If you ask a junior golfer what their college golf goal is, many of them will say, “to play DI golf”. Just this week alone I had two conversations, one with a player who only wants to play high level DI bc of the bigger athletics and type of school environment it provides, and another one who simply wants to play DI golf because it is her goal and she knows her scores aren’t there yet for any level of DI. Both are in major panic modes, totally stressed out about running out of time because their scores are not where they need to be for the levels they want to play.

Yes, playing DI golf can be an incredible experience. And having a big goal to play DI golf can be a great way to stay motivated to work hard throughout your junior golfer career. But you have to come to a point and realize that playing DI golf is not going to be an option for everyone, it simply can’t be, there are not enough spots. And with new roster limits potentially going into place, there are going to be even fewer spots.  It is also not going to be the right fit for everyone. And if you start to break down what DI golf is all about, you will realize that DI golf across the board is not the same!

Playing mid and high level D1 golf can be very overwhelming for many young golfers. The sacrifices, time commitments, and expectations can turn out to make your experience extremely difficult. If you are playing most of the tournaments, you will have a lot of demands on you that for some are tough to manage.

On the flip side, you may find out that you aren’t getting much playing time, yet you are still at every workout, every practice, every team meeting. Over time this can become frustrating and disappointing. Imagine going months at a time without getting to compete, then getting your chance to play and expecting to play well all of a sudden, that’s a lot of pressure. Or you may want to pursue a particular major or participate in a school activity, but it overlaps too much with golf practice and travel. Many factors can quickly make a young golfer realize that DI athletics was not all that it appeared to be as they were going through the process.

One of the bigger mistakes I have seen some recruits make is assuming all DI schools are equal. They will get offers to smaller DI programs and pick that over higher ranked DII, DIII or NAIA programs. Not realizing that often times lower DI programs may not offer the competitive atmosphere, structured environment, supportive athletic staff, and adequate facilities you may expect. You may find more value in playing at a top level DII, DIII, NAIA program, or starting at a JuCo level, and the experience you could receive by being on a nationally ranked team, who competes for championships, with a coach who is dedicated and motivated.

As a huge sports fan myself, I most definitely get the appeal of large athletic programs and all that they offer. I grew up a big Clemson Tiger fan. I went to their basketball, volleyball, and football games all through my childhood. They didn’t have women’s golf at the time, so it wasn’t an option for me to play there. Instead, I chose Furman University, a small school and athletic program, mainly for its coaching, overall environment, and reputation for producing LPGA players. And the thing is, I still get to be a big Clemson fan, but had 4 great years at a school and program that was the great fit for me. It is a great achievement to play for a big D1 program and it can be an awesome experience for many young golfers.

But keep in mind through the whole process that it is not a better achievement to play DI golf if it’s not the right fit for you and you aren’t playing and not happy. And if you stay stuck on DI for too long without keeping your options open, then you will miss the great opportunities beyond that level. I can vouch for the fact that some top DII, DIII and NAIA schools have coaches with more experience, motivation, structure, and desire to build strong players and teams than some DI coaches, so based on what you want out of your experience make sure you consider that when making your decision. Don’t get caught up in the DI or Bust Mentality!