high school golf

What you think you need:Playing higher-ranked, bigger-name tournaments to get recruited—before you’ve even learned how to win. Yes, eventually you do need to challenge yourself with stronger fields.And you’ll hear coaches at panels and forums talk about specific tournaments, distances, and levels they like to see. That can quickly make you feel like you need to play those events right now to play college golf. But here’s what often gets skipped. A critical part of player development is learning how to win at each stage—local, state, regional, and then national. If you bypass that step, you’ll struggle when: • you’re sleeping on a lead• warming up with the lead• teeing off as the leader• coming down the stretch needing a strong finish Winning is a skill. And it’s built by experiencing those moments repeatedly—until they feel normal. So don’t get caught up thinking you only need better-ranked [...]

Listen up 2026 recruits... First, let me start by saying that it is very competitive and there are a lot of really good players. Plus there are a lot of really good academic girls. That's a great thing! Really good academic female golfers are not the exception, they are typically the rule. Again, that's a great thing! I know that may not ease the stress you’re feeling but it is just to state some truths which is what you have to at least accept first. Then you can face things head on knowing what you are up against and where you fit with the timing for the process.  There are currently approximately 264 girls in the 2026 recruiting class with a scoring differential below 2 on JGS. This group of players (plus some international recruits) has been the majority of the focus for coaches as they try to [...]

Parents have been told over and over that they should allow their children to take the initiative with the recruiting process and do all of the communication. While this is true, it has caused many parents to believe that they should never interact with the coaches during the process. However, there comes a time during the process when the parents should feel comfortable asking the coaches some questions. Parents certainly need to be involved as the offers are given and it's closer to decision-making time, especially when the topic of money is discussed. Parents may have to be honest with their child and coach about the amount of scholarship they will need to get their child to that school. This is certainly an acceptable conversation for the parent and coach to have before any decision is made. Also, a parent may want to discuss the housing situation [...]

As an uncommitted 2025 recruit more than likely you have played tournaments all summer, kept coaches up to date, maybe had some phone calls with them, maybe even been given some offers, taken some visits and now you are wondering what to do next. This is a part of the process that does get very specific to each individual recruit and their situation but I want to share a few thoughts to guide you. As you head into the start of senior year I'm sure some anxiety has set in as you near the end of the process and hopefully make your decision soon. If you are receiving offers make sure you don't rush your decision. Consider all of your options, ask plenty of questions, and draw up a comparison list. Keep in mind, rarely does a recruit get all of their wants and compromises typically have [...]

As a 2026 recruit, the next few months do get very specific to each individual recruit and their situation but I want to share a few thoughts to guide you. As you head into the start of junior year I'm sure you have some excitement as you wrap up the first summer of the recruiting process being active. For some of you, if you played really well this summer (as a general rule of thumb, you averaged under 75 in state and national tournaments), then you have potentially generated interest from the coaches who are actively recruiting 2026 recruits. If so you may be asked on some visits this fall and could even make your decision. Keep in mind, that it is a small percentage of all 2026 recruits who will make their decision this fall, so don't stress if you aren't in that phase of the [...]