Many junior golfers have been taking advantage of the summer months by scheduling unofficial visits with college coaches. This is a great time to catch a coach in their office or visit a campus while you are out traveling for tournaments. Below are a few things for both junior golfers and their parents to keep in mind.

For junior golfers:

  • Leave your cell phone in the car. To keep you from even being tempted to check your phone during the visit it is best to just leave it in the car.
  • Look the coach in the eye and firmly shake their hand when you walk into their office.
  • Sit up straight in the chair. Don’t slouch and slump.
  • Be enthusiastic. Make sure the coach knows you are excited to be there.
  • Ask questions. The worst thing you can do when I coach asks if you have any questions is to say “no”. Jot a few questions down on a notepad and take it in with you.
  • If you haven’t been regularly communicating with the coach and/or they haven’t seen you play yet, don’t ask about scholarship money unless the coach brings it up. You can ask how many players they are recruiting for your grad year and if you would be considered a recruited player, but avoid asking specific questions about scholarship until you have developed a relationship with the coach. It’s about finding the right fit, not the best deal.
  • Try to avoid looking at your parents when the coach asks you a question. Speak for yourself.
  • Be gracious. Coaches are very busy so thank them for taking time out of their schedule to meet with you.
  • Send a handwritten thank you note following the visit.

For Parents:

  • If your junior golfer is shy/quiet help prep them for the visit ahead of time. Make them go talk with an adult who they don’t know very well. Push them out of their comfort zone so they aren’t nervous on the visit.
  • Let the junior golfer run the show.
  • Coaches want to hear from the parents as well but never answer for the junior golfer.
  • Try to allow some time for just the coach and junior golfer to talk.