Kris Hart, Author at High School Golf

Why families should join a country club

February 21, 2019
by Kris Hart

Reading Time: 2 minutes

For families that play golf, finding a home course or golf club is a major decision. Golf is expensive, and a country club may not always be the first thought when it comes to saving money. However, country clubs can provide an opportunity for investment, great playing conditions and tournament opportunities for the entire family.

Tournament & League Options

Junior and high school golfers are always looking for tournaments to compete in during the golf season. A country club typically will provide junior leagues and even a series of events for various skill levels to compete in throughout the year. Many of the tournaments are flighted by handicap and skill level which makes it enjoyable for all. From the youngest member of the family to the oldest, anyone can keep a competitive edge with events run at the club.

Course Conditions

Public and municipal courses can struggle with the conditioning of their golf courses due to budget restraints. At a country club, one will typically find pristine and consistent conditions throughout the year. When you join a country club, members are prone to fill their divots and replace their ball marks because of a sense of ownership in the course.

Let’s say you play at a mid-tier public course and pay $80 for a round of golf and you play only 25 times in a year. That’s $2,000 on only golf for the year. Country clubs provide more of an inclusive feel where the use of the driving range, swimming pool or other social events are included in your dues.

Investment

Country clubs come in all shapes and sizes when it comes to cost. Family and junior membership options are more affordable and a better investment option if more than one family member will be playing. Important questions to ask when looking to join: Are there food minimums, initiation fees, cart fees, guest fees, or other assessment fees?

Junior golf camps and clinics are put on throughout the summer by PGA professionals at country clubs. These camps can act as great introductory courses for a youngster just getting in the game and even an opportunity for parents to have some much needed time away from the kids.

Caddie Programs

Country clubs are known for caddie programs that employ high school age golfers throughout the summer. Many clubs are part of the Evan’s Scholarship program which helps put deserving young men and women into college with a full scholarship. Caddying in the summertime can provide high school kids a flexible schedule, chance to form meaningful relationships with area business leaders and even free golf!

In short, your family joining a country club this year can prove to be a smart economical decision depending on the amount of use you will get out of it. Evaluate how much you typically spend on golf related costs per year as a comparison to the cost of membership. Clubs are typically looking for new members and inquiring on “member for the day” options can provide a test-run before purchasing your membership.

February 19, 2019

Getting a golf scholarship – An expert’s advice on…

Reading Time: 2 minutes

If you are a high school student or parent seeking advice about college golf scholarships, you came to the right place. When most people think about college golf scholarships, they are only thinking about a skill-based playing scholarship which requires a student to play for a varsity golf team. Since getting a playing scholarship is not feasible for most high school golfers, below highlights some other options for getting a golf scholarship. Read more “Getting a golf scholarship – An expert’s advice on 5 alternatives” →

Posted By: Kris Hart |

February 15, 2019

Driving range etiquette

Reading Time: 2 minutes

If you are a high school player that is new to golf, there are some things you should know about how to handle yourself on the driving range. It’s a different atmosphere from other sports, so here are a few things to keep in mind next time you head to the range.

Read more “Driving range etiquette” →

Posted By: Kris Hart |

February 5, 2019

Order 1st and 10th Tee Bars for fundraising

Reading Time: 2 minutes

If you are in need of fundraising ideas for your high school golf team, look no further then 1st and 10th Tee Bars from SCNS Sports Foods. SCNS is an amazing company that really supports golf at all levels of the sport. Below are 5 reasons why you should consider these bars as a snack on the course and consider ordering some boxes as part of your next fundraiser.

Posted By: Kris Hart |

January 16, 2019

How to bounce back from a bad tournament round

Reading Time: 2 minutes

When I was a high school golfer, I saw both great success and my fair share of failure. I learned a lot more about myself and my golf game from the failures than the triumphs, and they helped shape me into a great player who was able to play at the collegiate level. One thing I noticed a lot playing in junior events was just how many kids failed to show up on day two after a poor first round. I’ve never been one to give up, and you shouldn’t either. Here’s how you can bounce back from a bad round of golf and make something out of any tournament. Read more “How to bounce back from a bad tournament round” →

Posted By: Kris Hart |

January 9, 2019

How to get recognized on the Junior Golf Scoreboard

Junior Golf Scoreboard ranked tournament

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Junior Golf Scoreboard is a phrase and entity that junior golfers and parents hear quite often, but don’t always understand. Let’s take a look at what JGS is and how a junior golfer can get ranked on their site.

Posted By: Kris Hart |

December 4, 2018

How to stay active with golf in winter

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Winter can be tough on a lot of sports, but perhaps affects golf more than any other. The inability to hit balls outside makes keeping up with your game in winter very difficult, however, there are ways for you to stay active with your golf game in the winter. Let’s take a look at some of the best options.

Posted By: Kris Hart |

November 27, 2018

Why golfers should be multi-sport athletes in high school

Reading Time: 2 minutes

In high school, students often fall under pressure to perform in the classroom, making the honor roll, and preparing for college. This reality is more evident for students preparing to become college athletes. Let’s think about a high school golfer as an example. What happens to many is that they become convinced by a coach, parent, or other peer to focus on golf and quit other activities and sports to focus solely on their primary sport. Here are 3 reasons why you should be a multi-sport athlete while in high school.

Posted By: Kris Hart |

September 27, 2018

Equipment discounts for high school golfers

Reading Time: 2 minutes

As a high school golf player or coach, you are eligible to receive discounts and deals on golf equipment, apparel, and bags. Check out all the great deals you can receive from the NHSGA:

Posted By: Kris Hart |

August 21, 2018

Best colleges for a career in golf

Reading Time: 4 minutes

If you are a high school golfer looking to work in the golf industry, there are many college options which can set you up for a career in golf. The common misconception from high school golfers is that becoming a golf professional is the only career path into the golf industry. According to WeAreGolf, golf is a 70 billion dollar industry annually and supports over 2 million jobs! If you are serious about going to college for golf, here are 3 different degree programs that can help set you up for a career in golf, and the best colleges to attend for each one.

Posted By: Kris Hart |