As we toast to the end of 2025 tonight, the world of junior golf is at a pivotal crossroads. For the last several weeks, the industry has been in a “Winter Reset”—a period characterized by quiet fairways and even quieter phones.
But tomorrow, the calendar flips, and on January 2, 2026, the Division I recruiting landscape undergoes a massive shift. The Dead Period ends, and the Contact Period resumes. This is the moment where preparation meets visibility.
To ensure you are ready for the restart, we have narrowed down the most critical tasks for your winter months. By diving deep into your digital presence and your 2026 roadmap now, you ensure that when coaches start looking on January 2, they see exactly what they’re looking for.
1. The “Digital Deep Clean”: Professionalizing Your Profile
Coaches value clarity and efficiency. During the Contact Period, they will be sifting through hundreds of profiles. If your information is outdated or difficult to navigate, they will move on to the next candidate.
Audit Your JGH Profile & Resume
- The Academic Update: Fall semester grades are finalized. Update your GPA and upload your most recent transcripts immediately. For juniors and seniors, ensure your latest SAT/ACT scores (if applicable) are prominent.
The “Winter Video” Strategy
Don’t wait until your first spring tournament to update your swing video. Coaches want to see the work you’ve put in during the off-season.
- Simulators & Range Work: High-quality video from a launch monitor session is incredibly valuable. It shows your numbers (spin rate, carry, ball speed) alongside your mechanics.
- The “Process” Clip: Consider a short video explaining one specific thing you’ve been working on this winter (e.g., “Improving my 9-ball flights control”). It demonstrates self-awareness and a growth mindset—traits every college coach covets.
2. Strategic Scheduling: Mapping the 2026 “Evaluation Windows”
The most common mistake families make in January is “Panic Scheduling”—signing up for every available event to ensure exposure. This leads to burnout and diluted performance. Instead, build your 2026 calendar around Strategic Windows.
Understand the Contact Period
Starting January 2, Division I coaches can evaluate in person. Your spring schedule should include at least two “Anchor Events”—high-visibility tournaments where you know coaching presence will be high. Use the Junior Golf Hub Tournament Finder to find all available events.
The “Tiered” Schedule Approach
Divide your 2026 calendar into three categories to ensure you are developing while being discovered:
- Reach Events (20%): Higher-level national competition to test your game against the best and get on the radar of top-tier programs.
- Fit Events (60%): Regional and national tournaments where your current scoring average is highly competitive. This is where you build your “winning percentage” and ranking.
- Development Events (20%): Local or smaller events where the pressure is lower, allowing you to test swing changes or new mental routines in a competitive environment.
Geography Matters
If you are targeting schools in the Southeast, playing exclusively in the Northeast during the spring makes it difficult for those coaches to see you. Align your travel with your target list’s geographic footprint.
3. Pattern Recognition: Assessing the 2025 Data
Before the first tee time of 2026, you must look at your 2025 season objectively. Winter is for evaluation, not emotional reactions.
- Scoring Trends: Did your scores improve as the competition got tougher, or did they rise?
- The “Big Miss”: Review your last five tournaments. Was there a recurring mistake (e.g., three-putts, or tee shots to the right)?
- The Goal: Identify one technical goal and one mental goal for the winter. By narrowing your focus, you ensure that your practice sessions in January and February actually move the needle for your spring debut.
A Note to Families
The “Dead Period” was designed to give everyone—coaches and players alike—a chance to breathe. As we flip the calendar to 2026, take tonight to celebrate the growth of the past year.
The recruiting process is a marathon, not a sprint. The families who use this “quiet” to build clarity, update their resumes, and refine their schedules are the ones who will hit the ground running on January 2.
Happy New Year from all of us at Junior Golf Hub! Let’s make 2026 your best season yet.
—let’s get to work.