|
Apply for Gadsden Junior Golf Scholarships
(Printable Version)
If
you have a son or daughter who is a serious golfer and has aspirations
of playing college golf someday, here are some suggestions or tips that
will help you as you seek that scholarship.
1.
Even if your golfer is very young, he or she may exhibit the potential
to be a good or even great player. By the age of 10 you can begin to
play not only in local tournaments but state tournaments as well.
Alabama has several good 36 hole junior tournaments such as the Future
Masters (Dothan), Southern Junior (Opelika) and the Dixie Junior
Invitational (Selma). Others are cropping up each year. Also, the Dixie
Section PGA offers a good selection of one-day tournaments each summer.
2.
It is very important for
you to keep track of tournaments played in. Resumes require dates,
scores, finish and number in the field. Keep
accurate records.
3.
At some point you will
probably want to get the help of a teaching pro. A good teacher will
help your golfer develop his/her swing. Golf instructors are also
helpful in building confidence in their students.
4.
By the age of 13 junior
golfers can become a member of the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA).
This organization sponsors national tournaments on a very competitive
level. It is from these tournaments that national ranking points are
earned.
5.
By the time a junior golfer reaches 9th grade he/she will
want to join the school golf team. Most high schools in Etowah County
have a golf team which competes in the spring.
6.
During the sophomore year junior golfers should begin to compile a list
of colleges where they would like to earn a golf scholarship. They
should send a letter and resume to each college they are interested in
to let them know who they are. (At this point you can contact the
college coach but he/she cannot contact you). You
man receive letters or other recruiting material from coaches after
September 1, at the beginning of your Junior year. You may be contacted
by phone or in person after July 1, following completion of your Junior
year.
7. At this point you should sign up with the
PING
American College Golf site. This
site is a must! It tells everything golfers need to know about seeking a
scholarship. Remember---college golf falls under the NCAA regulations
just as any other college sport
8.
If you feel that you need help in securing a scholarship, there are
scholarship services available that will help you for a fee (usually
$400-$600.)
9.
This outline includes the major steps the junior golfer and/or parents
need to follow if he/she is hoping for a scholarship. There are several
levels of college golf so don’t give up—just practice, practice,
practice and have fun!
|
