College & Golf Program Research

Eventually, every college-bound high school student asks the same question: What college is right for me? Playing golf at the collegiate level adds an additional layer of complexity, as now you need to choose (a) the right college and (b) the right golf program. And there are many variables to consider! The location of the college, how close it is to home, average SAT scores of admitted students, academic strength in your desired major, strength of the golf program, number of roster spots, level of comfort with the coach, and much more.

Here at the Hub, we are pragmatists, and the most pragmatic thing you can do when you reach this point is to start researching. We recommend you start the research process by clarifying what's most important to you across a few major variables, including:

• Your interests: Where do your passions lie? Math, science, entrepreneurship, music, or even golf! What subjects fascinate you and captivate your imagination? Start your search with a bit of self-reflection, and understand the "what" and "why" behind the things that interest you in life.

• Location: Close to home or far away (mom and dad, take notice!).

• Climate: Desired climate. Take note of the climate's impact on your ability to play golf year-round.

• Institution characteristics: Public or private. Rural or urban. Large student body or small student body. Single-sex or co-ed.

• Quality of academics: Including admissions selectivity, standardized test scores, and college ranking.

• Desired major: Focus on finding programs that are strong in your intended field of study.

• Cost: Total cost of attendance. Average amount of financial aid awarded. Potential to win athletic or academic scholarships.

• Golf program details: Including division, conference, ranking, team scoring average, low player and 5th player scoring average, coach background and coaching philosophy, weekly time commitment, quality of facilities, and more (see the detailed list below).

• Special considerations: Including religious affiliation, military affiliation, and more.

Essentially, you start out with a list of things that are important to you, and then work from there to find institutions that match these characteristics.

A few tools worth using for the broader college search:

1. College Board: bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search
2. NCES College Navigator: nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator
3. College Rankings Services:

• U.S. News & World Report: usnews.com/best-colleges
• Princeton Review: princetonreview.com/college-rankings/best-colleges

Please note that our strong point of view here at the Hub is that academics come first, golf second. Makes sense, right? Your college golf career will last four years; your career will last forty. The odds of playing on the PGA Tour are exceedingly low, while the odds of joining the working world are exceedingly high. So, our advice is to make sure you find a strong academic fit first, and then couple the golf program to this — not the other way around.

Lastly, we recommend casting a wide net (30+ schools) on your first go-around, which should occur at the start of high school or even before. As you progress through high school, keep narrowing the list down as you learn more about the colleges on it. Target a small list of colleges (5-10) heading into your senior year, and get ready for applications!

Golf Program Research

The Hub really shines when it comes to golf program research. We allow you to find and research college golf programs, as well as basic school statistics like location, SAT scores, tuition, and more. Use your "My Colleges" page to keep track of all the schools you like in one place, and take notes on programs of interest.

Here is a list of things to consider as you research a college golf program. A good chunk of this information is available on the Hub, and other pieces of information may only be available from a direct conversation with the coach.

Hub's Guide to College Golf Program Research

Competitiveness

• Athletic association (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA)

• Division

• Ranking

• Conference

• Team scoring average, and scoring average of the #1 and #5 players (strive to be at the level of the #5 player)

• Key accomplishments: NCAA tournament bids, conference championship wins, individual tournament wins, and distinguished alumni

Team Composition and Schedule

• Size of team

• Diversity of team (international vs. domestic, in-state vs. out-of-state)

• Seasons played (fall and spring, or spring only)

• Number of tournaments per season

• Location of tournaments: local, regional, or national

Facilities

• Home course

• Practice facilities (indoor and outdoor)

Quality of Coaching Staff

• Coach and assistant coach biography, tenure, and accomplishments

• Coach's personality and overall attitude

• Coaching philosophy across key areas: player development, practice, swing advice

• Are there certified physical or mental coaches on staff?

• Are physical trainers golf-certified (e.g., TPI), or are they generalists?

• Is golf instruction available, and if so, from whom? What is their background and qualifications?

Team Routines and Time Commitment

• Overview of a typical week

• Time commitment on a weekly basis

• Amount of practice time per week

Starting Squad

• How the coach sets the starting five for tournaments (very important to understand!)

Roster Spots, Scholarships, and Offer Letters

• Number of roster spots available for your class year — worth noting that NCAA roster limits have changed significantly in recent years; see our Roster Spots article for the current details

• Number of scholarships available and whether they are fully funded

• Typical process for offer letters, commitments, etc.

Okay, we're at the end of our college research article. How are you making out? If it seems like a lot of work, just remember that you're going to be spending four years at the college and on the team you choose, so you want to be as thorough as possible when researching schools. Make a confident choice, knowing you assessed this important decision from all angles.

Enjoy your Journey!