The AJGA's College Golf Advisors put together a list of Top 10 Recruiting FAQs to assist in navigating junior golf and managing college placement. NCAA bylaws are subject to change and at all times, prospective student-athletes and their parents are encouraged to consult ncaa.org , eligibilitycenter.org and usga.org for all recruiting and amateurism rules questions.
Question 1: What are the most frequently asked questions concerning scholarships?
Understanding how scholarships are awarded can be very helpful throughout the recruiting process. Each coach has to work within the NCAA scholarship limit for their particular sport, division, and gender. (Note: Both NAIA and JuCo athletic programs also offer forms of athletic scholarships.)
Men
Division I - 4.5
Division II - 3.6
Division III - 0
Women
Division I - 6.0
Division II - 5.4
Division III - 0
Also, keep in mind golf is an “equivalency” sport where scholarships can, and generally are, divided among players. For example, one full scholarship can be split equally among two different players, each receiving a 50 percent equivalency. This raises a number of relevant questions:
Does it make a difference if the student has in-state or out-of-state residency?
Note: This answer only applies to specific public universities where tuition rates differ based on a student’s residency.
Yes, since golf is an equivalency sport under NCAA Bylaws, each student-athlete has a percentage calculated based on the amount of scholarship they receive relative to their cost to attend college. Because out-of-state students pay higher tuition, they would have lower percentages (equivalencies) if they received the same scholarship dollar amount as an in-state student-athlete.
Do all NCAA Division I and II golf programs award the maximum allowable scholarships annually?
No, just because they award scholarships at a certain level (see chart above), that doesn’t necessarily mean they are fully funded or able to offer any/all of these scholarships. Some NCAA Division I and II programs, either because of institutional philosophy, budget constraints or some other reason, opt to award little to no golf scholarships at all. This is a good question to ask a coach early on in the recruiting process.
Can coaches award multi-year scholarships in the recruiting process?
Yes, and multi-year scholarships can no longer be reduced or canceled for athletic reasons during a student-athlete’s college career.
Scholarships can always be increased. Some NCAA Division I institutions still award single-year athletic scholarships which cannot be reduced or canceled for athletic reasons during the academic year.
If a student-athlete’s scholarship is reduced or cancelled for non-athletic reasons, they do have the right to appeal the decision to a university committee.
Do coaches award scholarships based on a percentage or on the actual dollar value?
The answer is both. Coaches can offer a recruit either a specific dollar amount or a percentage of a full scholarship. This is a very good question to ask a coach during the recruiting process.
Do nonathletic scholarships count against a team’s NCAA limit?
Student-athletes should apply for as many scholarships as possible. In some cases, these scholarships will count against a team’s NCAA limit, and if the program is already at its maximum, either the outside scholarship will have to be declined or an adjustment to the student-athlete’s athletic scholarship will have to be made. In a case where the program has not yet reached its maximum, a student-athlete may be allowed and encouraged to keep an outside scholarship even if it is countable against NCAA limits. Many outside scholarships are non-countable and do not affect a team’s limit. Generally, these are scholarships either available to all students or are not awarded by the institution. You should always consult with the school you are considering attending to determine what nonathletic scholarships are countable and whether or not you may accept those scholarships.
Are full scholarships common in the sport of golf?
For women’s NCAA Division I golf programs, a reasonable number of recruits are offered full scholarships. Other female recruits may be offered partial scholarships. These programs are allowed to award annually a maximum of six (6) full scholarships to their entire team. It is fairly common to see women’s DI programs award full scholarships, however this is a competitive process. In men’s NCAA Division I golf, however, a very small number of players actually receive full scholarships. These are generally offered to the nation’s most elite junior players and those who are being heavily recruited. A partial scholarship is more common in men’s golf. In both cases, some recruits are offered “invited walk-on roster spots” with no scholarship money included.
Question 2: How early can a player verbally commit to a Division I school?
In the past several years, players, parents and coaches have all witnessed a number of significant changes with how the recruiting process works throughout the world of junior golf. The most obvious change has been the timing of when some players commit to schools. Many Division I programs have at least one, if not all, of their commitments before the prospects complete their junior year in high school. While this is not true for all recruits or college golf programs, it has become common enough to explore further.
How does this happen and what is the earliest date a player can now commit to a Division I school? The answer is June 15, following the player’s sophomore year of high school. Let’s explore how this works.
Beginning June 15 after a prospect’s sophomore year of high school, recruits may receive letters and emails from coaches interested in recruiting them. This is the first opportunity for Division I coaches to initiate any contact with a prospect other than sending a one-time generic athletic questionnaire or a camp brochure. Phone calls and text messages from Division I coaches can also occur at the coach’s discretion beginning June 15 following a prospect’s sophomore year of high school. Coaches are no longer allowed to accept phone calls from prospects or their parents prior to this key date. This is the first date for any recruiting interaction. Although Division I coaches cannot initiate, accept or return calls prior to June 15 following a prospect’s sophomore year, prospects can send coaches introductory information early in the recruiting process to express their interest in a particular school and golf team. Prospects should do their homework first before sending this information to make sure they have the necessary academic and athletic qualifications to attend the school. Is this school and golf program a good fit?
NCAA rules allow prospects to visit campuses at their own expense anytime. These campus tours are referred to as unofficial visits and can occur even when the prospect is very young (eighth, ninth and 10th grades for example). The main benefit to a prospect making an unofficial visit is the opportunity to gather more information about a school and begin formulating ideas as to what they like or dislike in a college campus. Other than during Dead Periods, NCAA rules now allow Division I coaches to meet with prospects on campus during Official or Unofficial Visits, beginning August 1 prior to a prospect's junior year of high school. Official visits to Division I schools are paid for by the school and typically offered only to highly-recruited prospects. They can now occur during a prospect's junior or senior year of high school.
These face-to-face meetings with coaches are a great way to learn more about the school and golf program, the coach, their interest in recruiting you and how the recruiting process will unfold. Keep in mind there are several “Dead Periods” in college golf recruiting where Division I coaches cannot meet with prospects or their parents during either official or unofficial campus visits. For more information, see: NCAA Men's Golf Recruiting Calendar
One way to meet college golf coaches early in the recruiting process is through camps. As previously mentioned, NCAA rules do not allow college coaches to interact with junior golfers until August 1 prior to their junior year of high school. Camps are an exception to this rule and therefore offer younger-aged golfers an early opportunity to meet and learn about the college landscape from current college coaches. Camps have many potential benefits for an aspiring college player. Having the opportunity to meet and hear current college coaches detail the life of a college-student athlete as well as the commitment necessary to be successful can be motivating and inspiring to junior golfers. Additionally, many of these camps are hosted on actual college campuses and therefore the opportunity to visit these schools can be extremely helpful to junior golfers as they determine what matters to them when selecting a college. Also, participating in an environment where coaches are watching them play and/or swing grows a junior’s level of comfort with being evaluated by a coach. While there is an opportunity for a junior player to gain exposure to potential colleges of interest at camps, keep in mind college coaches will ultimately base their recruiting decisions on a prospect’s total golf and academic resume, with a strong emphasis on how they play in tournaments.
Every prospect should ultimately visit the school(s) they are interested in attending. This cannot be over emphasized considering what they learn during these visits will influence and affect where they decide to spend four years of their life. Some scholarship and/or roster position offers are made during these early visits (junior year) but only in a verbal manner. Official National Letter of Intent signings can only occur beginning mid-November during the prospect’s senior year in high school. Always stay proactive by arranging unofficial visits, especially if letters, emails, calls or text messages are being received from the school (anytime following June 15 after the prospect’s sophomore year of high school) and the prospect has interest in that school.
While coaches may call non-family members, such as a high school coach or swing instructor, early on in the recruiting process to gather information relative to a prospect’s golf and academic resume, they are prohibited from sending messages to the prospect via these 3rd party individuals.
A word of caution for anyone who is interested in making an early verbal commitment: THINGS CAN CHANGE! While you may think a school is right for you, what will happen if the coach leaves or your golf game changes significantly to a different level? Be slow, deliberate and careful to make the right decision. Once you commit to a coach, make sure it is your final decision. You should expect the same level of commitment from the coach as well.
Question 3: When should junior golfers begin visiting and researching colleges?
Finding the right college to attend can be an extremely long and complicated process. As student-athletes, junior golfers must identify a school that provides the proper environment for them to succeed both academically and athletically. Knowing when to start this process can ultimately determine whether or not the school they attend is a good fit.
Junior golfers have the benefit of traveling, both regionally and nationally, to tournaments throughout the summer and occasionally during the academic year. In many instances, junior golf tournaments are staged in cities where college campuses are located. In these cases, it is very important that the student and his or her parents take time during their trip to visit local campuses. If it is on or after August 1 prior to your junior year, a prospect is allowed to make an unofficial or official visit to a college campus. If you are interested in Division I schools, contact the coach in advance to see if they are available for a brief introductory meeting. Coaches are allowed to accept and/or return your call/email/text beginning June 15 after your sophomore year. If the meeting is on or after August 1 prior to a prospect’s junior year and the meeting does not occur during a dead period, NCAA rules allow Division I coaches to speak with a prospect and their parents during an unofficial visit to campus (including the team’s practice facilities). Beginning August 1st prior to their junior year, a prospect may also have a face-to-face contact with a coach while they are at a tournament as long as the contact occurs after the prospect has completed the competition for that day. If you call a Division I coach in an effort to arrange a campus visit and decide to leave a voicemail, due to NCAA rules, you will not receive a return call prior to June 15 after your sophomore year in high school. If you ultimately connect with the coach on the telephone, introduce yourself and let them know you would like to visit their campus one day either before the tournament begins, after the completion of one of the rounds or after your tournament has concluded. The more campuses you visit, the better your understanding will be with regard to campus size, academic offerings, athletic facilities, student population and proximity to home. Keep in mind, highly-recruited prospects may be invited to an official visit (one financed by the school). These visits can occur as early as August 1 prior to a prospect’s junior year of high school.
Oftentimes students will decide not to visit a campus because they have no interest in ever attending that school. However, these visits can be productive in helping college prospects better understand exactly what they are searching for in a college. Students can learn something important each time they visit a college campus.
It is recommended that families begin visiting campuses as early as ninth grade and no later than 10th grade. Although coaches would be unable to meet with you or your family for an unofficial or official visit on campus until August 1 prior to your junior year, you are still able to tour the campus like any other high school aged student prior to this time. The NCAA allows prospects to meet a coach on campus prior to August 1 preceding your junior year, if the prospect is attending a golf camp hosted by the coach. A one-day or multiple day camp would allow you to meet the coach, see the campus and tour the golf facilities. Although no recruiting conversations can take place (if it is prior to June 15 after your sophomore year) at these camps, meeting a coach(es) at a camp can motivate a young person to work harder in the classroom and on the golf course in hopes of someday participating as a college student-athlete.
Additionally, it is also a good idea to attend several college golf tournaments while in high school to learn more about each team, how the coach interacts with their players during the competition, what the team chemistry is like and to gauge how talented the players are at various levels in the NCAA. This will help prospects determine if their golf game is at the right level to play for one of their “dream” schools.
Another important step in this process that needs to start early is researching colleges. Junior golfers, along with their parents, should begin to collect as much information as possible on all the colleges of interest. Websites collegegolf.com and golfstat.com are excellent to use throughout this entire process. Again, it is important that the initial research begin as early as ninth grade but no later than tenth grade. High school students should solicit the assistance of college counselors to identify and target potential college fits. If the student’s high school has someone specifically-designated to assist with this search, they should schedule a meeting with that person early during tenth grade to get a head start on the college placement process. Many people wait until late in their junior year or even during their senior year to think about where they want to attend college. As a student-athlete, you cannot wait this long if you expect to target potential “best fit” schools that still have roster positions available. Sometimes rosters fill up a year in advance leaving last-minute recruits without an opportunity to play for the team of their choice.
Everyone knows how competitive the college recruiting environment has become. Make sure you have done your homework and visited colleges before being recruited in your junior year. It’s never too early to start thinking about where you want to attend college and what to look for in the search.
Question 4: How do college coaches work junior tournaments?
Most college coaches spend at least 25-30 days per year on the road recruiting. Typically, they will attend 10-12 junior tournaments to watch talented young players practice and compete. This is a perfect forum to evaluate talent.
When you see coaches at a junior tournament, they are generally walking up and down the practice tee or on the golf course following a group as they play. In either case, the coach may be watching for things the player would never imagine.
On the range, coaches are watching juniors closely to evaluate technique and general athleticism. They also want to see how each player practices. Is the player serious, disciplined, and focused or is practice time used to socialize? Does the player pick specific targets, practice using a pre-shot routine and use alignment aids during practice, or do they just hit balls rapidly with no purpose?
On the golf course, coaches are interested to see how players react to tough situations. A bad break, an outside distraction, a difficult hole location (bordering on unfair), or a string of lip outs would set the stage perfectly. Coaches want to know that a player can deal with adversity should they decide to offer that player a scholarship or roster position.
The ability to deal with adversity sets them apart from other players and shows their high level of maturity. They are also interested to see what personality traits players display. Do they walk alone or as a group, socializing with the other players walking down the fairway? Either can be fine depending on what the coach prefers. Always be yourself in these situations.
Another real-world example of how a coach evaluates talent has to do with demeanor and presentation. Do players look and act like young professionals? Are their shoes, golf bag and clubs clean and in good order? These issues matter to all coaches. No one wants to invest time or money in a player who looks sloppy and acts unprofessional.
Finally, all coaches are interested to see how players interact with their parents at tournaments. Is it a pleasant and supportive relationship, or are parents and children constantly arguing back and forth, even during the tournament rounds? Coaches who sense hostility between the player and their parents will typically shy away from recruiting the player.
In the final analysis, score is not the only way to evaluate talent. If this were the case, then coaches would stay at home and only recruit via online results. Pay attention to how you present yourself and how you act at tournaments.
Question 5: Will playing AJGA events increase my chances of being recruited to play college golf?
The AJGA is the best place for junior golfers to be discovered by college coaches, plain and simple. But it is not the only place. The AJGA’s Performance Based Entry System (PBE) recognizes tournaments based on historical strength of field and awards AJGA “status” (Performance Stars and Fully Exempt status) based on a player’s finish. The system has worked well so far and continues to undergo improvements and modifications on an annual basis.
All prospects need to be keenly aware of how the PBE system works in order to plan their seasonal tournament schedules. The AJGA website includes resources that provide details about earning PBE status. Using these resources will help reveal how many quality non-AJGA events and tours are available to help you reach your long-term tournament goals.
Additionally, highly-ranked players may also elect to participate in amateur or professional qualifiers to further demonstrate their abilities to college coaches. Examples would include the U.S. Open Local Qualifier, their respective State Amateur Championship, U.S. Amateur Qualifier, city amateur events, etc. Note, these and other similar amateur tournaments, do not award AJGA PBE status.
During the Fall, Winter, and Spring months, numerous tours and individual tournaments offer players an opportunity to earn AJGA PBE status. The PBE system also includes many non-AJGA summer events. Each State Junior Championship is recognized as well as several national qualifying events such as the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior Championships and Junior PGA Championship. See ajga.org for a complete listing of PBE events.
Players can also earn status at qualifiers conducted by the AJGA each week preceding most AJGA tournaments. Along the way, players can build their competitive golf resumes in an effort to gain the attention of college coaches who are recruiting players in their class. Remember all tournaments matter to coaches and most tournaments, based on PBE, can help you gain AJGA status.
A suggestion for all prospects is to use the AJGA PBE schedule to help you develop a tournament schedule that will ultimately create exposure among college programs who are interested in recruiting you. The AJGA remains an excellent venue for you to achieve your college placement goals. Start planning today!
Question 6: What is a parent's role in the recruiting process?
For college-bound student athletes, the recruiting process can be confusing, stressful and extremely time consuming. Most young people who face this challenging time in their life will look to their parents for sound advice and direction. What exactly should parents do and not do throughout this complex process?
THE DO'S:
Encourage your child to properly research colleges and golf programs early in the recruiting process.
Be realistic (academically, athletically, financially and socially) when helping your child target potential colleges to attend.
Help your child prepare for a successful collegiate career by reflecting on your college experiences.
Speak with parents of children currently attending college to learn more about their respective school and coach.
Prepare a list of questions for your child to ask college coaches during campus visits.
Plan as many unofficial visits as possible during your child’s sophomore and junior years (or earlier) in order to learn more about college campuses (see FAQ 9 for more information on unofficial visits).
Keep your child focused on academic excellence throughout high school including SAT and ACT prep classes.
Remain positive and optimistic throughout the entire recruiting process, constantly reminding your child that you will support their final decision regardless of where they select to attend college.
Remember golf is a marathon!
THE DON'TS:
When meeting with a coach, refrain from answering questions for your child – let them speak for themselves.
Resist the temptation to tell your child where they should attend college and play golf without asking their opinion.
College questionnaires should be completed by the student athletes, not the parents.
When coaches call your home, they are most interested in speaking with your child – stay off the call unless you are asked to listen in by the coach.
During junior golf tournaments (and especially in the presence of college coaches), refrain from showing excessive emotion after each shot your child plays - remain as calm as possible.
Pressuring your child to play better in order to get recruited is unhealthy and in many cases, can be counterproductive.
Parental calls and/or emails to college coaches should be kept to a minimum during the recruiting process.
Overstating your child’s true athletic ability can result in a poor long-term decision and a bad college fit for both your child and the coach.
Young people need their parents to provide guidance and support at many times during their life, including the college recruiting process. This is generally a stressful time for both the child and the parent as change is on the horizon.
Throughout this process, parents need to encourage their children to: (a) think and speak for themselves, (b) do as much research as possible, and (c) ultimately make a personal decision that they are comfortable with.
Parents have a tendency to put too much emphasis on what other families are doing. Instead, they should help their children stay focused on their personal goals and the process of becoming a successful collegiate student-athlete. Try not to stress when others are telling you they are already committed to a school. Remember, it is the student-athlete’s responsibility to communicate with coaches and when doing so, they should inquire about a team’s roster availability, when the coaches typically make their recruiting decisions and what the student-athlete can do to elevate their position as a potential recruit.
Coaches are generally hesitant to recruit players whose parents are too involved. Make sure you are not perceived as one of these parents.
Question 7: What is a typical week like in the life of a college golfer?
The most significant challenge a student-athlete faces in college is how to manage their time effectively. Considering the amount of time that a round of golf requires and the fact that college golf lasts the entire academic year (September-May), college golfers must manage their time effectively if they expect to succeed in the classroom and on the golf course.
In season, the NCAA allows Division I coaches to mandate a 20-hour weekly practice schedule. This schedule includes golf practice, workouts, meetings, qualifying rounds and tournament competition. Most golf programs are in season during September and October in the fall and during February, March, April and May in the spring.
Typically Division I coaches will schedule their off season during November, December and January. During these months, coaches are permitted to schedule limited practices and workout sessions with their team members. If the school is located in a warm climate, players will play and practice on their own time.
Most junior golfers have trouble understanding just how busy they will be as collegiate student-athletes. Freshmen typically struggle with having to balance school, practice, travel and their social lives all in a seven-day week.
Here is a typical week for a college golfer while in season:
- Workout three (3) days per week (typically at 6 a.m.)
- Attend a minimum of four classes, 2 to 3 times per week (12 hours total)
- Participate in evening study hall sessions (mandatory for freshmen)
- Meet with tutors or student groups to prepare for class assignments
- Practice daily with the golf team (full swing, short game and qualifying)
- Meet with coaching staff to evaluate golf game and set goals
- Travel to a tournament for four (4) days (practice round and 54-hole competition)
- Cook meals, do laundry, visit with friends and rest
Remember the importance of keeping your body and mind fit for competition. In order to decrease missed class days, many competitions now include a practice round, 36 holes on day one of the competition and then a final 18 holes on day two. The value of staying fit mentally, physically, nutritionally and emotionally is imperative. Start preparing and conditioning early.
In season, college golfers have little free time to spend with friends and to participate in campus activities. The more organized they are in handling their academic responsibilities, the more free time they will ultimately have to socialize and relax. Players on a golf team who are fortunate enough to qualify for the traveling team and participate in tournaments on a regular basis face the greatest challenge staying current in the classroom. It is important for these players to meet regularly with their teachers and tutors in an attempt to get ahead with their class work before traveling to tournaments.
If a junior golfer can learn to manage time effectively before entering college, chances of success increase dramatically. Coaches are very interested in recruiting student-athletes who understand this concept and can handle the transition from high school to college without any problem.
Your time is your most valuable resource. Learn to manage it effectively!
Question 8: Do coaches really care about academics?
Student-athletes are students first and athletes second. Even in nationally competitive programs where there is a lot of pressure to win championships, this is still the case. Coaches work to identify junior golfers who can not only help their teams win golf tournaments, but can also handle their academic responsibilities. The NCAA monitors each team’s graduation rates (through the Graduation Success Rate or “GSR” Program) as well as how students are progressing academically (through the Academic Progress Rate or “APR” Program). While it has always been important to identify and recruit student-athletes committed to earning four-year degrees in college, coaches work even harder now to make sure they are recruiting players focused on graduating before they leave school. Academics do matter to coaches in the recruiting process!
NCAA initial-eligibility requirements for Division I prospects stipulate that a graduate must pass 16 academic core courses in high school before they can compete as a freshman in college. Student-athletes who aspire to participate in athletics at either the Division I or II collegiate levels should plan to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center during their sophomore year in high school. They should also review the NCAA’s Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete for more information on this topic.
College golfers miss a tremendous amount of class time due to participation in tournaments. Most tournaments require student-athletes to miss two days of class time. In an average semester, teams will compete in at least four to five events resulting in nearly 10 days of class absences for a player that makes each trip. These absences can be extremely stressful for students who are not prepared to excel academically or to manage their limited time.
Coaches take this reality into consideration when recruiting junior golfers. They are well aware of what it takes to be successful at the collegiate level and try to identify excellent players who are capable students as well. As a junior golfer it is important to stay focused in school by maintaining a high grade point average and by achieving a high test score on either the SAT or ACT. Although the NCAA no longer requires a prospect to submit a standardized test score and many schools offer a “test optional” application process, certain college golf coaches and athletic programs still expect junior golfers to present a standardized test score as part of the recruiting process. Academic success, combined with a quality golf resume, will help you reach your college placement goals.
In the final analysis, coaches really do care about academics when recruiting junior golfers. As a result, student-athletes need to understand that they have to balance their time and energy between the sport they love to play and their academic responsibilities. This balance will help their overall marketability when it comes to recruitment. And remember, school should always come first!
Question 9: Are unofficial visits to college campuses necessary?
As families go through their recruiting journey, visiting schools becomes the lifeblood of the process. There is no better way for a player and family to understand differences in schools, coaches and programs than by seeing them in person. As players visit more universities, they begin to crystalize what is important to them in finding a school (size, academics, facilities, coaching staff, etc.). When the time comes for a player to make their ‘final decision’ it is helpful to have visited several campuses and arrived at their conclusion after thorough research.
An unofficial visit to a college campus by a prospective student-athlete is a visit made at the prospect’s own expense. As long as the visit is on or after August 1 prior to the prospect’s junior year of high school and it is not during a Dead Period, Division I coaches can meet on campus with the prospect or their parents and provide complimentary admission to an athletic contest during an unofficial visit. There is NO limit on the number of unofficial visits a family can make. Official visits for Division I programs can now occur beginning on August 1 prior to prospect's junior year of high school. Official visits are financed by the school and limited to one per school. Official visits are typically offered to highly-recruited players only.
Can you make an unofficial visit prior to August 1 before the player’s junior year of high school? Yes, but keep in mind you will not be able to visit with the coach or anyone from the Athletic Department. Families are encouraged to visit college campuses as often as possible and when time permits, participate in a guided admissions tour. This exercise is proven to help prospective student-athletes better understand the differences among college campuses as well as what environment they are most interested in.
To set up an unofficial visit with a coach, prospects should email the coach with the request first and then follow up with a phone call. Be specific on what you would like to do during the unofficial visit (see facilities, talk with the coach, meet some of the players, tour the campus, etc.) and provide open dates and times. In some cases, the coach and team may be traveling to a competition. If the coach is unavailable, ask for a contact person in either the Athletic or Admissions Departments that could provide the campus tour. If the coach is accommodating, you will know they are sincerely interested in recruiting you. The reverse applies as well. Keep in mind Division I coaches cannot reply to emails, letters, phone calls or text messages prior to June 15 following a prospect’s sophomore year in high school. They can send a generic athletic questionnaire and camp information to a prospect earlier in the recruiting process.
Junior golfers should always look for schools to visit near golf tournaments they are participating in. This provides an economical and efficient way to visit schools and provides extra value to each tournament. If this advice is followed in ninth and tenth grades, prospects will be better prepared to accurately target “good fits” as the college selection process intensifies in eleventh and twelfth grades. While you cannot visit with an NCAA Division I coach prior to August 1 before your junior year, visiting college campuses at any time is an excellent way to help young people make their optimal college decision. Touring a variety of schools, each with their own unique features, will educate prospects on the real differences among schools and help them decide what is important for them.
To summarize, it is never too early to visit schools and ‘unofficial visits’ are incredibly important. Start visiting schools today!
Question 10: Is it a good idea to withdraw after a poor round?
Everyone who has played the game of golf knows how challenging the sport is and that consistency is always something to strive for. Furthermore, no one is exempt from having a bad round, especially in competition. Even the greatest players in the world struggle at times and shoot scores in the 80s.
So why is it that some junior golfers who post high first round scores occasionally withdraw from tournaments? Often times a player could be embarrassed for shooting a high score, or they are concerned with how this poor performance will affect their national ranking and eventually their ability to be recruited by college coaches.
What junior golfers may not know is that college coaches pay particularly close attention to those who try to “manage rankings” via withdrawing from tournaments or “no-carding” after bad rounds. They frown upon these actions and often stop recruiting a player if there is a pattern of this behavior. Coaches know that their players will struggle at times in college events and therefore will expect them to have what it takes to manage their game and emotions in an attempt to shoot the lowest score they possibly can on a given day. Quitting or withdrawing (unless there is a legitimate injury or illness) is not an option at the collegiate level.
Instead of withdrawing, juniors who post high first round scores should realize that they have an opportunity to make a great comeback in subsequent rounds. Most college coaches look at how players bounce back after poor rounds, trying to sign recruits who have the skills required to post low scores after a bad performance in a prior round. In college tournaments, where teams often play 36 holes in one day, mental toughness and perseverance is just as important as raw golf talent!
Parents should always encourage their children to do the best they can and to never let one bad round cause them to worry about how it will affect rankings or college recruiting. Part of the learning process for junior players is to know how to come back after shooting a high score or to deal with adversity during a round. Unless a player is sick, injured, or has an emergency to deal with, they need to complete the tournament that they started.
And always remember, coaches will be impressed with the player who demonstrates they can bounce back after a bad round!
(Last updated April 2024)