Here at The Hub, we’re often asked how to best use our resources to secure a spot in the college golf world. These conversations, especially with the parents of rising juniors and seniors, often evolve into a familiar release of frustration:
- “Why aren’t we being recruited?”
- “My kid beats that other player all the time, and they just signed with a XYZ college.”
- “We’ve sent 30 notes and only heard back from a handful of schools, even though my kid’s scores are consistently good and better than the scores some of their team puts up in their Fall college tournaments.”
- “My last ten rounds averaged 73.5. Why is my player not getting noticed when others with similar scores are signing?”
If this sounds like you, first, let us validate your feelings: it is super frustrating! You and your player have dedicated countless hours, dollars, and sacrifices to this sport. Knowing that, let’s explore a vital perspective shift.
The “Why” of Junior Golf
It’s natural to see college golf as the next step—a reward for years of dedication and a new level to unlock and explore in competitive golf. But we suggest a deeper question: Why are you truly competing?
It’s okay to have college golf as a goal, but it shouldn’t be the sole purpose. When the purpose is only “a ticket to a college scholarship,” the game loses its joy and power. Try to recenter your energy around the things that fuel true, sustainable growth:
- The puzzle of golf: The endless problem-solving.
- The grind and excitement of pursuing excellence.
- The new knowledge filed away after every round—the failures to learn from, the poor shots, the great shots.
- The memories and friendships forged in competition.
- The thrill of a knee-knocker putt that goes in.
Strive to become the best golfer you can be out of a deep love for the process, not just to make something of a sport that’s turned into a big part of your life. The skills you acquire this way are what truly make you a viable recruit.
Being Recruited vs. Pursuing
Here is the most important distinction for 80% or more of junior golfers: there is a difference between being recruited and pursuing what you want.
For a small percentage of players, the phone will ring precisely on June 15th between sophomore and junior year and for a slightly bigger percentage, but still small, they’ll have some options to verbally commit to a school and golf program soon after that. Their skill set and trajectory were identified early, and they are being recruited. Be happy for them! Look at their story and see if there are lessons to learn, but do not compare yourself to and covet their success.
For the vast majority of players, the phone is not going to ring. And that is okay.
Your Job is to Recruit the School
College golf standards demand a specific level of skill, experience, and maturity. Some players gather that information easier, earlier, or with more resources. Wherever you are on your journey, your focus should be on acquiring the “golden nuggets of development” to reach that level.
Waiting for a coach to suddenly emerge in your inbox is foolish hope. Having choices in offers is not guaranteed. Making your own choices in your search and pursuit is what to do.
The Active Approach: The Search and the Match
The college search must be an internal and active pursuit, not a passive waiting game.
1. Define Your Ideal College Experience
Start by defining the details of your ideal college experience beyond the golf course. Encourage your player to:
- Say “I’ll try that” to things in school to see what sparks interest.
- Be curious about the careers of adult mentors and friends—how did they get there, and what is the job really like?
- Do you want a big school? Small school? Close to home?
2. Deep Dive Into the Golf Program
Once the academic and social picture is clearer, dive deep into the golf program:
- Look at their history and current roster.
- Examine their current schedule (where do they travel?).
- Research past recruit classes: Where did they play junior golf? What were their scores like, and which junior events may have sealed their recruiting process?
- Challenge your intention: Is your desire to play there simply because it’s a name you’ve heard of or because someone you know went there? That’s not good enough.
You need to strive for genuine intention coupled with objective “matching” when creating your college target list. Your pursuit needs to be thoughtful and specific. Do the schools on your target list align with your golf and career goals? Do they “check” the boxes that you’ve detailed and identified as the characteristics you seek as a prospective college student athlete?
Accept this reality: You will definitely need to knock either way.
Accept that doors will close, and doors will open, but you will definitely need to knock (sometimes more than once) either way. Your goal is to keep improving your game and to be intentional, specific, and relentless in your communication with coaches.