Marco Penge struggled to find a golf club in the USA after his move to the PGA Tour. This surprised many except Michael Kim.
Marco Penge was one of the rising stars last season. With a second place in the Race to Dubai, he not only nearly won the DP World Tour season but also earned his PGA Tour card for the new season. In early January, Penge moved to the USA to focus fully on the American tour, but the move did not make everything easier. At a press conference before the Farmers Insurance Open, Penge revealed that it was initially difficult for him to find a new golf club in the USA and it seems he is not alone in this struggle.
“I was rejected a few times”
Penge now plays at the Old Palm Golf Club in Florida and feels very comfortable there: “They are a genuine, family-oriented golf club and very relaxed,” he says. “Old Palm and I fit well together, and the facilities there are great.” However, getting there was not as easy as Penge probably expected. “I was rejected a few times.”
Michael Kim commented on this statement on X saying: “Most private clubs are very open to hosting pros once or twice but becoming a member is a different story. Usually, we need to know a few non-pro members to start the process. We are better off than a random businessman, but it’s not as simple as some might think. Unless you’re REALLY famous. Then it’s a different story. And Kim does not even count himself among the really famous ones. He means that the list of players who can simply join a golf club is mainly limited to major winners and the very best in the world.”
Marco Penge looks forward to the PGA Tour
Despite the difficulties with the golf club, his excitement for his debut as a PGA Tour member remains strong. “I am very much looking forward to playing the next four weeks. Starting here at Torrey Pines and then going to Phoenix, Pebble Beach, and Riviera is quite a good start to my life on the PGA Tour.”
Penge is qualified for the PGA Tour events over the next four weeks and kicks off the season this weekend at the Farmers Insurance Open. Although he had a rough start with a +3 in the first round, many experts still see good opportunities for him to make an impression in his first season.