1. Stay Alert

There can be a lot of “down time” on the golf course while you are watching your student-athlete. It is important that you stay vigilant and pay attention at all times. Just because there’s down time for your group doesn’t mean that there aren’t other people on the golf course.

You need to be mindful where you are walking so that you do not interfere with the players, the golf balls or other spectators. It’s always acceptable to forecaddie – which means walking ahead to help spot golf balls, but remember that you should never touch any golf balls. Make sure you stand still while the players are swinging and putting, and be respectful of all players.

 2. Don’t speak to the players.

While it’s acceptable to offer encouragement to the players such as “Good Shot” or “Nice Par” avoid trying to engage with them directly. Casual chat is fine, but treat the golf course as the player’s office. Which brings us to our next tip…

3. Cheer, don’t criticize.

The traditional golf clap and words of encouragement are definitely acceptable on the golf course but don’t make negative comments about the players.

**Watch your language.

4. Don’t offer advice to the players.

This is a BIG no-no in the golf spectator world. During competition, you are not permitted to offer any advice to the player. If there is a question and a ruling is needed, most tournaments provide a cell phone number for the on site rules official.

** Spectators should not give rulings.

5. Dress appropriately.

Wear golf attire at a golf venue. Every course has specific dress codes to follow so it is important to abide by those rules. Check the venues website beforehand if you have any questions. If your child hasn’t committed to a university, we highly recommend wearing neutral clothes.

6. Silence your devices.

This should be obvious but it is a good reminder to make sure that your phones are always silenced when on the golf course. Cell phones ringing and buzzing is completely unnecessary and easily avoided.

7. Post Round Analysis.

It can be very helpful for your student-athlete to have a proper post round analysis but there is a time and a place to do this. Sit down with your child and come to an agreement of when it is best for you both to do this. Make sure you talk about realistic expectations and the good things that went on during the round. Always remember – the player doesn’t intentionally hit bad shots or make bad decisions!

In conclusion…

Did this help you with your etiquette at the golf course? We hope that these tips on how to act at golf tournaments helps you at your childs next event. If you would like to learn more about this topic, check out our blog posts. If you would like more assistance as a parent, check out more of our posts here: Parents in Junior Golf

Do you need help through the junior golf recruiting process? Contact the team at Path Fore Success today! Send us an email today at info@pathforesuccess.com to get started today! For more posts like this one, check out our blog here: Path Fore Success Blog. You can also follow us on Instagram & Twitter for more!

The post How to Act at Golf Tournaments – Parents Edition appeared first on Path Fore Success.

Parents are a hot topic among college coaches and can be a huge factor during the recruiting process. The Path Fore Success team had the opportunity to interview Georgia State Head Men’s Golf Coach Chad Wilson and former Georgia State Women’s Golf Coach Cathy Mant and ask them some important questions regarding parents in junior golf. Below are their answers.

What do coaches look for when recruiting?

Chad Wilson – “If a junior golfer is treating their parents badly, then how are they going to treat me? I have definitely passed on recruiting kids because of this. It’s one of the final boxes I like to check before making an official offer to a kid.”

Cathy Mant – “I watched how the golfer treated the parents and how much respect they showed and vice versa. For example if the parents went to give them a drink and they turned the other way or swatted the bottle –  if they treated their parents like that, how are they going to treat me and their teammates? Honestly they would be a cancer on my team and I don’t want that.”

Advice to give to the parents through the recruiting process?

Chad Wilson – “Do not allow your kids scores to impact your relationship with your them. Golf is the hardest game in the world and they WILL have bad days. During those bad days they need to know you are there to support them!”

Cathy Mant – “Make sure parents watch their own body language – kids pick up on it so quickly and that can really positively or negatively effect the junior player. The kid is trying as hard as they can! Positive body language and rewarding the good shots and forgetting the bad shots is my biggest advice. The kid knows what went well and what went wrong. No need to harp on the bad. Let everyone cool down before discussing the round! Parents also need to watch what kind of gear they are wearing on the golf course and use their head! If you are wearing gear from another school and you think we are going to recruit your kid, it’s a complete turn off. I’m marking you off the list because I don’t think we have a chance anymore.”

How should parents handle an official visit with their junior golfer?

Chad Wilson – “At the end of the day, it’s their kid and they could potentially be sending them to your school, so I would imagine there would be some questions that need to be answered. Parents are just as much apart of the recruiting process as the kid, but they certainly need to know it should be the junior golfer’s decision and not their own. At the end of the day, it’s the junior golfer’s college experience.”

Cathy Mant – “If parents are answering the questioning that you are posing to the student-athlete, that’s a big sign. When a question is delivered to the student-athlete, the student-athlete needs to answer it, and then maybe if the parent has something to add – they can. But when parents speak over their child, it first tells me that the parents might be domineering and also tells me that their kid can’t speak up for themselves, and personally as I coach, I want to recruit someone who has some “umph” and takes responsibility.”

Other Notable Quotes:

“Parents are such a big deal – I know some college coaches who put limits on when the parents can see their kids and have told parents to lay off of them and stop harping on the negative things.”

“Some coaches allow the kids to have dinner with the parents one night and the rest of the tournament the coach creates a bubble around his/her team so that the parents don’t get involved too much.”

Thank you for reading! We would also like to take the time to thank Chad Wilson & Cathy Mant for taking the time to sit down with us. Remember, this is just part 1 our series. Make sure you check back soon for part 2. For more posts like this one, check out our blog here: Path Fore Success Blog. You can also follow us on Instagram & Twitter for more!

The post Parents in Junior Golf – Coaches Edition appeared first on Path Fore Success.