Can I play college golf?

Originally Posted by BostonBrew

Another obstacle for your goal of playing college golf is one out of your control. Many school teams don't have walk-ons or "tryouts" anymore. They put so much time and money into recruiting that they don't need to. So just a heads up on that end.

Originally Posted by Beachcomber

I'd focus on your grades, and school work.  Get a good job.  Then you can afford to play golf on your free time.  Trying to chase something that you have spent little to no time - when others have spent thousands of hours and are considerable better than a 14 HDCP, seems like a waste of time to me?  I mean, go play a ton of golf and have fun doing it.  But why put the added stress of trying to make a college golf team?  Even if it is D3?  The guys on the D3 team aren't going to be 5 Handicaps... I can assure you.

Originally Posted by millencolinman

He said it's a D3 school, they don't really recruit or give any scholarships for athletics. I would think if you got to a 5 you might have a shot of making the team, but its hard to tell without knowing the level of competition they play against. Look at the scores posted online from the current team and see how you stack up. In the end the only way you'll really find out is to show up and see if you make the cut.

Originally Posted by cjtomo

So my senior year is coming to an end. I am attending the University of Redlands in California (D3 Athletics) and I really want to try out for the golf team. I did not play in high school, I played football and track. I do play a fair amount of golf, I live on the golf course tht I'm a member of so I can easily practice everyday over the summer. I would say my handicap is around a 14, but recently I've been playing closer to a 12. I plan on playing everyday and hitting the range and work my short game. My goal is to be around a 5 handicap and consistently break 80. Is there any chance of me making the golf team?

If it helps at all, I hit my 7 iron around 175 and driver average around 270, but I can hit some good ones around 310. My putting is probably my best part of my game.

Any tips would or advice would be great!

Thanks!

So chances are your 7i is really about 150, and your drives, 250-60. That means little though, its not just practice. You need to practice correctly and understand every part of your swing from the waggle to the end of the follow through. At a 12-14, without coaching, the realistic chance that you will make the college golf team is very, very low.

Originally Posted by cjtomo

Actually, I do hit my 7i 175.... I live in colorado at a high altitude so the ball goes farther. I do not know my distances at sea level though. And I workout a lot. I'm not trying to go pro here. And I understand the whole grade thing. But I know I have great grades, and academics won't be an issue for me in college. It's not like I don't play sports. I'm pretty athletic, I could play both football and track in college, but I love golf more. I'm just asking where I would need my game play to be at to play division 3.

Also, most of you don't realize that D3 does NOT give athletic scholarships, so I doubt what you really know.

Originally Posted by Beachcomber

One of my high school golf teammates was nearly a scratch golfer... Shot 36/37 regularly in our team matches, was our #1 man on the team, and set our school record in 1993 by shooting a 31 on a par 36 during a match (pretty cool as I witnessed the round as I was our #2 man).  My point is, this kid made it through the Regional and into Districts, but didn't make State.  He went on and played D3 college golf at Otterbein on a partial scholarship (D3 didn't - at least at that time offer full ride scholarships - this may have changed??).

I can tell you a 5 Hdcp would not make the Otterbein team in 1995... At least this was the case back in the mid 90's.  And with the Tiger effect, I believe competition has gotten better?  As there is more junior tournaments, etc.  So I'd think D3 standards have gotten higher with whom can make a team?  I don't know anything about the University of Redlands, but here is one of their recent tournaments:

http://www.goredlands.com/sports/mgolf/2012-13/releases/20130408roq3g6

These kids play all their courses from the tips... And La Purisima is a legit course.  Very difficult track - and if the wind is blowing off the coast, it is even harder.  7,105yds from the tips at sea level.  75.6/143.  The course isn't a joke.  So while some of those guys shot in the 80's and one guy 92/87.... I'm willing to bet they are low digit handicappers who just struggled on a very difficult track?

Here is another example of the type of players in Junior tournament golf in 2012...

http://scpgajt.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/scpgajt12/event/scpgajt12197/contest/4/leaderboard.htm

Also, playing tournament golf is so much harder than just going out and scoring low with your buddies.  Maybe try a few amateur tournaments in your area, and see how you do under real tournament pressure.  If you exceed your own expectations in performance and play.... Then maybe invest the time and money and try and make the team.  If you fail miserably in the amateur tournaments... Then maybe you should consider focusing on something else?

Originally Posted by cjtomo

So my senior year is coming to an end. I am attending the University of Redlands in California (D3 Athletics) and I really want to try out for the golf team. I did not play in high school, I played football and track. I do play a fair amount of golf, I live on the golf course tht I'm a member of so I can easily practice everyday over the summer. I would say my handicap is around a 14, but recently I've been playing closer to a 12. I plan on playing everyday and hitting the range and work my short game. My goal is to be around a 5 handicap and consistently break 80. Is there any chance of me making the golf team?

If it helps at all, I hit my 7 iron around 175 and driver average around 270, but I can hit some good ones around 310. My putting is probably my best part of my game.

Any tips would or advice would be great!

Thanks!