About Golf Scholarships

The idea of going after a golf scholarship can be intimidating. However, a golfer with moderate ability and a desire to play at the college level may be surprised to learn that golf scholarships are available and may be even considered plentiful for minorities and women.

Playing at the High School Level

In order to win a golf scholarship, a golfer has to play competitively at the high school level. By playing high school golf for at least three years, an athlete will show a college coach that he is serious about the game. A golfer does not have to have Tiger Woods' ability to win a scholarship, either. Golf scholarships at schools like Florida, Florida State, Southern Cal, Alabama, UCLA and LSU are very difficult to come by, but smaller schools or schools not in the spotlight are often looking for qualified student-athletes to bestow scholarships.

If a high school does not offer varsity golf, a young golfer can hook up with a local golf pro at a country club who can show him how to compete in junior tournaments. By scoring well in these events, a golfer can show a college golf coach that he has the ability to play at the college level.

Qualifying for a Scholarship

The student-athlete must do well in the sport and in the classroom. A student with a "B" average or better at a private or public high school will meet the academic requirements, provided she has met minimum requirements on the college entrance exams. After the academic requirements are met, a golf coach will want to see that the golfer has improved over the course of her career. That may mean more than winning tournaments or other awards. Golf coaches want to see golfers who have shown significant improvement over the course of their careers.

Letter of Recommendation

This is vital for most golfers who are interested in a college scholarship. If a golfer has ability but has not won major honors in his state, he likely will need a letter of recommendation from his high school coach or local golf pro. The most important thing the college coach will want to learn is whether the prospective student-athlete takes well to coaching and put in the practice time necessary to get better. A golfer who has a solid academic standing, has improved over the course of his career and works hard at his sport has an excellent chance of getting a full or partial scholarship.

Female and Minority Scholarships

Scholarships have opened up significantly since the early 1990s for female and minority golfers. At all but the biggest schools, coaches are often frustrated in their inability to find qualified female and minority golfers. Women golfers can earn a scholarship with as little as two years on the golf team if improvement and academic achievement have been shown. The same goes for minorities. Coaches try to entice minority golfers in order to show that the game has diverse appeal and is no longer just for those who can afford the country club fees.

Put Your Name Out There

While scholarships are plentiful, collegiate golf does not have the scouting services that football and basketball do. Top coaches will know about the best high school golfers in each state but they may not know about the good or improving golfers. Young players who want scholarships should go out of their way to let coaches know who they are, what their talent level is and what their level of academic performance is. Send letters, videotapes and emails to college coaches to let them know who you are.