the complete golfer

Sharing Your Tournament Results with College Coaches Now that spring golf is in full swing, many of you have built up a solid list of tournament results. If you haven't been keeping coaches updated along the way, now is the perfect time to compile everything into a clean, organized format and send it out. Format matters. Coaches are busy, so make your results easy to read at a glance. A chart or bullet-point list works best and should include the following for each tournament: Date & Tournament Name Golf Course Scores & Finish Stats — par, yardage, slope, and rating (when available) Most coaches will already be familiar with the tournaments in your region, including the course conditions and strength of the field. However, if you're reaching out to coaches outside your area, don't assume they have that context — a little extra detail goes a long [...]

Quick Tips for Improving Your Coach Communication Etiquette Email Etiquette Always address the coach by name and begin with a proper greeting. Double-check grammar, spelling, and tone before sending. Make sure any necessary documents are correctly attached. Use an appropriate and professional email address. Break your message into clear, short paragraphs. Reply in a timely manner and keep communication consistent. If you’re not interested in a program, respond politely with a brief, appreciative note. Phone or Video Call Etiquette Sit up straight and stay attentive, enthusiastic, and engaged. Smile—even on a phone call—it changes your tone. Avoid filler words like “um” and “uh.” Come prepared with questions and topics to discuss. Use good manners and express gratitude for the coach’s time. Minimize background noise and distractions. Visit Etiquette (Unofficial or Official Visits) Arrive on time—early is even better. Offer a firm handshake, make eye contact, and smile. [...]

I shared some insight on my Instagram this week about playing one-day tournaments and their importance in the process and your game development. You can watch that video clip below. Yes, 2- and 3-day events are more ideal from a recruiting perspective, especially as you advance in the process and become more competitive. However, do not disregard one-day tournaments, especially when you still need to focus more on game improvement over being in the midst of the recruiting process. Don’t let the wrong criteria get in the way of what is important and how you can get better. Putting your game under competition settings more often will only help you get better at competition golf faster. Practicing and playing on your home course or familiar courses, without any purpose or competition, over and over again, will only help you get better at recreational golf. Watch Here   [...]

Over the next few weeks, I am going to share some coach responses from a recent survey I did to ask coaches their opinions. Please remember that coaches look for different things and have varying opinions, but I tried to compile some of the most common and relevant responses. Question: What is your biggest piece of advice for young ladies going through this process? Be open-minded I would suggest that they not play tournaments strictly with a focus on college placement. It starts to feel like work and generally leads to worse results. Just play the game with passion and let the chips fall where they fall. Stay open. Communicate. Network with players at schools where you want to attend. Enjoy the process and don't forget to be a kid and enjoy your time in HS. Too many show signs of too much stress and not enough [...]