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6 Important College Golf Recruiting Lessons

May 6, 2020February 19, 2021
by Kris Hart

Reading Time: 5 minutes

On April 30th, 2020 the NHSGA team hosted a 3-hour live event titled “Recruited: The Ins and Outs of College Golf”. This event brought together top players, coaches, junior golfers, and recruiting experts to tell their stories and help parents and high school students navigate the college golf recruiting process. The event supported the Golf Emergency Relief Fund to support golf industry employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guests included Jennifer Kupcho, Keegan Bradley, Buddy Alexander, Herb Page, Katie Brophy Miles, Aidan Thomas, Jessica Meyers, Mike Bender, Trillium Rose and more. Below highlight 6 important college golf recruiting lessons we learned from the discussions with our speakers. You can sign-up to receive the full college golf recruiting video recording.

Lesson 1 – Jennifer Kupcho and Ed Oldham

I didn’t play in a lot of big events. I was NOT recruited heavily by many colleges outside Colorado. Her PGA Coach Ed Oldham spoke to the Wake Forest women’s golf coach at The Curtis Cup years after Jennifer was recruited to Wake. Coach Dailey said, “Jennifer was not on my radar. While passing by Jennifer’s group leaving the course at the USGA Junior Girls tournament, I heard an amazing sound when Jennifer hit the ball. Coach Dailey promptly called her assistant coach and told her to come out to watch Jennifer”.

Lesson learned – You can be one of the best players in the world, but sometimes you fly under the radar. It only takes one swing at the right place to get the chance to attend the college of your dreams. Play in the biggest events you can qualify or attend. For Jennifer, the USGA Girls Junior was that chance.

Lesson 2 – Keegan Bradley and Mark Bradley

Keegan grew up with an advantage in that his father was the PGA Professional at a golf course. Mark brought Keegan to the course on a daily basis, not for work, but because it was fun. Keegan would spend all day, every day at the course picking up balls, playing holes, meeting people, and most importantly learned how to work hard on his game. Even though Keegan was a grinder and worked really hard, going to the course was fun. Hitting balls was fun. Picking the driving range was fun. Hanging out with older people was fun.

Lesson Learned – Parents, make sure to keep golf fun for your kids.

Lesson 3 – Buddy Alexander and Herb Page

Retired Championship college golf coaches Buddy Alexander and Herb Page said when they were coaching college golf, “The Rankings” didn’t exist. Recruiting for college golf is a little bit easier these days for coaches since it is easier to get in touch with people and rankings can help. Both coaches agreed that the “rankings” are not an end-all because some kids cheat the system and only play in certain “ranked tournaments”. Buddy even said I’d rather recruit a kid who won his state Amateur at 15 years old versus a kid who is top-ranked in the country.

Lesson Learned – Rankings are not everything. Competition rounds and scores, regardless of the event size, matter. Coaches said that good recruits need to learn how to win a tournament, not just earn points for playing well in a ranked event.

Lesson 4 – Brendan Ryan, Dr. Katie Miles, Roger Knick

If you want to play college golf, your scores are only one part of the equation. Brendan from Golf Placement Services cautioned that for anyone looking to get recruited to play college golf, having good grades is as important if not more important than just having good golf scores. Your SATs are a crucial part of the equation for anyone looking to play college golf.

Lesson learned – Be smart. Be realistic. Compare your SAT scores, golf scores, and grades to what a college program requires. Do your homework on a program and narrow down your search to find the best school that fits your numbers. Junior Golf Hub offers a great platform for high school golfers to help find schools that may be the best fit.

Lesson 5 – Aidan Thomas, Jessica Meyers, Dillon Brown and Tanner Kutek

All four students have had different experiences playing college golf. The students each shared advice about how they went through their college search and what it is like to play college golf. Students and parents thinking about getting recruited for college golf need to think about location, size of the school, the strength of the program, and how academically focused a college may be. Balancing school, college golf, and trying to have a social life is difficult. Tanner Kutek explained how his experience playing club golf was best for him since he has a difficult major and needed to study. Tanner also wanted to stay engaged with his two passions of golf and hockey. Tanner was able to get the best of both worlds by becoming an academic leader on campus while still pursuing his two passions through playing club hockey and club golf.

Lesson Learned – Everyone can play college golf. Whether you want to play varsity golf or NCCGA club golf, there is an opportunity for everyone to play golf in college.

Lesson 6 – Mike Bender, PGA and Trillium Rose, PGA

Mike and Trillium lead a discussion with two of their students Aaron Du and Rebecca Schiffman. Both Aaron and Rebecca talked about their PGA coaches and how much it means to them to have a coach who sets up a plan, teaches them lessons, and helps them become better golfers. Mike and Trillium talked about setting goals and having a plan. If you are a junior golfer looking to play college golf, it is important to have a coach who is going to help you along the way, set realistic goals on where you can play college golf, and utilize their relationships to help you get found by the right college coaches.

Lesson Learned – Every junior golfer looking to play college golf needs a team. Within that team are parents, friends, and most importantly a PGA golf coach who is going to set forth a great golf plan. Here is some info on how to find a PGA golf coach near you.

We hope you enjoyed this article sharing important tips for playing college golf. If you are interested in learning beyond these 6 lessons, you can sign-up to receive the full college golf recruiting video recording.

April 9, 2020

How high school golf could take place during the…

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*Stay up-to-date with all state high school athletic association decisions for the spring golf season (link)

High school athletic associations, much like all of us, are facing unprecedented times during the COVID-19 pandemic. As early as mid-March, some states have canceled all spring sports including golf. Other states have delayed the start of the season or have announced they will be closely monitoring possible delays.

The Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) released this statement recently about the decision to cancel spring sports. “The Association understands the extreme seriousness of this pandemic and joins in support of current measures being implemented as well as future considerations. In unwavering support yet with extreme sadness, we must cancel our spring sports programming. We join all Hoosiers in anticipation of a triumphant homecoming back to our schools in the fall of 2020 complete with a full complement of IHSAA sports.”

All organizations, groups, or individuals need to pay attention to CDC and WHO guidelines for social distancing and other recommendations. Additionally, all national, state and local laws and guidelines are of the utmost importance. With that said, as we get to a point where events “can” happen, we should evaluate some precautions we can take on the golf side to lead by example and show that golf can be a great place to meet all of those guidelines and provide a healthy, competitive outlet.

If we are fortunate enough that the time for safe events can be run in the next couple of months, high school athletic associations can adopt some of these same adjustments we are taking at the National High School Golf Association in order to run their local and state competitions. As we prepare for our National Invitational at Pinehurst Resort this summer, we will be taking these following precautions:

Golf Tournament COVID-19 Precautions:

Registration – Send all rules sheets electronically and remove paper handouts. Starters or volunteers should stress social distancing and remind players or these recommendations
Practice Facilities – Set up hitting stations at least 6 feet apart
Scorecards – Use digital scorecards or do not exchange with other players. Vocal confirmation at scoring may be used
Spectators and volunteers – Social distancing guidelines should be enforced and encourage walking vs. carts
Golf Rules – Consider adopting USGA adaptations for the flagstick and bunker rakes
Etiquette – Encourage players to not shake hands and maintain proper social distancing at all times
Food & Beverage – if your event has F&B be sure all items are separated and individually wrapped
General – Hand sanitizer or Lysol wipes should be readily available

Be sure to continue to check updates with your local and state governments on the COVID-19 implications around your area. Feel free to contact us Chris@highschoolgolf.org for more ideas and ways that we can all practice social distancing and enjoy a round of golf.

Posted By: Chris Noble

March 31, 2020

Most Inspiring high school golf stories

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Why do you play high school golf? Is it because you are able to be with your friends? Spending time outdoors? Or maybe because you just love competing? There are over 224,000 high school golfers that play across the country. Each year, many have overcome adversity, challenges, and setbacks to perform at the highest level. Let’s take a moment to showcase some of the most inspiring high school golf stories.

Drew Charter High School

Drew Charter Academy, an all-black high school in Georgia achieved history last spring. The team became the first all-black high school golf team to win a state championship in GHSA history. With their state championship win, they represented the state of Georiga at the 2019 NHSGA High School Golf National Invitational at Walt Disney World Resort.

Not too long ago, Drew Charter could not field a full team of players to compete in a match. Many other local schools wouldn’t consider scheduling a match with the team. This season, the team expects more than 35 kids to try out. Coach Joe Weems explained his coaching philosophy. “It’s not just golf, it’s about having someone they can go to throughout the day just in general. I’m real big on culture and climate. The culture is having a winning attitude, but the climate is about family and taking care of one another.”

Max Roberts – from homelessness to a state championship

Max Roberts was a typical high school student from Oklahoma with an exceptional golf game and love for the sport. Before his senior year state championship in the spring of 2019, he experienced a setback that would cause adversity for any high school golfer. Max’s parents underwent a messy divorce that essentially left him and his mom without a home and place to go.

Before the state championship, Max gathered his team to fill them in on what was happening at home in his personal life. His teammates assured Max that they had his back, no matter what. Max opened the state tournament with rounds of 72-70 and had a two-shot lead going into the final round. He fired a 71 for the final round and ended up winning the state tournament by four strokes.

Max finished in a tie for 15th at the 2019 High School Golf National Invitational with rounds of 72-74. His community rallied around his family to raise the funds needed for them to travel to Disney last summer. “A house is just a house,” he says. “Your family, your friends … that is your real home.”

Jordan Spieth inspires Massachusetts high school golfer to a state championship

Austin Vogt, a 2019 high school senior did not make his high school golf team for the past three consecutive years. Discouraged, he just about gave up his hopes of representing his school on the golf team. As fate would have it, Austin had an opportunity to meet with his golfing hero, Jordan Spieth after a PGA Tour event in Boston. Spieth not only encouraged Austin to work at his game, but shared a story in which he faced challenges during his high school career. Vogt was instantly inspired by his encounter with Spieth and vowed to rededicate himself to his game.

During the tryouts his senior year, Vogt finally made the golf team. As team captain, he led his team to a second-place finish in the state tournament and a trip to the NHSGA National Invitational. Vogt’s determination and a little helpful inspiration from one of his golfing heroes propelled him to accomplish one of his goals.

High school golf is so special because you have teammates, coaches, and friends around you at all times. In times of adversity or challenge, golf can help bring out the best in all of us. Have a story that you would like to share with the NHSGA? Please email NHSGA Manager Chris Noble at Chris@highschoolgolf.org

Posted By: Chris Noble

March 24, 2020

Best real-grass putting courses

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When we think of putt-putts, we typically think of windmills, artificial turf, and colored golf balls. However, a trend of real-grass putting courses is popping up all across the country. Let’s take a look at some of the best real-grass putting courses and what makes them so special.

Thistle Dhu at Pinehurst

Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina is a destination for almost any golfer. In addition to the 10 courses, they have on property, the Thistle Dhu 18-hole putting course is perfect for any age and level of golfer. In 1916, James Barber of Pinehurst designed Thistle Dhu, the first miniature golf course. Word has it that after having seen his finished course, Barber declared to his designer, ‘This’ll do!’ An American icon was born.

The Punchbowl at Bandon Dunes

Bandon Dunes is a premier golf resort on the West Coast in Oregon. The resort boasts 6 courses and The Punchbowl is a 100,000 square foot putting course designed by Jim Doak and Jim Urbina. Tom Doak was quoted saying, “You will find every kind of putt you can imagine out there, and probably a few you’ve never dreamed of. ”

Welter’s Folly

This is a unique one. If your travels take you to Southwest Michigan, you will be surprised to find this 18 hole putting course at one of the favorite distilleries in the area. Welter’s Folly is a 30,000 square foot putting course located at Journeyman’s Distillery in Three Oaks, Michigan. Come for a nice brunch with the family, and stay for a friendly putting game afterward.

Little Hawk

Keeping with our Michigan theme, Hawk Hollow Golf Club in Bath, MI (just outside of Lansing) boasts an 18 hole natural grass putting course. Little Hawk, a par 54 bentgrass putting course features bentgrass undulated greens in a picturesque setting. Families, couples, seniors, juniors – a fun spot for everyone!

Whitewater Course at Horseshoe Bay Resort

Our next stop is out in Texas at Horseshoe Bay Resort. The Whitewater Course is an 18 hole par 72 miniature course with Zoysia greens. The course is filled with bunkers and water hazards that putters must avoid. Considering the course is lighted, players can even enjoy the fun even after the sun sets!

Devine Nine at Angel Park

Our final stop takes us out to Las Vegas and Angel Park Golf Club. The Devine Nine is the world’s first 9 hole lighted real grass putting course. Dogleg fairways, rough, bunkers and water hazards all have to be avoided while navigating this putting course.

Know of any other real grass putting courses/greens in the U.S.? Please email me Chris@highschoolgolf.org for us to showcase as well. Happy putting!

Posted By: Chris Noble

March 18, 2020

High school golf Instagram accounts

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Social media is a regular means of communication in all of our lives. High school students use platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to chat with friends and learn about events and activities in their community. A way for any high school golf team to celebrate their players and attract more attention is by starting an Instagram account. Let’s take a look at some great high school golf team accounts and keys to making yours successful.

Great profile picture

The first step when creating an Instagram account is to have a recognizable profile picture. This is the image that people will see before clicking on your full account. A good idea would be to use your school mascot or team logo to standout. Manning High School in South Carolina does an excellent job including the school logo in their profile picture. Pro Tip: Include a link to your high school website or golf page, to let people know about your team.

Variety of Pictures

It’s important to include a variety of different pictures for your account to attract the most attention. Include action shots from your players on the course, pictures with parents and coaches, and even team activities outside of golf. Huntley High School in Illinois does an excellent job of mixing up their pictures to show all different aspects of team life.

Follower/Following Ratio

A key to any good Instagram account is to maintain a good follower too following ratio. In other words, never follow more accounts than you have following you. Try to keep the numbers as close to each other as possible. The Grissom High School Girls Golf Team Instagram account does a perfect job of maintaining this.

Celebrate Accomplishments

Many of your players will have accomplishments throughout their careers. This could be signing to play college golf, or breaking a personal best on 9 holes. Celebrate those accomplishments with pictures and videos. The New Albany girls golf team in Ohio does a nice job celebrating players signing to play college golf and other local news stories.

Whether you are tech-savvy or not, starting an Instagram account for your team is a perfect way to attract more players and celebrate accomplishments. Take the time today to help your team use this channel of communication to bolster its reputation.

Posted By: Chris Noble

March 10, 2020

Best indoor golf drills

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One of the unfortunate things about golf is the amount of land and space that’s required to not only play a round, but hit more than a putter and wedge. Some players can get very rusty either in the winter or if you don’t have enough space to practice all of your shots on a regular basis.

There are numerous golf drills that you can do indoors with confined space to keep your golf muscles and your mental game intact. Here are just a few suggestions for indoor golf drills.

Full swing drills

One thing that often goes away when you don’t play often enough is your swing path, especially when it comes to your backswing. Players tend to either bring the club too far inside or outside, creating an overcorrection on the downswing which can cause a slice or a hook. Try placing a mirror behind your setup and bring the club back exactly halfway. As you stop and look back at the mirror, your club should be exactly parallel to the ground and the clubhead should block the shaft and grip from view. Repeat this takeaway over and over until you can get the club in the correct position at least 10 times in a row. This will help with your consistency and swing path when you return to the course.

Indoor putting drills

Practice your 3-6 foot putts on a smooth surface (a smooth and fast carpet is probably best). The accuracy here isn’t important, but what is important is getting your putter on a consistent line and feeling confident that you can hit the ball straight off the face anytime you have a short putt. This is a 3-putt avoidance drill more than anything else but should give you confidence over short putts when you return to the course.

Indoor chipping drills

Your mom or dad probably has told you not to swing a golf club in the house. However, there is a way to practice your chipping without damaging any of the fine china. Grab a towel(s) and throw 10 balls down. Place the towel about 10 feet away from you and try to land all 10 balls in the towel. Once you do this, change to a smaller towel and repeat the drill. An easy way to focus on landing your chip shots to a spot rather than just chipping to the hole.

Practicing these drills will give you a leg up on the competition even before you step foot on the course this spring.

Posted By: Kris Hart |

March 4, 2020

What happens if I don’t get recruited to play…

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According to the NCAA and NFHS, around 7% of high school golfers will go on to play varsity golf at any level in college. Getting recruited to play college golf is a long and difficult process which causes confusion, time, money, and pain for many student athletes and their families. Since the odds are stacked against many high school golfers looking to play college golf, I thought it would be helpful to share some information for parents and students who do not get recruited to play college golf. There is a lot of advice out there about getting recruited, but not enough information to help the 93% that do not get recruited.

Play collegiate club golf

Did you know anyone can play college golf? The National Collegiate Club Golf Association (NCCGA) runs college golf tournaments all across the country for students at over 400 colleges and universities. NCCGA hosts weekend tournaments for students to compete on a local and national scale during the fall and spring semesters while in college. Anyone can play club golf since the events are co-ed, all swings are welcome (tournament scores range from 65-105), and the only requirement to play is that you are a full-time college student. Learn more about playing club golf.

Play golf for fun on campus

There are around 100 college campuses in the US that have golf courses directly affiliated with the campus. A course like Forest Akers on Michigan State’s campus is especially welcoming and accommodating to students by offering students 36 holes and the ability to play golf for a significantly low rate. If you are looking to focus on academics, but not playing on a golf team any longer, just playing for fun while at college can be the best medicine to relax during those stressful times.

Still looking to get recruited to an elite program, but started too late?

Delay college for a year

Delay college for a year – If you are someone who should have been recruited to play college golf, but may not be ready for college or need another year to prepare your game for a specific level program, there are many golf academies that help high school golfers with college golf preparation. Golf academies are typically very costly. However, they will do a great job getting you prepared for college and help you get recruited a year later. Need some help finding a golf academy?

Try to walk-on

Walking on to a varsity college golf team is very, very difficult. There are many great stories out there about kids who have walked on to programs and been very successful college golfers, but it is rare to even get a chance for a walk-on spot especially at a larger school. Although I do not have any direct data or research to back this besides numerous conversations with college golf coaches, the majority of coaches I speak to do not even off a walk-on tryout anymore. A better alternative to walking on the team might be playing club golf and proving yourself to the college coach. Here is a story about how Ian Martin from the University of Michigan did just that.

If you are in the 93% of high school golfers who do not get recruited to play college golf, do not worry since you are 1 of 200,000 other kids in the same boat. Hopefully the above advice is helpful for you to stay involved in the game of golf and enjoy your college experience at the same time.

Click here for a full, comprehensive college golf recruiting guide.

Posted By: Kris Hart |

March 4, 2020

A comprehensive guide to college golf recruiting

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The college golf recruiting process can be difficult to manage. Junior golfers and parents are searching for colleges, researching golf teams and how to communicate with coaches. However, just because the process takes time does not mean it has to be overwhelming. The guide below will provide families with a good understanding of each step necessary to navigate collegiate golf recruiting.

Creating a college golf resume

The first step before ever contacting a college golf coach is to create a resume with your athletic and academic accomplishments. Resumes should be digital and easily accessible for college coaches to access. Important information that needs to be included:

Tournament Scoring Average
Junior Golf Scoreboard Rank
AJGA Rank
Golfweek/Sagarin Rank
NHSGA Rank
Current GPA
ACT/SAT Score

In addition to all of your golf and academic averages and ranks, it is important to include a swing video for coaches to view.

A few additional touches to your resume that would be helpful:

Include a personal reference that a college coach could contact to learn more about you. (High school golf coach or swing instructor)
A personal statement in your resume. 3-4 sentences are perfect, talking about who you are and what you are looking for in a college and golf team.

Is your family looking for extra help creating a resume and navigating the process? Junior Golf Hub allows players to create a digital online profile, get noticed by college coaches and find and follow favorite schools.

Understanding NCAA recruiting rules & calendar

The NCAA communication guidelines can be intimidating at first to understand for families. Let’s break it down in terms of what a junior golfer and college coach can and cannot do over the process:

NCAA Division 1

Student-Athletes Can:

Fill out recruiting questionnaires
Send emails/updates to coaches
Leave voice-mails for college coaches at any point

Student-Athletes Cannot:

Go on an official or unofficial visit until August 1st of their junior year
No off-campus contact (communicating with a coach at a junior tournament) until Aug. 1st of Junior year
Zero communication from a coach to a student-athlete until June 15th after their Sophomore year

NCAA Division 2

Student-Athletes Can:

Fill out recruiting questionnaires
Send emails/updates to coaches
Leave voice-mails for college coaches at any point
Go on an unofficial visit at anytime

Student-Athletes Cannot:

Go on an official visit until June 15th after Sophomore year
Coaches cannot call student-athletes until June 15th after Sophomore year
No off-campus contact (communicating with a coach at a junior tournament) until June 15th after Sophomore year

NCAA Division 3

NCAA Division 3 has the most relaxed recruiting rules of all the NCAA Division levels.

Athletes can receive recruiting materials at any time
There is no limit on when a college coach calls a student-athlete
There is no limit on when college coaches can contact student-athletes digitally
After the student-athletes Sophomore year, college coaches may begin off-campus communication (junior tournaments) with a student-athlete
A student-athlete can begin taking official visits after January 1st of their junior year

NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) & NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association)

The NAIA or the NJCAA does not regulate the communication between a coach and a current high school athlete.

Communicate, communicate, communicate

Emails – There are a few tips to always consider when emailing a college golf coach.

Start with the assistant coach first
Avoid Monday’s when reaching out as they will typically be their busiest
Check the team’s schedule before reaching out to them
Personalize and individualize each email that you send, never just send a generic email

Phone Calls – Calling a college coach can be intimidating, but keeping a few keys in mind, you will be successful

Do some homework & research on a coach and team before calling
Have a few questions prepared that you want to be answered
Have a plan going into the call and be yourself

Campus Visits – Paying a visit to a college coach on campus is a great way to make a good first impression

Make sure to wear clothes that you will be comfortable making a good first impression in (ideally business casual)
You as the student-athlete should do most of the talking and answer questions that the coach brings up while on the visit
If you meet with the team, ask as many questions as you can about the team culture and what they like and dislike about the school

Follow up’s – Always remember to send a thank-you note to a coach and their staff after having a chance to meet with them on campus. Small gestures like this can go a long way.

Verbal Scholarships & National Letter of Intent

It’s always an exciting time when a student-athlete received a verbal scholarship from a coach. However, nothing is official until after that verbal scholarship offer is followed up with a National Letter of Intent. A (NLI) is a binding agreement between a student-athlete and a college/university that binds an athlete to that school for one academic year. Only NCAA Divison 1 and NCAA Division 2 schools utilize the program.

Want to play college golf but you’re not getting recruited by any schools? Here’s what to do if you’re having trouble getting recruited for a team. If you have other questions about college golf recruiting, feel free to reach out to me at chris@highschoolgolf.org

Posted By: Chris Noble

February 26, 2020

How to prepare for a high school golf tournament

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Showing up for a tournament can be nerve-racking, whether it’s your first or the state championship Senior year. There are many ways to prepare the days leading up to a tournament, but here are a few tips to keep in mind to help you stay focused and shoot the best round possible.

Take it easy the day before a tournament. I recommend hitting balls for 30 minutes and spending an hour on the chipping and putting green. If you are heading out to the course, I recommend playing 9 holes and not keeping score. Hit some extra shots, especially around the greens. Don’t forget to hit some shots that make you uncomfortable so when they come up the next day, you’re ready.

Eat a healthy but light breakfast. In my experience, some fruit, yogurt, and granola are some of the best items you can have. Nothing too filling that’s going to make you drag during your round. Having a First Tee bar or another small snack in your bag for later is never a bad idea either.

Chat with your teammates and coach about strategy. Maybe there’s a member of your team who has played the course before and has some local knowledge. Maybe your coach has some ideas to help avoid those chunky chips you’ve been hitting. It’s important to strategize at least a bit to help you feel more comfortable on the first tee.

How to prepare for a high school golf tournament

Set two realistic goals for yourself. One can be your score, but the other should be something else entirely. Maybe you’ve been hitting too many drives Out of Bouds and it’s costing you strokes. Your goal for the day could be to keep your drives in play. Maybe that means iron or hybrid off the tee instead of driver or wood. These goals can actually help you strategize better and play a cleaner round of golf.

Stay calm. If you’re nervous on the way to the tournament, try keeping your mind off of it by thinking of other things. Listen to your favorite music. I’ve had the issue before where I imagine what the first tee shot would be like all the way to the golf course and proceeded to hit my drive OB. That shot was all I thought about all morning and I put way too much pressure on myself to follow through.

Posted By: Kris Hart |

February 20, 2020

Running a high school golf tryout

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High school golf tryouts can be a stressful time for players and coaches. Players are anxious to play their best and make the roster. Coaches want to be fair when selecting and finalizing their teams. But how can coaches make sure they are providing each player an equal opportunity when making the team? Check out these tips below to help run a successful high school golf tryout.

Set Expectations

Golf, unlike other sports, is objective and quantifiable. 72 will always beat 75, and 75 will always beat 80. Before any of your players set foot on the golf course, clearly explain the structure of your tryout process. How many holes will it consist of? How many days? Will you give special exemptions to an upperclassman or returning players from the year before? Is there a certain score or total that has to be shot to make the team?

Document all of these expectations on paper to share with all players and families. Your goal is to set clear expectations even before the first tryout. The more clear cut your process is, the less confusion and controversy there will be later on in the season.

Pair experienced players with newer golfers

If you have any upperclassman or returning starters from the prior season, try to pair them up with newer golfers. This will not only provide your returning golfers a leadership opportunity, but the inexperienced players can learn from playing with them. Good golf etiquette can be taught by your veteran players and help create a better team environment for the newer golfers.

Pro-tip. Incorporate either a double-par or circle 10 rule for your younger players. In other words, once they reach double the par on a hole or hit their 10th shot, they will pick up their ball and record that score. This will help with the pace of play and overall morale for those players.

Integrity first

Cheating is a hot topic issue in high school golf. Set the precedent day one that cheating will not be allowed on your team. Consequences will be met if cheating is seen. One way to help limit the amount of cheating is to have all players in a group exchange scorecards with each other. Try to avoid a player ever keeping their own score. If there is an issue with a score on a certain hole, both players can be involved with coming to an agreement.

Use the rules of golf

Tryouts should not just consist of playing on the course, but also include a test on the rules of golf. The USGA has some great resources for players, parents and coaches with pre-made rules quizzes. Assign your players some homework to watch some of the USGA rules videos before taking the quiz and require that they meet a certain standard when taking the quiz.

PGA Jr. League Champions — SCOTTSDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 14: PGA of America CEO, Seth Waugh, Team Georgia and PGA of America President, Suzy Whaley with the PGA Junior League Champions

Action plan for golfers who don’t make the team

A question that we ask on our annual high school golf coaches survey is asking coaches if they cut players from their teams? Over 25% of the 1200 coaches that responded said they do make cuts from their high school golf teams. For any players that are cut, encourage them to look at PGA Junior League – which exists to bring friends, families, and communities together around golf. This opportunity would also allow those players to be part of a team atmosphere.

Additional questions on the best ways to run a tryout for your team? Feel free to contact me directly: Chris@highschoolgolf.org

Posted By: Chris Noble