Are you a junior golfer who is aspiring to play collegiate golf? If so, you have probably thought about reaching out to college coaches, but you may be unsure of the best way. Similar to applying for a job, if you want to play golf in college, you need to create a resume that can highlight your success on the golf course and in the classroom.
No matter how you make your your golf resume, you need to have a digital presence. Gone are the days that you would simply mail a letter to a coach with your resume. The world of collegiate coaching is fast paced and ever changing so you need to be able to share your information quickly and in a way that is easy for a coach to view. There are different options you can explore, through email, recruiting websites/platforms, and even creating your own personal website.
College coaches try to watch junior golfers compete in person during the summer months, however, they can’t always make it out to the event that you are playing in. This is why it’s crucial to have a video of your golf swing with your golf resume. Keep it simple – go to the range and record swings with your driver, long iron, mid iron, wedge along with some chipping and putting. Have two views with each club, one from behind or down-the-line and another from the side. The video should be anywhere from 1-3 minutes in length and showcase all aspects of your game. Utilizing sites like YouTube or Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/sports/golf can be great platforms to share your swing.
One of the most important pieces to your resume is to include statistics or averages on your game. Clearly state your current: Tournament scoring average, high school golf accolades and your NHSGA ranking, handicap, and Junior Golf Scoreboard ranking (if you have one). An added bonus would be to list out some of your most recent tournament rounds to provide additional context around your averages. I would suggest formatting your events with your score, total yardage played from, and the course rating/slope:
AJGA Coca-Cola Junior Champ.
Boyne Highlands Resort – Moor Course
July 1-3, 2009
74-74-69
6808/73.5/134
College golf coaches will be watching many junior golfers this summer. A way to make sure you are one of those players is to share your upcoming tournament schedule proactively with a college coach. I would suggest creating a separate document with your upcoming schedule to send alongside your resume.
Coaches need to know how you are performing in the classroom. Including your current GPA and test scores (ACT/SAT) if possible is a great way to demonstrate you would meet the admission standard for that school. Be sure to continuously update coaches as your GPA changes and if you receive a higher score on your standardized tests. If possible, try to attach a copy of your most recent transcript.
A few additional touches to your resume that would be helpful is including a personal reference that a college coach could contact to learn more about you. An example would be either your high school golf coach or swing coach – someone who can be an advocate for you personally and your golf game. Be sure to include their name, phone number and email address. Feel free to include a personal statement in your resume which provides you an opportunity to make a good first impression to a college coach.
If you are interested in learning more about the world of college golf recruiting along with options for additional help in the process, be sure to check out our recruiting page on highschoolgolf.org