WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO PLAY COLLEGE GOLF

By Don Silk

I get calls, all the time, from high school golfers and their families asking if they have what it takes to play college golf. The problem is that there is no way to answer that question without digging deeper. Junior golfers that want to play in college have many variables to think about besides the scores they are putting up. Nearly every junior golfer that is playing tournament golf dreams of playing college golf. According to the NCAA, there are roughly 229,000 boys and girls in America that play high school golf. The math shows less than 2% will have the opportunity to play D1 and less than 6% will get the chance at any level.

So, what does it take to get recruited and play college golf?

Scores

Golf is a game where you cannot fake your ability. You can either shoot the numbers, or you can’t. Obviously, the higher the program’s status is in their division, these numbers get more important. Fortunately, there is an amazing number of opportunities for golfers to play DII and DIII, NAIA, and JUCO.

Academics

Academics are a huge factor in recruiting for several reasons including:

1) Making sure an athlete can maintain their grades and handle course loads with staying academically eligible.

2) Academics can help the athlete get more scholarships to offset tuition costs that athletics can’t cover.

Character

Character is extremely important to coaches. Every coach I talk to about a prospect, one of the first questions asked is, “What kind of kid are they?” Character and work ethic means a lot because the coaches do not have time for troublemakers and athletes that cause drama.

Athletic Ability

Athleticism is not always something that is associated with golf. But golfers who are athletic can stay healthy and can maintain their play even if their swing needs adjusting. Adjusting in the middle of the round is one of the most important attributes of any top golfer.

Getting recruited in golf may sound like a difficult task, but it is NOT if you have the right people helping you through the process. Don’t let your lack of knowledge and exposure be the reason that you did NOT get the opportunity to play in college.