Being recruited to play college golf is a long, hard, rewarding process. It is in your own best interest to stay on top of your communication with coaches and make sure you are putting out all the right information to properly represent yourself. There are a few key aspects of your persona and the process itself that you should pay attention to in order to make sure you are getting the best possible exposure to coaches nationwide. Reflecting on my own experience, here are some of the best tips I can give to any junior golfer as the embark on their journey to the next level.
I spent a good part of my time in high school immersed in the college golf recruiting process. From the time I could start contacting coaches, I was constantly thinking about various factors that would go into my final decision, and how I would initiate conversations with the coaches whose programs interested me.
When I was a sophomore in high school, I began to compile a list of schools where I thought I would fit in and be happy as a student-athlete. I went to their athletics websites, found the coach’s contact information, and kept a record of all the information I would need to have when it came time to start sending emails, making phone calls, and putting my name out there. And it took me what seemed like a lifetime.
Once college coaches can start contacting you, there will be schools you’ve never even heard of wanting to talk with you about their program. The first one I remember seeing in my email was Coker College. I had no idea who they were, but every interested school is an opportunity that should be taken seriously. So I researched, found out about the school and the team, and decided whether it sounded like a good fit for me. This was the process for every school that contacted me.
Another important part of the recruiting process is helping coaches understand who you are as a person and a golfer. They want to know if you are driven, what kind of student you are, and how well you will fit in with the rest of their team. After all, you become a part of the family when you join a college golf team. This is a big part of what they are looking at when they come to watch you play in tournaments. Yes they want to see how you play golf, but more importantly they are watching the way you interact with the people around you, and how you carry yourself when your game starts to go sideways.
All of this adds to the time commitment of being a recruit, so it is important to understand that you can’t just hope that a coach finds you by chance. You want to be actively keeping your name in coaches’ heads and email accounts, making sure your research is current, and showing that you have the drive to do the necessary work. Junior Golf Hub consolidates much of this process into one easy to use service.
Based on my experience, if I had access to Junior Golf Hub in 2013, I would have been logging in to my account at least 3 to 4 times every month. But what exactly should you be doing when you log in?
- Check for new followers – Coaches want to know that you are paying attention, and whether or not you are interested in their program. Every time you log in, take a minute to review your list of followers. Are there any new ones? Did anyone stop following you? Being aware of which coaches are keeping an eye on you is a great way to start narrowing down your school search.
- Review your profile – Since your own profile is the first line of communication with coaches, it is important that it is up to date and true. If you achieve a goal or receive an award, make sure to add that. Keep your bio current, and cycle the cool facts about yourself. Really show coaches who you are. Always proofread for spelling and grammar errors!
- Stay informed – My favorite part of Junior Golf Hub is the amazing database of information available to the members regarding schools all over the country. New things are always happening, so whether you are looking at a new school or just checking in on what a school you’ve researched has been up to, always make sure you know what’s happening. Having the latest information is a great way to show coaches you truly care!
- Stay informed – My favorite part of Junior Golf Hub is the amazing database of information available to the members regarding schools all over the country. New things are always happening, so whether you are looking at a new school or just checking in on what a school you’ve researched has been up to, always make sure you know what’s happening. Having the latest information is a great way to show coaches you truly care!
There is so much you can do and learn through Junior Golf Hub. These suggestions are just the beginning of the process. So make sure you are staying active with your account. 3 or 4 log-ins per month is a benchmark that any serious recruit should meet, and there is absolutely no down side to surpassing that number. In fact, the more you check in with the Hub, the more you’re helping yourself become a college golfer!