The Top 10 Steps to College Golf is intended
to help junior golfers in their pursuit of
becoming a college golfer. Use the following
steps and other resources as a guide in
preparing for college.
1. High GPA and Test Scores
A good
academic record is more important than a
good golf record. College coaches are
reluctant to select a player that might have
trouble staying eligible, so study hard and
stay focused. Below are links to the SAT,
ACT and TOEFL websites. All college bound
high school students should take the SAT and
ACT more than once since most students
receive higher scores on their second and
third attempts. Start taking these tests
during your sophomore year, so come
recruitment time you will have test scores
to include in your resume.
2. Compete in Nationally Ranked
Tournaments
Competing
in the top tournaments not only gives you
more exposure, the experience gained by
playing against the best players on the best
courses is invaluable. Cautiously select a
tournament schedule that is challenging and
fits within your budget. Some tournaments,
although large and well known, can be very
expensive. Ask other players and parents
about tournaments they have competed in and
find tournaments that are within your
budget, conducted professionally and fun.
Below are links to a few golf associations
that conduct nationally ranked junior
events.
3. National Rankings
Years ago college coaches would travel to
many tournaments during the summer to find
possible recruits, but now with so many
tournaments and hundreds great players, they
rely more on resources like National Junior
Golf Scoreboard to locate the top players.
Visit the links below to understand how the
rankings are determined and select a
tournament schedule that will maximize your
ranking.
4. Register with the NCAA Initial
Eligibility Clearinghouse
Register
with NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse
after your junior year grades have been
posted to your transcript to be eligible for
an athletic scholarship.
5. Contact Colleges
After your
sophomore year compose a list of all
prospective colleges (at least 25). Include
various different colleges by size,
location, difficulty of entry, golf program,
and more. Produce a letter of introduction, golf
resume, and possibly a video to be
mailed to all the coaches on your list.
Below are some helpful points to consider on
making contact with college coaches.
-
Contact coaches via phone, email, or
letter before/during your high school
years. Inform
them of your desire to join their team
once you graduate and ask the coach to
follow your progress. Give coaches
updates periodically, especially after
any outstanding performances.
- Letter of Interest
• Introduce yourself; include a brief
personal history and your desire to
attend the college.
- Golf Resume
• Include goals in college, golf
accomplishments, upcoming schedule,
school accomplishments, and other
interests.
• Sample Resume:
(Sample
Resume)
- Video
• Short and simple video (5 minutes)
including full swings with Driver, long
iron, short iron, some short wedge
shots, bunker shots and holing some
putts.
- Follow
Up/Thank You Letter
6. Campus Visits
Once a
school shows interest, discuss a visit with
the coach. An official visit is when the
college pays for majority of the expenses
related to the visit. If a coach is
interested, but doesn’t want to use an
official visit, try to set up an unofficial
visit. Before a visit do some research on
the school and prepare many questions to ask
the coach and players.
When
traveling to tournaments try to stop by
campuses you are interested in. At least
drive through the campus and see if its a
place you would like to go.
- Visit schools on your final list.
Meet with the golf coach and tour the
campus.
- Students are allowed five
official visits during their senior
year.
Advice
during visits:
A visit to a campus could be the most
important step. Coaches want to get to know
you and see if you'll be able to adapt to
college life and most importantly, fit in
with the other team members. Talk with and
ask questions to players on the teams. Try to be very
open with the coach, ask questions, and show
excitement. Remember; coaches spend most of
their days around kids just like you, so
relax and be yourself.
7. National Letter of Intent
A National
Letter of Intent (NLI) is a letter that is
basically a one-year binding agreement
between you and the college. Once a NLI is
signed and submitted you shouldn’t receive
any additional recruitment information. A
NLI is not necessary, but is recommended.
For more information regarding NLI’s follow
the links below.
8. Financial Aid
College can
be very expensive, especially if you attend
an out-of-state school. Coaches have a
limited number of scholarships to disperse
and usually they award partial scholarships
to players that earn them through
performance. Don’t assume or rely on an
athletic scholarship; apply for academic
scholarships, grants, and if necessary,
loans. Meet with a financial aid counselor
for more specific information regarding
scholarships, grants, and loans. Follow the
links below for more information on
financial aid. Remember to apply early!
9. More Resources and Guides
Utilize the
many resources available to ease the college
preparation process. Below are links to the
most widely used resources.
10. Don’t Lose Your Eligibility!
Eligibility
is not something to take for granted. Be
very cautious when presented with gifts or
awards for your golf ability. The FHSAA,
NCAA and USGA don't share all of the same
rules, so be sure to refer to each of them.
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