RecruitPKB College Consultant Brandi Jackson recently conducted Q and As with college coaches at all division levels across the country.
Here is some insight from Coach Adam Gary, Head Women’s Golf Coach at mid-ranked DI Western Kentucky University.

 

Do you prefer that a recruit fills out the online questionnaire or sends their resume? Or both?

I really like to have both. It’s nice to have all of the player’s information in one place with our questionnaire database, but I like to get more detailed information from the resume also.

What do you look for when observing a recruit on the course?

I look for how a player interacts with their parents, players and host facilities. I think it’s important to have good body language and show gratitude toward parents/volunteers. Obviously, I’m interested in technique, power, course management and short game skills as well.

How important is it that a golfer needs to begin a workout program before freshman year?

Extremely important. I think a lot of golfers struggle with the workouts the first semester. They can affect the qualifying scores of a freshman who is not prepared for their body to feel different.

What is the biggest mistake you see junior golf families make in this process?

I see too many families starting the process late. I even see senior’s in high school that have not taken the SAT/ACT or signed up with the eligibility center by the start of the year. It’s crazy how early the recruiting starts. I contacted a swing coach about a freshman in high school this fall and she already has four offers. It’s never too early to start preparing.

What do you feel is the best part of a college golfer’s experience?

The friendships made on the team. I think it’s an overlooked priority to see who your future teammates are going/could possibly be. I still keep up with most of my college teammates to this day and want to create an environment where my players have the same relationships and experiences that I was fortunate to have.

What advice would you have for a recruit who is struggling with their game through this process?

Be patient. Golf is a game of highs and lows. Even Justin Thomas missed 5 cuts last year. So you could say he had a month of not his best golf, but that doesn’t take away from the 5 wins/a major and Player of the Year. He still had a great season. Junior golfers need to manage expectations and continue to look long term. Stick to the plan they have and be patient knowing good golf will come.

What is your favorite motivational or inspirational quote? What are ways you help motivate and inspire the team?

You can’t have million dollar dreams with minimum wage work ethic. We do a lot of goal setting and stat tracking. The key to success is a plan in my opinion. Once you know what you want, you can put together a plan to achieve it. It helps with the time management constraints of college also.

How much does a junior golfer’s distance play a factor in recruiting?

It’s very important. I feel like you need to at least drive the ball 225 to play Division 1. I feel like distant determines your potential in golf. It’s not everything, but it’s a major factor.

What can parents do to help their junior golfer better prepare for college golf?

Parents need to let kids do more for themselves. Let the junior golfer do their own laundry, cook meals, schedule practice/tournaments. They for sure need to let the player talk to the coaches. The more independent a player is, the easier the transition into college will be.