As former DI college golfers and a former DI college coach, this is an important question we get from both golfers and their parents. This is a question that is unique to every junior and what they wish to accomplish at the college level.
So let’s dive into this topic a little bit more. Before we can answer this main question, there are 3 other questions you need to ask when seriously thinking about college golf. They are:
- Am I willing to put the time and effort into developing my game to get it to the level I want?
- Am I aware of the competitive level that it takes to play college golf & be recruiting?
- Am I willing to give up my “dream school” in order to play college golf?
Now let’s talk about each one of these question prompts.
Am I willing to put the time and effort into developing my game to get it to the level I want?
This is a very serious and thought-provoking question that we always ask our student-athletes. Golf in general is a very demanding sport and in order to reach your goals, you are going to need to put in a lot of time, energy and effort. You have to succeed for yourself, not for your parents, friends, or coaches. Make sure you are doing this for you. You have to be willing to put in the work when no one else is watching. You will also be pressed into giving up fun summer activities with your friends or vacations with your family – all tough decisions to make.
Am I aware of the competitive level that it takes to play college golf & be recruited?
Moving from high school to college golf is a huge step. It won’t take long to see the high quality of play throughout the college ranks, whether competing at the DI or DIII level. A common misconception is that there are so many scholarships in college golf available for high school golfers that are going unused. This is false and the competitiveness level at the junior level is only increasing. College coaches have more flexibility in recruiting with the addition of the transfer portal and an increase of junior golfers. College golf is a grind – are you ready to jump on the rollercoaster?
Am I willing to give up my “dream school” in order to play college golf?
Growing up – most of us have a dream school, whether it’s Duke, Stanford, or Florida. Of course, these universities have some of the most elite programs at the DI level. You’ve got to determine from a pretty young age and based off of your playing ability if you want to be a contributing factor to the college team you choose to be a part of. Being realistic about your playing abilities and where that stacks up to college lineups is an important piece of homework you need to do. There are hundreds of colleges throughout the United States and there is a spot for everyone – we just have to work together to find that location for you.
The junior golf circuit and recruiting world is an ever changing topic. There are plenty of ways to dive into the junior golf recruiting process and there is a lot of information out there. The dream of playing college golf remains in your hands. So, to finish, when should you start thinking about college golf? The sooner the better. It’s never too early to get the process started. You and your golf game will change along the way – but reaching your dream of playing competitive college golf will be worth it.
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!
