Getting noticed for college golf

[TN94z]

My 14 year old just started playing high school golf this year. At our local school, they don't start until 9th grade. He has been playing off and on for years but never taken it that serious until now. He started off shooting in the 60s on 9, so I had him start working with a friend who is a teacher and he has dropped 20 strokes throughout the season. He worked his way up to #3 on the team. They made it to districts and just played regionals yesterday, but fell just a bit short of moving on. His plan is to work even harder now that season is over with a goal of getting into the 30s by next season.

All of this has lead me to start thinking about college and how to get him noticed. What do you guys think are the best ways to get noticed by a collegiate golf team? What scores/accomplishments does it take for each division for example? And what are the things I should be working on, outside of technique, to help get his name out there? We have a really good college in our hometown and their coach keeps up with the local teams, so that won't be an issue.  But I am thinking of the bigger names as well. Thanks

[chspeed]

Check out these websites:

http://new.collegegolf.com/

https://www.ajga.org/parents/brookstop10.asp

http://golfstat.com/html/prep.html

[JxQx]

Placing well in youth/amateur events around the area will help as well as getting to and placing well in state sectionals. 

[DaveP043]

I'd suggest looking to your state and regional golf association for junior events.  For instance, Virginia has its own Junior Golf Circuit. http://vsga.org/juniors/  You might consider adding your location to your profile, it might help you get some more specific suggestions.

[Groucho Valentine]

Scholarship golf? AJGA events are good for that. So are most state golf association tournaments. Its very competitive, though.  Otherwise, when it comes tome for your boy to pick a college, select one that has a golf program he likes as well and then see if he can play his way onto the team. 

[DaveP043]

@Groucho Valentine jogged my brain a little when he said to pick a college (first) that has a golf program your son likes (second).  For just about everyone, the college education should be the primary basis of selection.  A golf scholarship certainly could skew the choice, but the education, finding the right field, the right general location, they all have to come ahead of the golf.  Golf may pay for some of it, but its the education that's going to be most important when his college days are over.

[TN94z]

1 hour ago, chspeed said:

Check out these websites:

http://new.collegegolf.com/

https://www.ajga.org/parents/brookstop10.asp

http://golfstat.com/html/prep.html

I'll check those out. Thanks

1 hour ago, JxQx said:

Placing well in youth/amateur events around the area will help as well as getting to and placing well in state sectionals. 

I kind of thought that placing well in those type events would actually hold more weight than high school golf from what I have seen this year. The matches mean nothing, in my opinion, because there is no scorer and MANY of the players cheat. It came out in districts and regionals who had cheated during the year though. They had scorers with each group there. Kids that were posting 40s on 9 during normal match play were posting 120s in the 18 hole district tournament and regional tournaments.

54 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

I'd suggest looking to your state and regional golf association for junior events.  For instance, Virginia has its own Junior Golf Circuit. http://vsga.org/juniors/  You might consider adding your location to your profile, it might help you get some more specific suggestions.

Location added. Sorry about that. I will check into that as well. I know in Nashville, which isn't far, Brandt Snedeker has a junior tour that I am thinking about getting Jacob playing on next year as well.

30 minutes ago, Groucho Valentine said:

Scholarship golf? AJGA events are good for that. So are most state golf association tournaments. Its very competitive, though.  Otherwise, when it comes tome for your boy to pick a college, select one that has a golf program he likes as well and then see if he can play his way onto the team. 

Well, the main concern is getting into college period. Golf is just going to be a bonus if he can play. Obviously, a scholarship playing golf would help tremendously. The last suggestion you made is my primary plan, but the help of a scholarship could also add more options for an even better education than some local schools.

15 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

@Groucho Valentine jogged my brain a little when he said to pick a college (first) that has a golf program your son likes (second).  For just about everyone, the college education should be the primary basis of selection.  A golf scholarship certainly could skew the choice, but the education, finding the right field, the right general location, they all have to come ahead of the golf.  Golf may pay for some of it, but its the education that's going to be most important when his college days are over.

College education is the most important thing with golf being a plus. Having a career to fall back on in anything is the top priority because I'm obviously not counting on a PGA tour career or anything...haha. But scholarships could help with money, which could in turn allow him to go to an even better school and get an even better education. I'm just thinking ahead. I want to be able to give him the best opportunity that he can get at an education and a prosperous career. That is my main concern.

[WUTiger]

I teach at the college level, and one thing that really helps gain the attention of college golf coaches is good grades in high school.

College golf is - day to day - one of the most time-consuming sports you can play. Yeaaaars ago, I both wrestled and played golf on the junior college level. For wrestling practice, I walked 100 yards from the library to the gym, practiced for 2 hours, and was done for the day. For golf, I had to hitch a ride to the course about four miles from campus, spent two to six hours doing golf things, and then returned to campus. Being it was junior college, most of our away golf matches were about an hour from campus or less.

At a four-year college, players will be gone a week at a time in the spring for some of the bigger golf matches. Players have to negotiate with teachers, and then deliver assignments on time amid the travels. Being able to study effectively and having solid time management skills are just as important as having a low HDCP.

Lots of small-college golf programs have a player or two who started out in the big time, but crashed and burned academically and had to do some serious regrouping.

Despite all the challenges, golfers who make it for four years tend to be excellent students.

[TourSpoon]

I have to echo the above. If you want your son to be noticed, make sure he has excellent grades along with a decent golf swing. Student-Athletes are just that, STUDENT-Athletes. When 2 players contact a coach, or get noticed with similar athletic ability, the coach will pick the one that shows the most promise of making the grade academically. 

I would have your son start by emailing the coaches in the schools he is interested in with a bit of his profile and why he wants to attend that school. He can list his academic profile, his golf stats, and upcoming tournaments. The school may have a survey for prospective student-athletes and recruiting events or clinics put on by the program. There are a lot of opportunities out there for those willing to reach out. 

If you want any other information, pm me. My son is a NCAA athlete and did a good job of promoting himself, picking a school, and negotiating a decent scholarship in lacrosse. 

[TN94z]

8 hours ago, WUTiger said:

I teach at the college level, and one thing that really helps gain the attention of college golf coaches is good grades in high school.

College golf is - day to day - one of the most time-consuming sports you can play. Yeaaaars ago, I both wrestled and played golf on the junior college level. For wrestling practice, I walked 100 yards from the library to the gym, practiced for 2 hours, and was done for the day. For golf, I had to hitch a ride to the course about four miles from campus, spent two to six hours doing golf things, and then returned to campus. Being it was junior college, most of our away golf matches were about an hour from campus or less.

At a four-year college, players will be gone a week at a time in the spring for some of the bigger golf matches. Players have to negotiate with teachers, and then deliver assignments on time amid the travels. Being able to study effectively and having solid time management skills are just as important as having a low HDCP.

Lots of small-college golf programs have a player or two who started out in the big time, but crashed and burned academically and had to do some serious regrouping.

Despite all the challenges, golfers who make it for four years tend to be excellent students.

I am so glad you responded with this. I have made sure to stress that grades are one of the top things that will get him where he wants to go..even playing golf. I am going to show him this post tonight and maybe it will hit home a little harder.

[JxQx]

22 hours ago, TN94z said:

I kind of thought that placing well in those type events would actually hold more weight than high school golf from what I have seen this year. The matches mean nothing, in my opinion, because there is no scorer and MANY of the players cheat. It came out in districts and regionals who had cheated during the year though. They had scorers with each group there. Kids that were posting 40s on 9 during normal match play were posting 120s in the 18 hole district tournament and regional tournaments. 

I'm talking about state sectionals and qualifiers not typical matches, those don't matter at all really. I know when I played in high school very few people cheated because at the end of the day we wanted to beat the other team/field and we weren't just gonna let our opponents cheat. It is all about building a golf resume so it isn't just local junior or high school golf, it's both. If you have 2 kids fighting for a spot and both have similar wins of junior events but one kid placed 4th in states and the other kid placed 20th they are most likely gonna be picking up the kid who came in 4th. Getting a scholarship is no different than getting a job, you have to stand out from the rest.

[TN94z]

2 hours ago, TourSpoon said:

I have to echo the above. If you want your son to be noticed, make sure he has excellent grades along with a decent golf swing. Student-Athletes are just that, STUDENT-Athletes. When 2 players contact a coach, or get noticed with similar athletic ability, the coach will pick the one that shows the most promise of making the grade academically. 

I would have your son start by emailing the coaches in the schools he is interested in with a bit of his profile and why he wants to attend that school. He can list his academic profile, his golf stats, and upcoming tournaments. The school may have a survey for prospective student-athletes and recruiting events or clinics put on by the program. There are a lot of opportunities out there for those willing to reach out. 

If you want any other information, pm me. My son is a NCAA athlete and did a good job of promoting himself, picking a school, and negotiating a decent scholarship in lacrosse. 

Thanks a ton! I am going to read through the links above and then do some research on what Jr. events are in our area for next year. Basically develop some plan of action for events outside of the high school stuff for next year. Then I may pick your brain on what your son did to promote himself as well. I like the idea of him contacting the schools of interest as well. I think that would show initiative and may at least put his name on the radar for some schools.

[DaveP043]

http://www.tnjuniorgolf.com/tnjrgolf-home-104.html

http://jdarr1.wix.com/memphisjuniorgolf_com

Just a couple of sites for junior golf in your general area.

[TN94z]

2 hours ago, JxQx said:

I'm talking about state sectionals and qualifiers not typical matches, those don't matter at all really. I know when I played in high school very few people cheated because at the end of the day we wanted to beat the other team/field and we weren't just gonna let our opponents cheat. It is all about building a golf resume so it isn't just local junior or high school golf, it's both. If you have 2 kids fighting for a spot and both have similar wins of junior events but one kid placed 4th in states and the other kid placed 20th they are most likely gonna be picking up the kid who came in 4th. Getting a scholarship is no different than getting a job, you have to stand out from the rest.

I understand and that's what I am referring to as well. In talking with his golf instructor who used to coach college golf, he said he didn't pay much attention to the high school matches because he knows they cheat as well. The regionals and districts within high school are a little different as they have scorers. But I agree with you. I am going to get him playing some jr events next year which will include building up to the state amateur tournaments as well.

24 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

http://www.tnjuniorgolf.com/tnjrgolf-home-104.html

http://jdarr1.wix.com/memphisjuniorgolf_com

Just a couple of sites for junior golf in your general area.

I was actually looking at these right before you posted. I have also been reading about the Sneds tour in TN. It looks very promising as well.

[DaveP043]

2 minutes ago, TN94z said:

I was actually looking at these right before you posted. I have also been reading about the Sneds tour in TN. It looks very promising as well.

Seeing all of the junior golf options almost makes me wish I was a teenager again.  Good luck to both you and your son!

[hcopenhagenh]

I have been through the recruiting process with one child who is playing D1 golf and am going through it with another that is a 6th grader.

As a Male 9th grader, he is already behind the proverbial 8 ball when it comes to trying to play and get recruited for college golf at the D1 and upper D2 levels.  Many of these schools already have their list of who they are recruiting and some are already done recruiting for the class of 2020.

High School golf, for all tense and purpose is basically meaningless when it comes to getting recruited for college golf.  In some necks of the woods of the US it is still one of the only things out there if junior golf is not highly active or competitive.  In Tennessee, junior tournament golf is very very competitive.

The biggest Misnomer out there is getting a college scholarship to play college golf.  There is virtually no money out there except for the best of the best.  There is a total of 4.5 scholarships for NCAA D1 for a 10-12 man team.  Usually gets broken down between the top 5 players and everyone else is walking on and maybe getting books.  DII golf gets 3.6 scholarships and the most they can give is 50% in athletic money.  DIII does not offer athletic scholarships.  NAIA has 5 for a 10-12 man roster.  The best way to play golf in college is to make good grades.

I don't want to be Debbie Downer, but if he is shooting 60 on 9 holes as a freshman, he basically has no shot at playing college golf. There is always the late bloomer, but he is just too far off.  To put this into perspective, my 6th grade son has a 5 handicap and he is just above average.  He is very good, but in terms of being a tournament golfer he is just above average.  Playing from age appropriate tees he is going to shoot some where in the 70's on 18 holes every time he plays including tournaments.  As a ninth grader to get looked at you need to be at least scratch.

There are some very good club programs out there at the collegiate level that are highly competitive.

 

 

Edited October 21, 2016 by hcopenhagenh

[TN94z]

4 hours ago, hcopenhagenh said:

I have been through the recruiting process with one child who is playing D1 golf and am going through it with another that is a 6th grader.

As a Male 9th grader, he is already behind the proverbial 8 ball when it comes to trying to play and get recruited for college golf at the D1 and upper D2 levels.  Many of these schools already have their list of who they are recruiting and some are already done recruiting for the class of 2020.

High School golf, for all tense and purpose is basically meaningless when it comes to getting recruited for college golf.  In some necks of the woods of the US it is still one of the only things out there if junior golf is not highly active or competitive.  In Tennessee, junior tournament golf is very very competitive.

The biggest Misnomer out there is getting a college scholarship to play college golf.  There is virtually no money out there except for the best of the best.  There is a total of 4.5 scholarships for NCAA D1 for a 10-12 man team.  Usually gets broken down between the top 5 players and everyone else is walking on and maybe getting books.  DII golf gets 3.6 scholarships and the most they can give is 50% in athletic money.  DIII does not offer athletic scholarships.  NAIA has 5 for a 10-12 man roster.  The best way to play golf in college is to make good grades.

I don't want to be Debbie Downer, but if he is shooting 60 on 9 holes as a freshman, he basically has no shot at playing college golf. There is always the late bloomer, but he is just too far off.  To put this into perspective, my 6th grade son has a 5 handicap and he is just above average.  He is very good, but in terms of being a tournament golfer he is just above average.  Playing from age appropriate tees he is going to shoot some where in the 70's on 18 holes every time he plays including tournaments.  As a ninth grader to get looked at you need to be at least scratch.

There are some very good club programs out there at the collegiate level that are highly competitive.

 

 

Thanks for the reply. You are not being a debbie downer, just realistic. I am referring more towards lower level schools...schools in our area..that sort of thing. Shooting 60 on 9 holes is where he was when he first started. He now shoots low 40s consistently and I can see areas of very easy improvement that will have him in the upper 30s next season. As far as scholarships go, I am sure you are 100% correct with the level of schools that you mentioned. There is a nice University in our hometown that just awarded a senior from last year a scholarship to play golf. I foresee Jacob being better at that age than the kid that just got that scholarship. So I truly believe the opportunity is out there (maybe not on the level you are referring to), but more locally.

With that being said, he is going to play more Jr tournaments outside of high school golf (which I totally agree with you on) to see where he stands and see how he grows. If it doesn't work out, it just doesn't work out. But I am going to continue to do everything I can to make it happen regardless of him being behind the 8 ball. He has been playing since he was 4. Just nothing competitive. That's one of the reasons he dropped from 60s to 40s after a 2 year layoff with minimal practice.

[TourSpoon]

There is a fit for everyone, just make sure those grades are high. If golf is a possibility, there are a lot of options. Many times the program cobbles together money from many different sources and getting money for great grades or leadership is how they can offset getting limited money for athletics. 

Edited October 21, 2016 by TourSpoon