GOLF has never been more popular with thousands of youngsters dreaming of joining the European Tour.

But for every Nick Faldo and Lee Westwood achieving success, hundreds fall by the wayside.

Many talented golfers instead plump for a career as a golf club pro but this is also tough, requiring vast resources of time, commitment, energy and talent.

Casualties abound with social lives, lie-ins and weekends, strewn along the way.

But for those who stick it out, the path leads to a job in the sport they love.

Will Graham is one such example and the 24-year-old has recently taken up the post as golf pro at Bewdley Pines Golf Club.

Last year he was teaching on a Shrewsbury driving range every night and weekend but now finds himself at a thriving course, the master of his own destiny.

Young pros have to make a lot of sacrifices to make the grade and getting used to different working hours is one of them.

"That is probably the hardest thing to cope with but people's leisure time is your work time," he said.

"Sometimes you get lads hoping to become assistants and they say 'do I have to work weekends?' they've got no idea.

"You basically lose your social life but you get used to it."

Will started playing golf as an eight-year-old with his grandfather and by 14 was hooked.

By 17 he was down to a handicap of three and embarked on a four-year PGA scheme at Telford Golf and Country Club, picking up the A to Z of golf from club repairs to the business side of running a pro shop.

"You learn everything from regripping and reshafting to bookkeeping," said Will who started a Bewdley just over a month ago.

The PGA course also includes the dreaded swing test in which two qualified pros put your knowledge of the golf swing under intense scrutiny.

"It is the most daunting thing I have done, far worse than a driving test.

"I have even seen some lads reduced to tears by it."

Having survived the rigours of the practical golf swing exam, newly qualified pros then have the difficult task of finding a club.

Around 180 qualify each year as Class B professionals but there are not 180 full time pros leaving clubs.

"It is difficult to get offered a place and is often word of mouth that gets you in at a club," said Will.

Ironically if they are lucky enough to land a job as a club pro they have less time to do what they love most -- playing golf.

"Every single pro in the world would love to be on tour but it is having the opportunity," said Will.

"There are certain lads who say they want to be golf pros and expect to be on tour but it doesn't work like that.

"If you want to try for your European tour card and play the qualifying school it costs £2,400 just to get through the tour school and that's just for six to eight rounds.

"The majority of club players don't know how good they are until they have been playing for a couple of years but you can't afford to do that unless you are sponsored.

"This process allows you to earn a living outside playing golf.

"You have to be sensible and realise your potential otherwise you could waste a lot of years trying to get your tour card and then still have to do four years to do your PGA training."

Will loves playing -- in 1999 he was eighth in the Midlands Order of Merit -- but the finances of competing mean that is not an option at the moment.

"A friend of mine has taken six months out of to play on the Masters Card Tour and it has cost him £6,000 just for entry fees and that doesn't include travel or accommodation.

"He's managed to earn just £250 and £50."

For now Will is happy to concentrate on his fledling career at Bewdley but the competitive bug still burns bright and one day in the future he is hoping to step back into the fray.

Anyone interested in playing Bewdley Pines Golf Club can call 01299-404744.