Golf 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.