Tales from Q School: Inside Golf's Fifth Major

by John Feinstein

It is the tournament that separates champions from mortals. It is the starting point for the careers of future legends and can be the final stop on the down escalator for fading stars. The annual PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament is one of the most grueling competitions in any sport. Every fall, veterans and talented hopefuls sweat through six rounds of hell at Q school, as the tournament is universally known, to get a shot at the PGA Tour, vying for the 30 slots available. The grim reality: If you don't make it through Q school, you're not on the PGA tour. You're out. And those who make it to the sixday finals are the lucky ones: hundreds more players fail to get through the equally grueling first two stages of the event. John Feinstein tells the story of the players who compete for these coveted positions in the 2005 Q school as only he can. With arresting accounts from the players, established winners, rising stars, the defeated, and the endlessly hopeful, America's favorite sportswriter unearths the inside story behind the PGA Tour's brutal all-ornothing competition.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction

343 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2007

About the author

John Feinstein was an American sportswriter, author, and sports commentator.

Reviews

[Peter Corrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've seen John Feinstein books for years mainly at all the used bookstores I frequent but never actually read one. Apparently he has written 44 books at this point! I have to say I was impressed with this effort. Although it may be a bit dated in terms of the format and purpose of 'Q School' the human drama certainly exists in a different way and Feinstein describes it most convincingly. Getting to the top echelon of the golf world is NOT easy! For all the greats there are 100 (actually way more) guys struggling just to the breathe the same air as the Tigers, Phils and Scotties of the world. You might look at all this as guys with 'First-World Problems' and some I suppose might dismiss most golfers as 'privileged'. But Feinstein has a gift for humanizing these names through stories and anecdotes that must have taken quite an effort to amass and keep straight. And the acknowledgements reflect this--they are among the most exhaustive I have ever seen in a book. Some in fact seeming to have little to do with this book but still it is an impressive number of names in there. I might be inclined to pick up another Feinstein along the way, he is a gifted (and hard-working) story-teller. Correction to my own review: I did read 'Living on the Black: Two Pitchers, Two Teams, One Season to Remember'.

[Mark Dodson · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Q School” refers to the annual tournament series a player has to survive to qualify for the PGA Tour. This extended test weeds out the field of over 2500 contestants down to about 30 or so survivors. These remaining few are then eligible for play on the PGA (or for a few that come up just a bit short, the Nationwide Tour) the following year. Feinstein captures the good, the bad, and the tension of it all in the conversations with many players, chronicling the 2005 event. There are lots of player comments and insights ranging from former big stars on the rebound to obscure players you may never have heard of. There’s also commentary from organizers and officials, and some background on how the tournament evolved into what it is today.

This is the third Feinstein book I’ve read, and he really seems to “get” golf. If you’ve been around it or played a lot this should be a very interesting read. If nothing else, it really shows how fine a line there is between success and failure at this level, and reinforces just how amazingly good a player has to be to make it to the PGA Tour.

[Dustin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. It's a little dated, because getting through Q School now only guarantees a spot on the secondary tour. The stories are interesting, and you get a great feel for what it's like to be a golfer on the fringe of respectability. None of these guys are the world beating superstars of their day, but they all have the talent to at least compete.
The one big take away for me was the psychology of the players. Reading this, I could see why a lot of the golfers weren't at an elite level. Many of them openly discuss how much they over-think or self doubt. It's further proof that the physical side of the game is only a small fraction of the overall package. I can't imagine that the greatest players in any sport, at any time, ever let thoughts of doubt cloud their thinking. That's probably why they're the best.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book by Feinstein that offers an unparalleled "behind-the-scenes" look at sport. A perspective that most of us wish we had. Feinstein makes us feel like we were there!

[Brendan Crowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales from Q School tells the story of the 2005 Q school tournament through the eyes of a handful of the 1000’s of PGA Tour hopefuls who competed that year – some famous, others less so. The book is packed full of interesting anecdotes about the qualifying school that lower-rung golfers had to go through to get to the PGA Tour.

At the time there were three stages at Q school – first stage, second stage, and finals. Players paid close to $5,000 for a chance to compete in the tournaments and potentially win a place on the PGA Tour – or at least get playing privileges on the secondary tour.

Since 2012, Q School has stopped offering a route directly to the PGA Tour – instead it is a qualifier for the secondary tour and a separate 4 event tournament offers a route to get to or remain on the big tour. So while Q school might be a different beast now, the vast majority of pro players operating today will have gone through Q school as it is chronicled by Feinstein.

John Feinstein is one of the most widely read authors of books on US sports with his back catalogue covering american football, basketball, baseball and golf. It is clear he enjoys telling the stories of the less well known professional sportsmen and women as much as he does the superstar.

Feinstein deals with the human element of the tournament – the solitary and gutwrenching journey that the players faced to try and earn a place at the top table. As he notes, only in golf can earning half a million dollars a year be considered a failure!

What emerges is a real sense of the importance of the mental element of the game, and indeed any top level professional sport. The margins are so fine between success and failure – one double bogey or one error off the tee can be the difference between life as a club pro or the opportunity for multiple million dollar riches.

It was a little confusing at times because the narrative jumps around. There is also repetition as players backgrounds are repeated as we encounter them again at a later stage. While this repetition is understandable given the vast number of characters, it gets annoying if you read the book over a very short period.

Notwithstanding these points, I found the book to incredibly interesting and utterly absorbing. The stories of players missing out by one shot or one hole were heartbreaking. Players who signed for the wrong score and missed their one big shot just like that. Players who collapsed on the final 9 holes after playing masterfully for 13 and half rounds before then.

Feinstein, as is obvious across all his work, is a master interviewer who gets great quotes and detail from all of the golfers he covers. Overall, a well-written, informative and enjoyable book.

See all of my sports book reviews at https://allsportsbooks.reviews

[Chris Foley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is unbelievably relatable. Every golfer knows the ups and downs of golf. Good days, bad days. When everything is clicking, and when it’s just not working. That’s this book except with 1,000x the pressure as pro golfers are fighting for their livelihood to make the pro tour.

You would think it’s just young guys, but it’s not. It’s former Masters winners, big name tour pros, and yes, a lot of no-name up and coming golfers who get so close. Some make it. Some don’t. It’s wonderful and tragic at the same time.

This book will change your perspective on just how hard it is to make the tour, and give you a new respect for anyone who’s on it, or trying to make it there.

[Todd Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super interesting look at a part of golf that I didn't even know existed. Feinstein is great at spinning short vignette's about the various players and was able to capture both the highs and lows of the outcomes. Some truly heartbreaking collapses from some of the guys down the stretch that led to missing the tour by the smallest of margins! I found this to be a lot more exciting/interesting than Open.

[Gavin Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Needed a change of genre. Looked at sports books, a first that I can recall. Checked out this book. It was interesting chronicle of human experience in a pressure cooker of a golf tournament to put players onto the PGA Tour. Fun read for a golf nerd, especially one who knows the players of the era written about. Might not be so exciting for the non-golf fan. Quick read, only a couple of sittings.

[T. Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Feinstein book. Not nearly as exciting as A Good Walk Spoiled or Caddy for Life, but the reader gains a lot of respect for those who are barely scraping by. He follows a lot of different players, which makes it a little more challenging to follow (but interesting to learn all of their stories).

[a.t.m. · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

The book is written written to educate readers on how hard it is to get to the good life in professional golf. It is a painful read, but, nonetheless very insightful on the process. After reading this book, you will never watch a pro golf tournament the same way. Truly the players are talented beyond compare and I highly recommend this book.

[Ritika · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe it’s because I don’t know enough about golf but this felt so much like a story that turned into a listing of golfers scores and accolades. I learned a ton about Q school and both PGA and Nationwide tours but there was no other common link that helped the stories flow and I can’t say that any stand out to me now that I’ve finished.

[Mike Flanagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read, even 15 years later. Feinstein offers a glimpse into the minds and lives of those trying to make it to the top of their field - which is great for golfers but also has applicability far beyond sports.

[Dennis Marr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very depressing read

This book tells more heartbreaking stories than any i have ever read. I think i would have been better off not knowing the torture these guys go through in this process. That said, the book is well written. Its just a tough story.

[Aladdin Abed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another pretty interesting listen! The year is a little outdated of course so not seeing a bunch of recognizable names (as a golf newbie). Also pretty difficult to follow sometimes since there’s some jumping around in years. But still very interesting

[Jonny Brick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A study in why golf is truly a good walk, spoiled. Useful character studies of golf's middle class trying to get into the elite before the LIV Tour spat money at them. But so much pressure just for hitting a small ball around!

[Syon Bhanot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok - would have been nice to have more details on the actual rounds, I suppose. Felt a bit short. But pleasant enough.

[Ryne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic stories well told.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging sportswriting. I did not know if I would enjoy it, but a total page turner.

[Michael Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story following golfers in Q School

[Steven Beningo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book. The only significant problem with the book is that so many golfers are discussed in the book that it is a bit difficult to follow individual golfers in the text.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reminder how fickle a round of golf can be. Remember the adage "drive for show but putt for dough"

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the only people who may enjoy this book are those who love golf. I'm not one of them.

[Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars only because it’s slightly dated by how the qualifications and such work in present day. But the stories are still great.

[Wayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

If this book went to Q School it wouldn't make the cut.

[Chip · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this but felt it focused overwhelmingly on the guys who didn't catch a break instead of the golfers who were able to squeak on to the tour.

[Lietke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat repetitive. Could have used more off-course anecdotes.

[Christopher DuMont · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book and a quick read . He covers a lot of golfers and it is hard to keep track of them all but it is an interesting story and topic to cover \ if you like golf, this is a good one to read

[Charlie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found the storyline difficult to follow with so many golfers entering and exiting the picture. Interesting to think about how many unsuccessful, but elite, athletes there are for every champion.

[Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales From Q School:
What is Your Story?

Many people don’t know about the fifth major tournament in golf. They also don’t know that it could be the most important of them all. Tales From Q School is a nonfiction golf book about Q school (qualification school). John Feinstein talks about how Q school affects a golfer’s life. A lot of people think golfer’s can just sign up to get into the PGA tour, but you can’t. They have to go through a process described as qualification school. This book is mainly about the 2005 Q school. If you get to the Q school finals, you can either play on the nationwide golf tour, or the PGA tour, depending on the six rounds of golf you play.

Before I get into my thesis, I would like to explain Q school’s basics. There are three stages at Q school. First stage, second stage, and finals. You can be exempt from stages because of past successes. It costs $4,000 to enter Q school. After entering, the top 35 players in first stage plus ties get into second stage. Next, the top 20 plus ties from second stage get into the final stage. The final stage consists of players who got past the second round, and players that get exemptions. Players that placed 126th to 150th on the PGA tour money list are brought straight to finals. The players that placed 24th to 40th on the Nationwide tour also go straight to finals. There are six rounds in the final stage compared to the four rounds in the other two stages. The top 25 players plus ties get into the PGA tour. The next 50 players plus ties are awarded full status on the Nationwide tour. All others in the finals are allowed only partial status on the Nationwide tour. Three reasons why Q school affects a golfer’s life so much, are because one shot can change your future for the next year, Q school builds character, and everybody has a story from Q school, superior or dreadful.

The first way Q school affects a golfers life so much is that one shot can change your future for the next year. If you take failing in Q school the wrong way, then it can affect your life throughout your golfing career. “It started right of the flagstick and started drifting left, the wind pushed it toward the bunker he wanted to avoid at all costs. The ball took one big bounce and landed in the bunker. Tomasulo looked sick” (299). Therefore, Tomasulo didn’t make the PGA tour that year because of that one shot.
Another way Q school can change a player’s life is that it builds character. Have you heard the saying “If it doesn’t kill you, it makes you stronger”? Building character makes you stronger both physically and mentally. Being in Q school really builds you up mentally, because when you’re young and you want to get a sense of the level of play at a high level, you can. “He knew his dream of going straight from college in the spring to the PGA tour the following winter was gone” (154). “I’ve seen the pressures of Q school make a grown man cry” (41)

Finally, the last reason Q school affects players is that everybody has a story in Q school. “Indeed very few Q school stories are made up. There’s really no need” (41) People claim to be able to have very long conversations just about Q school stories. There are jaw-dropping Q school stories and there are devastating Q school stories. It’s hard to believe how much goes on in this semi-televised tournament.
The three reasons why Q school affects a golfer’s life so much, are because one shot can change your future for the next year, Q school builds character, and everybody has a story from Q school, excellent or diabolical. I rate this book four out of five stars because I really like golf and the stories that come with it. This book was jam-packed with stories. In the end, everybody has a golf story. I have been in tryouts where if you don’t make the team, you have to wait a whole year to try again. Fortunately that hasn’t happened to me. I was trying out for baseball one year, and I didn’t know if I would make the team. If I didn’t, I would have to wait another year to try again. Tales from Q school helped me realize that you have to work so hard to achieve your goal.