 A very small percentage of junior
golfers have the game necessary to make an
immediate impact in NCAA (National Collegiate
Athletic Association) competition. Throughout
the recruiting process coaches are forced to
predict which young players will someday
develop into successful collegiate players.
The question is, what are NCAA coaches really
looking for when they evaluate talent? While
the process is more art than science, several
factors should be considered.
Coaches are looking for good athletes who
have fundamentally sound swings. As a
junior player, it is imperative that you are
continuously striving to improve your golf
swing and to become stronger and better
conditioned as an athlete. Coaches expect you
to work regularly with a qualified golf
instructor and to design and implement a
fitness program that will enhance your swing.
An excellent resource to learn more about golf
fitness can be viewed here on the Scoreboard
with Susan Hill’s Fitness for Golf
and at www.mytpi.com, a new website
offered by the Titleist Performance
Institute. Remember that once you start
college, you will be required to actively
participate in a workout program with your
coach and team at least three days per week.
Why not start today?
Coaches are also looking for juniors who
know how to play the game. At the end of
the day, score is what matters. Regardless of
how good your golf swing looks, coaches are
interested in watching you play to see whether
or not you know how to score. While you are
competing, they will evaluate your course
management skills, your ability to shape and
play different types of shots, the soundness
of your short game, and how good your attitude
remains—especially in tough situations. Many
juniors have been taught how to properly swing
the golf club, while a much smaller percentage
actually know how to play the game at a level
suitable for collegiate competition. As you
work on developing your game with your
instructor, make sure adequate time is spent
on the golf course learning to play different
types of shots and refining your short game
technique.
Coaches are interested in recruiting
juniors who will transition smoothly to
college. Once a young person matriculates
in college, they face numerous new
challenges. They are away from home for the
first time in their lives and are experiencing
tremendous freedom. The ability to manage
time effectively becomes the key to success
for a collegiate student-athlete. Coaches are
trying to identify recruits who can accomplish
this critical task. As a college coach for 14
years, I witnessed both extremes of the
spectrum—those who knew how to manage time
and, unfortunately, those who did not. This
skill is the most important prerequisite for
young players to successfully transition from
junior golf to college golf. Coaches are also
targeting student-athletes who understand how
to handle their academic responsibilities
without adversely affecting their golf games.
You have to remain eligible in school first if
you plan to compete in college.
In the final analysis, there are many
intangibles that will determine whether or not
you have the game to play college golf.
Coaches will pay very close attention to your
scores in competition but will also want to
know more about you as a person. These
intangibles help coaches predict whether or
not you can succeed at the college level.
Juniors who aspire to play at the next level
need to concentrate on improving all facets of
their games including golf swing, short game,
fitness, mental toughness, and time
management. Good luck, and always remember
that academics come first!
Coach Brooks
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