Turning the page

Welcome back inside the ropes of my personal journey to PGA Tour Membership! It's been a while since I have given y'all an update on what's been going on in my life, and today is a great day to jump back in. For those who have been following for a while, thank you for sticking around. And for those who are new here, I'm so excited to have you along for the ride!


As of Saturday, August 28, 2021, I resigned my position at Sawgrass Country Club. I thoroughly enjoyed my time as both a cart attendant and Director of Outside Operations at a club with such a rich history and wonderful membership. But turning 24, and trying to work a full time job while working towards the PGA Tour was eye opening. To do both is simply not possible, so I had to make a decision. In the end, I have decided to move back home with my parents and dedicate my time to becoming the best golfer I can be!


So much has happened since my last update. I have experiences both wonderful successes that brought incredible happiness, and my share of struggles and heartbreak. I collected my first win as a professional golfer at the NFPGA Northern Chapter Championship. I took a life changing road trip out to Colorado that helped me realize how lucky I am to be a professional golfer - and how much 17 hour car rides suck. Through all of it, I have begun to rediscover my relationship with a God who has kept my head above water even in the darkest times, and learned so much about my identity both as a person and an athlete. 


Most recently, I successfully navigated Pre-Qualifying for the Korn Ferry Tour’s Q School tournament, and will be continuing that campaign in the coming weeks. This is bound to be a wild ride full of incredible highs and deep lows, but the end result will be exactly as it was always intended. 


For those who are new here - my goal with this blog is to both provide updates into my world, through my eyes, as well as helping you to get to know me better. I don’t put on a mask when I write for this blog. This is raw, unfiltered, authentically me. I encourage you to get into contact with me, either by leaving comments on these posts or through the “Contact” page, if you are interested in taking an even deeper dive into what it means to be Michael VanDerLaan. 


It’s a new chapter in my life and career, and I can’t wait to share it with you all! Now let’s go get a PGA Tour Card.
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