In my first blog entry, 7 Important Steps To Playing College Golf, I touched on what junior golfers can do to maximize their chances of playing golf at the next level. The countless hours spent practicing and competing are crucial but there’s plenty more that they can do to ensure they get noticed by the right coaches.
Here are some of the BEST resources that college golf prospects can use to familiarize themselves with key dates, terms, and rules that will simplify the search process. Start reading up!
AJGA
Check out their College Recruiting overview which is under ‘News and Information’. This gives a detailed description of the terms, definitions, and dates that will be useful in starting your search.
PING College Golf Guide
Although there is a membership fee, this is a fantastic tool that has all the information that you could possibly need. Note that if a player has a membership to the AJGA Tour they receive a free membership to the PING College Golf Guide.
Golfstat
Golfstat is the official source for college golf scores and statistics so this is a great place to see how a high school golfer stacks up against different levels of collegiate players. It’s also a great place to stay up to date on the latest college golf results and keep tabs on your favorite schools.
NCAA Eligibility Center
If a high schooler wants to play college sports the very first thing they need to do is register with the NCAA Clearinghouse, and make sure you check all the eligibility requirements.
It’s no secret that picking the right college is one of the biggest decisions that most people make. By doing the appropriate research and talking with the right people, you can begin to take control.
Now that you’ve done your research, here are some steps that you can take to make sure you get noticed!
- Visit as many schools/meet as many coaches as you can!
- Talk with players and parents that recently have gone through the recruitment process. They will be able to provide you and your family with valuable insights!
- Be persistent! Follow up with coaches in a timely, professional manner. And remember- coaches want to hear from the student-athlete, not the parents!!!
- Start to narrow down your list of schools based on your preferences. Academics, golf team/level of competition, location, school size, etc. are all MAJOR factors in your decision.
Enjoy the road to playing college golf!!!
Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions.