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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]For the most part high school golf is just for fun.  People who are serious care about the junior and amateur circuits.  High school golf is just for fun and to get out of school early.  No one cares too much about the results.[/quote]

So what kind of training/playing background did your kid have before making the team?[/quote]

Mine had played golf for a long time.  Years and years of junior tournaments, lessons, etc.  But that isn’t too typical at most schools.  HS golf just isn’t a big deal.  It’s one of those sports where the school teams just aren’t the focus of anyone.  There is a whole Junior Circuit of varying levels that is run outside of schools that are the focus of junior golf.  [/quote]

Op here - May I ask what HS your kid played for and did you belong to a private club?  If “high school teams just aren’t the focus of anyone, “ why did your kid play for his school team with all of his intensive training?  Why didn’t he just stick to the circuit outside of school? This is a very expensive sport for us and we don’t have a lot of resources although DS loves it so we make it work as best we can. We are in a W cluster although not the typical demographic.  We’re trying to figure out how he can compete without being way out of his league against kids who have access to private club instruction and other benefits. [/quote]

DP.  I think you're asking a few questions in one, OP.  So I'll ask you one back:  what is your son's goal?  Does he just want to play OR is he looking for a hook for college OR is he looking for a hook and scholarship money?

I will cut to the chase.  If your son is looking for a hook AND scholarship then you need to know that the $ really isn't there for golf, even for the "big" golf schools.  I'm not letting any cat out of the bag by saying this and I'm not trying to psych you out so there are fewer kids competing for the money against my kid, who ultimately dropped golf and got a commitment in another sport.  What I -am- saying is exactly what you will hear from AJGA staff at each and every one of the AJGA parent meetings at each and every tournament.  There is NO big money in golf scholarships for college.

On the other hand, if your son is looking for a hook, then it is doable but it is a very, very competitive process.  Your kid will need to be pretty darn good to use golf as a hook.

I also can tell you what most college golf coaches told me.  They care about 5% on how a kid performs on his high school team because those tend to be short 9-hole tournies.  They care 95% about how the kid performs on longer multi-day 36-72-hole competitive tournaments.  These tournaments tend to be state, AJGA and other competitive qualification-dependent tournaments.

Earlier you mentioned your son is in middle school. He has time to gear up.  He should be playing as many tournaments as he can.  I would be surprised if he could start qualifying for AJGA yet but he should be searching online for Jr PGA and other qualifying tournaments, and trying as fast as possible to earn enough stars to qualify for AJGA.  He should join his state's golf association (VSGA or MSGA) as a junior member.  Those will get him on mail and email lists about tournaments.  Many tournaments will subsidize the registration fee for kids who demonstrate financial need.  That said, this is an incredibly expensive sport when you start going to these tournaments.  Most of them involve long drives or flights, and then hotel stays for 4-5 nights plus food expenses.  The costs can be controlled but even on a shoe-string, they really add up fast.

BTW even though his performance on his high school team won't have much impact on college coaches, your kid SHOULD still join the high school team. He will want to make the team because 1) it will help him build contacts, 2) get him some free coaching, and 3) increase his practice time on a range of courses.  The catch-22 about making some high school teams is that he needs to be pretty good already. The way for him to improve is to start playing the tournaments.  Going to a range and playing on a regular course are all well and good but to get better your kid needs to get out of his comfort zone and start playing competitively.  He will pick up a lot just by doing that.

And the kid who posted on the prior page about the yearbooks is exactly right.  Figure out who is the coach of your local high school team and call him.  Talk to him and pick his brain.  See if your kid can connect up with any of the guys on the team and get some insight from them.

Good luck.
[/quote]

Op here again. Thanks so much for this. So helpful and much appreciated. [/quote]

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