13 replies to this topic

[nattygolf]

I am a rising junior in high school and i hope to play college golf. Currently i am an 8 hcp but my scores are getting lower and lower as weeks go by. My last 2 scores (in the mens group at my home coures) are 79 and 76 but i shot 91 from the tips at harbour town golf links.
I work very hard on my game (went from 20 hcp to 8 in 1 year) and i am getting ready for the tournaments i will play later this summer. I practice my short game and my putting often and i love the game.
Unfortunately, i started playing last year and im worried i started too late to play college golf. I live in South Carolina and there are many small schools in my area, many of whom i am interested in playing golf for. Did i start too late to play in college? Should i bother sending a letter to any small schools in my area?

[benthegolfer]

I would definitely ask. The worst anyone can say is no, ad even then, you could try to walk on in your later years.

[cmrl1986]

If you're serious about it, tell you golf coach. Have him send out your tournament scores and highlights. You should do the same yourself. The best way to get exposure is tournaments. I'm sure their is AJGA around you, look into it. It seems like your scores may still be a bit to high right now, but if you can continue to improve, a smaller school should have no problem pickin you up. If you can get it down to where you're shooting 73-76 consistently, you'll play college, maybe not D-1, but certainly D-2. Good luck!

[chamgel2]

nattygolf, on 23 June 2011 - 08:41 AM, said:

I am a rising junior in high school and i hope to play college golf. Currently i am an 8 hcp but my scores are getting lower and lower as weeks go by. My last 2 scores (in the mens group at my home coures) are 79 and 76 but i shot 91 from the tips at harbour town golf links.
I work very hard on my game (went from 20 hcp to 8 in 1 year) and i am getting ready for the tournaments i will play later this summer. I practice my short game and my putting often and i love the game.
Unfortunately, i started playing last year and im worried i started too late to play college golf. I live in South Carolina and there are many small schools in my area, many of whom i am interested in playing golf for. Did i start too late to play in college? Should i bother sending a letter to any small schools in my area?

I started when I was 15, started playing the Junior Tour at 17, and did not play for the high school due to having to carry a job to pay for my auto insurance, golf, etc.., and was able to get a full ride.  Had numerous offers during my senior year, and finally accepted one the summer after my senior year.  I would start sending letters now with your past tournament results, showing improvement.   It would not hurt to make a video of your swing and put it on a disk to mail as well.  I'd follow up with a letter each quarter showing the progress you've made.  Play in as many tournaments as you can, I had NUMEROUS college coaches tell me they look at AJGA and local state junior tournaments more then the high school tournaments because of the level of competition.  Ping used to have a college golf guide that had the address most every college golf program in the country.  I also wouldn't just keep it local as you mentioned.  I'm from Tennessee and ended up playing college golf in Missouri.  If you need any advice, or anything I can do to help feel free to PM me anytime.  DO NOT let anyone tell you that you started too late.  Work hard enough and send the letters, play in tournaments, and your college education will come free of charge.

Edited by chamgel2, 23 June 2011 - 09:13 AM.

[golfinguy978]

play some tournaments to get yourself acclimated to the tournament setting.  if you can become a solid low single (3 or less) i would say you have a shot at most D3 schools as a 5 man.  some of the schools down there are pretty solid though.  send a letter to coaches and ask what they are looking for too.  some schools are better than others.

[cwglum]

There are plenty of schools that have scholarships out there for varying levels of athletic ability, but you also have to consider the value of the diploma you'll be working towards.  Degrees from Ypsitucki U ... probably don't have the end job prospects that a larger school can offer.

[generaljhc]

D2, D3.NAIA in SC

Search Results Official School NameCommon School NameCityStateAllen UniversityAllen UniversityColumbiaSCAnderson UniversityAnderson (SC)AndersonSCBenedict CollegeBenedictColumbiaSCCoker CollegeCokerHartsvilleSCErskine CollegeErskine CollegeDue WestSCLander UniversityLander U.GreenwoodSCLimestone CollegeLimestoneGaffneySCNewberry CollegeNewberryNewberrySCNorth Greenville UniversityNorth GreenvilleTigervilleSCSouthern Wesleyan UniversitySouthern WesleyanCentralSCUniversity of South Carolina AikenSouth Carolina AikenAikenSCUniversity of South Carolina BeaufortUSC BeaufortBlufftonSC

Several good teams in their divisions....as stated above...shoot 73-76 in 2-3 day tournaments and you will get a look. Contact schools... you have time to get noticed by D2, D3, NAIA schols

Edited by generaljhc, 23 June 2011 - 09:01 PM.

[codylowrygolf]

All the advice above is good. Persobal practice, national and regional junior events, letters, coaches help. Figure out how much of all that you need and double it.

So to not be super redundant, I wanted to post mostly for added motivation.

Google JOHN KIMBELL PGA. He didn't start playing until he was 21 and now he plays full time on the Nationwide Tour. It's never too late. You just need to be insanely focused at your goal and not let ANYTHING get in your way. Expect sacrifice. Believe that you can accomplish things you have never done. Be determined to get better, every single day... You can do it.

Go get em!

[unc=champs]

Best advice I could give you is play in as many tournaments that you can. Not sure where you are from but fall golf and spring golf are very different. When I went to play in college the conditions are very different.

[Alexxx]

If you are 100% completely serious:

1) Save all your money
2) Find the best teacher in your area
3) Work at a course a few days to get free golf and pay for tourneys
4) Play golf every single day, about 8 hrs a day in the summer
5) Play every local tourney, us jr am and state am
6) play with kids better and longer than you
7) workout
8)learn how to win

You do that for two years, you can have a good chance at a lot of schools

[FarFromScratch]

Thought I'd add some encouragement. My brother started playing golf as a senior in HS and was basically a low 90s player. He'd always been a really good baseball player and may have had an opportunity to play at a smaller college but really fell in love with golf. After 2 years of junior college he decided he wanted to go somewhere to play golf. He'd never played in any tournaments and his lowest recorded round was a 75, but low 90s was still a definite possibility depending on the day. Anyway, he just emailed all the coaches at smaller schools in our state and ended up getting a partial scholarship. Fast-forward to today and he's getting to play Pebble Beach as a golf team fundraiser trip. Definitely don't think it's impossible to play somewhere, no matter your prior accomplishments.

[Arizonalefty59]

start off at a JC

[MadGolfer76]

The difference between success and failure is persistence. Don't let anyone quote you the odds.

[MRadix]

Start playing in tournaments and you could play d3