21 y/o Community College Student - needs advice on how to get into College golf

[jgilbert]

Hi im a 21 year old Community College Student (yes i know im slow, but at least im going to school) I recently just got back into golf after a 6 year hiatus and was seeking some advice.

Backstory:
I started playing golf when I was about 10 when my dad asked me to caddy for him in his weekly saturday skins game with his buddies. Once I started shooting decent enough, which didnt take long, he let me play with them. From the ages of 11-15 I played in all the local junior tournaments, although I never won any of them I placed in the Top3/Top5 every once in awhile getting a medal. Once I entered highschool I joined the team, I ended up earning the #2 spot on our Varsity team as a freshman in a team full of Juniors/Seniors, at this time I could consistently shoot any where from 78-86 on most days 87-92 on rare bad ones.

Then disaster struck... Halfway through the school year my dad was transfered to Texas, after not playing for 2-3 months becaues of the transistion I finally tried out for the team in Texas but shot a horrible 55 on 9holes in terrible playing conditions while everyone on their team did bad too. I didnt make the team and lost all interest in playing - Not to mention my dad didnt play anymore on saturdays (and has only played 2-3 rounds since we moved) and the cost of playing out here was tripple of that in city in California - all this combined ended my golf career.

Here I am 6 years later a 21 year old, with my own money and about 2 weeks ago I had this immense desire to play golf again, after searching the internet for hours I found a course that was EXTEREMLY cheap to play on, I signed up and since then have spent about 75% of my free time out there Playing or Practicing(a few times the owner has had to make me go home because I was chipping/putting till it got dark and they had to lock the gate) I've been playing about 7-8 rounds a week so far, after the intial few of learning how to putt/chip again I got my scores back into the low 80's after one week. My last 3 rounds were 80, 82, 83 (even had about 3-4 double bogeys in each of them - once i get rid of those stupid mistakes I can break 80 again)

My goals are:
1 week: Break 80 a few times.
1 month: Consistently shoot 80 or lower
2-3 months: Shoot in low 70's

Given my current scores, practicing and playing schedule I think these goals are extremely realistic, other then that I want to start competing in the club tournaments here soon and my ultimate plans would be to try and play in some USGA amateur events next year(If im close to a scratch golfer by then)

I was just wondering If anyone had any advice for me in my current situation, if there was a way I could find a college I could transfer to and possibly try out for the team - or any other helpful information for someone in my situation. I know most colleges look for premier high school students and ones that played in all the local junior tournaments and won - things I didnt do - even though I think I can be just as good some day soon.

[Mitch Cumstein]

Few questions:
1. Why, exactly, are you looking to play in college? Are you looking for the competition, the coaching, the facilities, etc. or are you hoping to get a scholarship to offset the cost of school or that golf will help you get into a "better" school?

2. Do you care what division you play in? Obviously there is a big difference between getting on a team at a DI school and a DIII school.

3. How would you rate yourself academically?

4. Do you want/need to stay in Texas?

[jgilbert]

Few questions:

1. Pretty much everything you mentioned

2. Doesn't really matter, any competetion is better then none 3. Im not the best student but im not the worst, I have about a 2.9 GPA in CC, I do not know what my high school GPA was. 4. No i am impartial to Texas seeing as I wasnt born here and lived in California for 15 years.

[Mitch Cumstein]

If you follow through with your plan (shoot in the 70s, enter some USGA tournaments and do well) that should help you build your playing resume. Then, I would start reaching out to the coaches at some schools where you might be interested in going, express your interest and ask for advice. Your playing resume will give them an idea of what kind of player you are and whether you are right for their program. Even if you are not right for their program, they will probably point you in the right direction.

There are some DIII schools where you can just walk onto the team, no problem, especially shooting consistently in the 70s. However, to do that, you've got to get into the school, and DIII schools have less "flexibility" than DI schools when it comes to academics (in my experience). A coach who is really interested in getting you on his/her team can help with the admissions process, but they can't forgive all past academic sins.

DI is a little different story and one I don't know a lot about. My guess is, that unless you are a golf phenom, getting into a DI golf program, not even considering scholarships, is an extreme long shot. But that doesn't mean its not worth a try.

GolfDigest just did their College Golf issue. There is some good information in there, check it out.

[Shindig]

I don't think I can help you with any of this beyond the advice already given, but I want to say "good luck." I'm rooting for you. And welcome back to golf!

[jaqattack02]

Having a decent GPA in community college will help a lot. It will show whoever makes the academic decision about you at whatever college you apply to that you are able to make decent grades in a college environment.

[jgilbert]

my GPA has been steadily going up over the years, my first year of college I did ok, but my most recent one I got a 3.0, this next semister im shooting for 3.5 maybe even 4.0