High School Golf News

January 29, 2020

Why a high school golfer should get involved with…

Reading Time: 2 minutesYouth on Course (YOC) provides life-changing opportunities for youth golfers. One of the most recognizable opportunities is access to affordable golf. Take a look at some of the many reasons why you should get involved with Youth on Course:

Receive a USGA Handicap number

As a YOC member, you are also a part of your state’s Allied Golf Association. You’ll receive a membership card with an official USGA Handicap number (YOC membership number) that allows you to post your scores, track your progress and play golf for $5 or less at participating facilities. Your handicap number is what helps you level the playing field with others – it is also important to establish a handicap number if you want to enter competitions or tournaments.

Play golf for $5 or less (we’re serious)

Once you receive your Youth on Course membership number, you can start playing golf at more than 1,200 courses across North America. With more access to facilities, it means playing a variety of courses to help improve your game, too. Your YOC membership works in all participating regions and at all participating facilities. There is no limit to how many times you can play golf for $5 or less. So, get practicing! Check out some of GolfWeeks top-ranked courses that YOC members can play for $5! Oh, and this championship course, too.

Get social – Meet new friends and make connections

One of the best aspects of golf is spending time (~4 hours) on a golf course and getting to know the people you are paired up with. Whether it’s family or friends that you already know or joining a threesome of people you don’t – golf gives you the quality time to socialize and learn something new about others. Who knows, maybe you’ll even meet your role model.

College Scholarships

We know that college is more expensive than ever. Youth on Course awards more than $250,000 a year to deserving high school graduates who are in the pursuit of higher education. Scholarships are based on both need and merit. Applications open in January each year.

In Northern California, YOC members have access to additional opportunities – including the Youth on Course Caddie and Internship program. California members can learn more about these employment opportunities here.

So, have we convinced you yet? Join Youth on Course and gain access to life-changing opportunities.

January 22, 2020

2020 High School Golf National Invitational

Reading Time: 2 minutes

In June 2019, the National High School Golf Association ran the inaugural High School Golf National Invitational in Orlando Florida. The event was created to give the love and recognition that high school golfers truly deserve along with an opportunity to elevate the high school game to new heights. 43 states and nearly 300 golfers competed making the National Invitational the largest and most prestigious high school golf tournament. This coming June, the National Invitational heads to historic Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. 

This year’s Invitational will see 324 boys and 216 girls compete in the field and 49 states represented (Alaska doesn’t have high school golf.) Alongside the opportunity to compete at one of the greatest golf resorts in the U.S. – we are fortunate to have the support of other leading junior golf organizations. 

Both the boys and girls medalist will receive an exemption into the 45th Junior PGA Championship in Florida this July. Junior Golf Scoreboard and World Amatuer Golf Rankings will be recognizing the Invitational. The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) is a proud sponsor and will award PBE points to top finishers in both the Boys and Girls Invitational. 

To date, we have representation from every state that sponsors high school golf in the fall – be sure to check out the current field and states represented. Players from all backgrounds and locations of the country will be represent their state for the 3 day 54 hole event. “A main focus for the Invitational is celebrating diversity and inclusion for high school golfers across the country,” said NHSGA Manager Chris Noble. “We are looking to create an experience and culture where each and every player feels welcome and celebrated.” 

If you would like to learn more about the National Invitational, please feel free to contact NHSGA Manager at Chris@highschoolgolf.org 

January 16, 2020

Best Etiquette Practices for High School Golfers

Reading Time: 3 minutes

When it comes to a new high school golfer stepping foot on a golf course for the first time, it can be an intimidating experience. What do I wear? How should I act? What do I do on the course? The game of golf has certain “norms” or rules that should be observed by all golfers. If you are newer to the game, here are some tips to practice the best etiquette on the golf course. 

Attire

Each golf course can differ when it comes to their dress code. Private clubs will typically be more strict than public golf courses. A good rule of thumb for men would be to wear a collared shirt “polo” and khaki shorts/pants with golf shoes. Try to avoid wearing denim if possible. For women, a collared or collarless golf shirt, skirt, khaki or colored shorts/pants. I would recommend calling the course before arriving to confirm. 

Driving Range

When arriving at the driving range, make sure that you provide enough room between yourself and the golfer next to you that you do not interfere with their swing. If you do play music, try to keep it at a level that does not disturb other golfers and use headphones to avoid distractions. Lastly, there is a proper way of making sure you take the least amount of turf when making divots. 

Tee Box

When arriving to the tee box, it is important to introduce yourself to the other members of the group you will be playing with. Identify the golf ball that you will be playing (and try to use a sharpie to put an identifying mark on it that is unique to you.) If you are walking, keep your golf bag off the teeing area (closely mown grass) and stand on the side of the tee box that the golfer is facing, rather than directly behind them. If you take a divot on the tee box, be sure to replace the divot or use a sand mix if available. 

Fairways & Rough

As you are hitting your golf shot in the fairway, be sure to replace any divots that are taken. If you are walking, try to keep pace with your other playing partners, don’t walk too far ahead or behind. Whoever is the farthest away from the hole will hit their shot first and so on. 

Sand Bunkers

If your ball ends up in a bunker, always enter at the lowest point. After you hit your shot, be sure to take the rake that is nearest to you and rake any footprints or marks that were left to ensure the next golfer has the same conditions you had. When raking, always rake the sand away from you rather than pulling the sand toward you. 

Greens

The putting green or greens are the most fragile surface of the entire golf course and it’s important to treat them with care. When walking on a green, pick your feet up to avoid dragging your spikes and leaving marks. If you make a ball mark on the green, be sure to fix it. Similar to the rest of the course, the player who is the farthest away from the hole goes first and so on and so on. It’s important to have a ball marker or coin with you in your pocket so you can “mark” the ball when your other playing competitors are putting. 

Hopefully, some of these above tips and advice will help you as you head to the course to practice your best etiquette and practices. Talk to the upperclassman and more senior members on your team if you are unsure of any etiquette practices. Be safe, and have fun! 

November 25, 2019

Do You Have What It Takes to Play College…

Reading Time: 5 minutesThis article was authored by, Nicky Goetze. 

Since 2011, Nicky has specialized in providing expert guidance to families who are pursuing college golf. He’s a 3-time All-American at Clemson, and a former Division 1 head coach for the FSU Seminoles and Mississippi State Bulldogs. 

In addition to Nicky’s consulting work, he shares his experienced perspective to junior golfers and their parents on Junior Golf Scoreboard’s Going to College column. Also, the American Junior Golf Association features Nicky as an official College Golf Advisor.

We’re excited to have Nicky contribute to NHSGA’s content, and we know you’ll benefit from his advice.

—- 

Do You Have What It Takes to Play College Golf?

Learn what coaches are looking for to gain a recruiting edge.

If you’re engaged in the recruiting process, you might be wondering what college coaches are looking for in an ideal recruit. Of course, coaches look for different levels of players depending on the caliber of their team. But I believe all coaches are looking for junior golfers who possess key attributes (as golfers, students and people) that will set the stage for achievement during their college career.

Rankings & Scores Aren’t Everything

If you’re like a lot of junior players, you’re checking your rankings. Hey, I get it. You want to know where you stand… and coaches definitely look at rankings (JGS, Golfweek-Sagarin, AJGA Rolex and even WAGR) as a part of their research. Just remember that rankings help coaches build a list of qualified recruits, but aren’t a primary tool they use for decision making (more on this later in this article). 

Coaches also pay attention to how juniors fare when competing in strong tournament fields and on difficult courses. College golf plays harder than junior golf, so they like to see who shines on the big stage. And don’t forget about wins and low rounds. Winning at any level draws interest and a sprinkling of under-par scores moves the needle too. Coaches are not seeking “perfect” junior golfers, but these data points (and the rankings) begin to direct coaches toward prospects who are performing at a level that aligns with their preferred recruiting profile. 

Make the Grades

Strive to attain the best grades and SAT/ACT scores you can during your high school years. Coaches know strong students will be more equipped to handle the challenges of balancing academic and golf responsibilities in college especially when missing classes due to team travel. Academic achievement also indicates that prospects will be dedicated as they go about their studies and manage their time well. Both of these traits contribute to the success of a student-athlete in college.

Lastly, strong academics may open doors to schools and golf programs that require higher level GPAs and test scores. You can earn more money too since coaches are often able to pair academic awards with athletic scholarship. 

Real Recruiting Happens on the Road

Having said all of this, if scores, rankings, grades and test results were the only items used to evaluate players, coaches could just recruit at home via the internet. But there’s more to the evaluation process. 

Coaches attend many junior tournaments each year to learn about recruits they’re interested in. They will observe players on the practice facility and on the golf course. What are they looking for? Well, often it’s things kids wouldn’t expect. Let me explain.

What Are Coaches Looking For?

On the practice area, coaches take their “coaching pose” and stare with what feels like x-ray vision to begin looking at your overall skills and technique. Keep in mind, your technique doesn’t have to be textbook (unique swings, wedge play, and putting styles are okay) but coaches hope to see a fairly repeatable system that converts. 

Athleticism and fitness are two other key factors coaches will take note of. College tournaments have course set-ups that are longer than those in junior golf, plus many 36-hole days are a part of college level competition. Because of these realities, coaches favor juniors who are physically fit and are able to generate ample power and distance with the driver. TPI offers top-notch golf fitness education if you have a need.

Coaches also like to see junior golfers training with a purpose. Sure, brief warm-ups might be fairly simple with just a quick run through the bag. But think about your post-round sessions. Are they focused? Do you use specific drills or training devices (alignment aids, putting boards, etc.)? Is a pre-shot routine something you rehearse? All sophisticated players practice in a structured and mindful way, and you should too. Being a golf-nerd is totally cool, and coaches dig that. 

It’s Game Time – Coaches Are Still Watching

As coaches head onto the golf course to watch kids in action during tournament play, they can pick up on several other key attributes, many of which are revealed most fully in the heat of competition.

A positive, gritty attitude is definitely something coaches hope they find. Ups and downs are a part of tournament golf, and when tough holes or rounds occur, coaches are very interested to see which players can handle adversity and maintain their composure. In the crucible of team golf in college, one stroke can make all the difference. Coaches know that recruits with great attitudes will provide a competitive advantage. So, when you compete it’s okay to get frustrated. Just keep on grinding.

Along these lines, coaches love it when they see a junior player who is strategic about course management. Even when mis-hitting shots, the player’s “pre-selected” targets allow his ball to stay in good position. Short-sided approaches and penalty stokes are all but eliminated. Recoveries become easier… and big numbers are taken out of play. This is a dream for coaches, and it can be a reality for you by making sure you prep for tournament rounds by developing a thoughtful game plan. DECADE can help.

Lastly (and this is huge) coaches are looking for mature, good-hearted kids who are kind and generous to their peers, parents, tournament staff and others. Youngsters possessing these qualities will be very coachable. They’ll also bond nicely with their future teammates and become valuable ambassadors for the program. Bringing in recruits who conduct (and present) themselves in a professional manner translates into tons of upside for coaches. Always keep this in mind.

You Can Do This!

As you can tell, coaches look far beyond the scores and rankings as they narrow down their list of candidates to find a few special junior golfers in each recruiting class. Now that you know what their looking for, you’ll have an advantage as you proceed with your recruitment. Use my notes to assess your situation and plan your next steps… little by little, you’ll be on your way to big progress. You can do this!

To your success,

NICKY GOETZE

P.S. For more articles like this one, go to my archive on Junior Golf Scoreboard. Also, if you want to learn more about how to get started with your journey toward college golf, or how to make your next steps the right ones, you’re welcome to reach me at nickygoetze.com. 

October 30, 2019

Options if you get cut from your high school…

Reading Time: 2 minutesGolf is meant to be an inclusive sport that anyone can play, but some high school golf teams only have a small number of roster spots. If you happen to get cut from your high school team, don’t worry. There are plenty of other options for junior golf and many of them will help you improve so that you can make the team next year. Here are the best alternatives to playing on your high school golf team.

1. PGA Junior League – The #1 alternative to high school golf. PGA Junior Leagues offer divisions for anyone 17 and under in a team-based environment, just like high school. Each team is led by experienced coaches and PGA Professionals that help the kids with golf and general life skills.

2. Junior Golf Tournaments – There are many options for junior golf tournaments that anyone can participate in. Their are many different levels of junior tours, so it’s important to pick the one that best suits your financial situation, ability level and desire (or lack there of) to travel. Here is a comprehensive list of all the junior golf tours that you can pick from. If you need help picking the right one for your child, please email Chris Noble at chris@highschoolgolf.org.

3. Practice with your high school team – If you don’t make the actual roster, it’s worth asking the coach if you can still attend team practices. Maybe the team is packed full of Juniors and Seniors and the coach knows they’ll need fresh faces come next season. Most will be happy to let you attend practice and help you get better so that you can contribute next year.

4. Work at the course – Even if you can’t practice with the team, volunteering to help the team or working at the golf course will allow you an opportunity to practice and be involved with the team. Sometimes just showing up and showcasing to the coach that you are working hard at your game may provide the necessary exposure to help you get noticed. Working to earn some money and possibly getting the chance to play free golf or practice by working at a facility can really help your game.

5. Book lessons with your local PGA Professional – Almost every course has a PGA Professional on staff that is a talented teacher. Some courses even have a Professional that’s trained specifically to teach junior golfers. They are the best in the business at what they do and will help your kids get better in just a few short hours.