CDP Golf
About
I picked a golf club up in my garage when I was 10 years old for the first time. That summer I stole my Dads lawnmower and walked it to the local park and mowed 4 greens out of the weeds. A local pro in Clear Lake had given me some old flagsticks that I stuck in the ground. I played those 4 holes every way you could imagine that summer and taught myself the golf swing. I never took a lesson until I turned pro. My Grandpa was one of the first members at Bay Oaks CC and that is where I honed my skills. I played junior golf every summer and won everything I entered, AJGA events when it could be afforded, and other various events around the state/country. I qualified for the Junior World in San Diego when I was 17. I, of course, played throughout high school and did fairly well.
I failed to pursue an inevitable college career due to some major personal hurdles in 1993-1994. I was able to overcome those for good in 1996 and begin to dream of professional golf again. In 1998 I really began to work on my game again and things began to fall into place.
I began my professional golf career in January of 2000. I was able to sell myself/abilities to private financing prospects and went to the NGA Hooters Tour Qualifying Tournament (Kingwood CC). I played poorly and wasn’t able to gain playing privileges full-time. I worked hard and Monday qualified that year doing fairly well throughout the season. I returned the next season and won the Qualifying tournament (Kingwood CC, Marsh) gaining full access to the tour. It was a fun year. I played fulltime the next 2 seasons (Hooter’s, Tight Lies, Nationwide tours) heading into 2003. I reached a point in my life after meeting my bride and soul mate that golf wasn’t everything anymore.
This has created another passion in teaching that I truly enjoy. In between my full-time job, my kids and my wife, I love to give back 2 decades worth of wealth and knowledge that has been given me.
Chris Payne