tournament in 1974, Bradley said there were 29 players in her class and only 11 made it through the Q-School to the LPGA.
When asked if she were given a mulligan for any financial decisions in her career, Bradley said, “I would have been more proactive in my finances.”
She also advised players to ask questions, to always pay their taxes and to seek out help from professional financial advisors as they build their careers and begin earning more money in professional golf.
“You are your own enterprise,” she told the players.
When asked why she wanted to meet the LPGA Futures Tour’s rookie class and be a part of the discussion presented by the LPGA, Bradley said it was because she remembers when she was a rookie and just starting her career.
“I see their innocence and desire and I wanted to share my experience with them,” she said. “These women are the future of our game and our tour, and we have to stand in their corner to help them if we can. I also wanted to meet them and let them know we’re rooting for them to get to the big stage on the LPGA.”
The 31-time LPGA Tour winner addressed the Futures Tour rookies in a financial planning seminar and answered questions from the players.
She described how she launched her LPGA career in 1974 with $12,000 and learned to stretch her money. She also noted how she would travel on a budget by staying in private housing – an option also currently used today by many Futures Tour pros.
Bradley grew up in Massachusetts, but made her professional start in Nashua, N.H., just down the road from where The International at Concord event is hosted. When she went to the LPGA’s Qualifying Tournament in 1974, Bradley said there were 29 players in her class and only 11 made it through the Q-School to the LPGA.
When asked if she were given a mulligan for any financial decisions in her career, Bradley said, “I would have been more proactive in my finances.”
She also advised players to ask questions, to always pay their taxes and to seek out help from professional financial advisors as they build their careers and begin earning more money in professional golf.
“You are your own enterprise,” she told the players.
When asked why she wanted to meet the LPGA Futures Tour’s rookie class and be a part of the discussion presented by the LPGA, Bradley said it was because she remembers when she was a rookie and just starting her career.
“I see their innocence and desire and I wanted to share my experience with them,” she said. “These women are the future of our game and our tour, and we have to stand in their corner to help them if we can. I also wanted to meet them and let them know we’re rooting for them to get to the big stage on the LPGA.”