Deciding on a Career in U.S. College Golf A Guide for Scottish Elite Players

Transcription

1 Deciding on a Career in U.S. College Golf A Guide for Scottish Elite Players By James Byrne Arizona State University Men s Golf Team May of 10

2 Introduction This guide has been produced by James Byrne, a member of the Scottish Golf Union Elite Amateur Squad and Arizona State University Men s Golf Team. Its purpose is to assist members of the Scottish Golf Union s elite squads, at both junior and senior level, who may be interested in obtaining a golf scholarship in the United States. James, now in his sophomore year, has attempted to provide answers to many of the questions likely to be raised by the potential student-athlete covering both the golf and the academic sides of university life. The information he provides will help to steer the reader through the lengthy and complex college application process, and will also provide insights into the life of a student golfer in one of the top college golf programmes in America. Of the hundreds, if not thousands, of colleges offering golf programmes in America, only a select few will have the resources to help the elite golfer go on to achieve success at the highest level on tour. James offers insights on which college programmes to target and what key criteria needs to be considered when selecting a college. In recent years, many of Scotland s elite amateurs have benefitted greatly from their time at college in America and some have gone on to achieve even greater successes in both the amateur and professional ranks. On the other hand, there are several elite players who have not benefitted in the way they had hoped. Indeed, there are many examples of promising Scottish golfers who decided to return home prematurely before completing their degree once they realised that college golf was not for them. As well as outlining the many opportunities offered by a career in college golf, James highlights many of the challenges and pitfalls the potential recruit needs to be aware of. He hopes that his guide will help his fellow Scottish elite golfers to make the right decision on their chosen career path. May of 10

3 Table of Contents Which golf programme should I choose?... 4 What academic qualifications do I need to get into a NCAA Division I school?... 4 What if I can t get into a good NCAA Division I school, are there other options?... 4 If I go to college in America will I still receive support from the SGU?... 5 How often will I play golf at college?... 5 How can I get myself noticed by college golf coaches?... 5 How high is the standard of college golf?... 6 So how do I get started?... 6 I ve sent away my information to coaches, what s next?... 6 Should I visit my preferred schools?... 7 What is the National Letter of Intent?... 7 How much will I have to pay in fees?... 7 After I sign the NLI what do I need to do?... 7 Finally, is there anyone that can help me with the recruitment process?... 8 Additional Information... 8 Top Ranked Division I Colleges:... 8 How your Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated:... 9 Useful Links May of 10

4 Which golf programme should I choose? There are literally thousands of college golf programmes in America. The NCAA - the National Collegiate Athletic Association is the primary body for 4-year institutions and is divided into three competitive divisions I, II and III. The NCAA serves as the athletics governing body for more than 1,200 colleges and universities. Your accomplishments as a golfer as well as your future goals will largely help to determine your choice of college. If you have represented Scotland and your aim is to get to the very top as a professional tour player, you will want to target only the best U.S. college golf programmes. These are found in the top ranks of NCAA Division I schools. Currently there are 296 golf programmes in NCAA Division I. The schools in the lower reaches of the division generally don t have the resources or quality players to enable them to compete against the better schools. However, given the tremendous strength in depth in the division, it is safe to assume that any school which is ranked consistently in the top 100 of the division will have a lot to offer. NCAA Division II and III schools, as well as non-ncaa affiliated 4-year or 2-year schools, can and do offer an enjoyable and productive golfing experience. However, if you want to have the best chance of maximising your potential and are serious about having access to the best coaches and practice facilities whilst at college, as well competing at the highest level among quality fields; your sights should be set on a good NCAA Division I programme. Of course, gaining entry to a top programme on its own is no guarantee of future success. Your own dedication and commitment will have a key role to play. What academic qualifications do I need to get into a NCAA Division I school? The minimum academic requirements set by the NCAA for a Scottish student for entry into a Division I school are five Standard Grade passes with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.0 which corresponds to an average of 4s at Standard Grade level. Your five passes must include English, mathematics and natural/physical sciences. Your Standard Grade passes, plus your Higher Grades/Advanced Higher Grades if you have them, will be used to determine your GPA. You will also need to take the SAT Test. There is no minimum SAT score set, instead, your score must correspond with your GPA on a sliding scale, i.e. if you have a low GPA, the higher your SAT score must be. Some universities may have academic entry requirements which are higher than the minimum standards set by the NCAA. These schools will look closely at your entire school record as well as your final grades. However, they are likely to place an equal if not greater amount of importance on how well you score in the SAT test. What if I can t get into a good NCAA Division I school, are there other options? If you do not have the academic qualifications to get into a good NCAA Division I school, or if you are not successful for any other reason, you should think very carefully about joining a lower division college as this might not be the best way to develop your golf in the longer-term. The obvious alternative would be to remain with the SGU squad coaching programme as a full-time amateur. Helped by increases in sponsorship funding, the SGU now has a world class coaching programme for its elite players. Scotland s win in the World Amateur Team Championship in 2008 has provided a further boost to their programme. May of 10

5 Another option is to join one of the university golf programmes here in Scotland. You might not experience the standard of competition that you would if you were playing for an NCAA Division I school. However, you will be able to play and compete on a regular basis, and more importantly, still receive the benefit of SGU coaching. Before deciding to apply for a college golf scholarship, you should also consider if you will be able to commit to spending the full four years at college. Leaving college early is not always looked upon favourably by coaches for the obvious academic reasons and especially if the team s performance is likely to be adversely affected. If I go to college in America will I still receive support from the SGU? The SGU provide comprehensive support to all their squad players, including to those squad players attending university either here in the U.K. or in America. If you do go to college, you will want to keep your SGU coach regularly informed of your golfing progress and schedule. If you wish to remain eligible for selection to representative Scotland teams and continue to receive support from the SGU, you will be expected to participate in squad activities and enter as many SGU Order of Merit events as possible during your time at home on leave between May and August. How often will I play golf at college? Most teams will commit approximately hours per week towards team practice, and any additional practice can be done individually. It is also normal for a golf team to have a structured workout program, and usually these are run on an early schedule. A player is likely to be required to report to the gym for team workouts at 6:30am three times a week. Teams will typically play ten tournaments during the college season (Aug-Apr), culminating with their Conference Championship. At the end of the academic year (May), the top 70 ranked teams in the country will advance to compete in the Regional Championships. The best five teams from each of the six Regional Championships will then go forward to the National Championship, one of the most prestigious tournaments in amateur golf, at the end of May. A college team will typically have between 8-12 players on their roster. A team is only allowed to field 5 players at each tournament, so the players will compete against each other in a team qualifier in order to determine the starting line-up. Usually the head coach will have the players compete for four spots, leaving one for a coach s pick. It s important to remember that while you ll be focusing on golf, a certain level of academics must be maintained in order to remain eligible to compete in tournaments. Many students will opt for an easy course (family studies, human development, sociology, etc.) to reduce the amount of studying they need to do and maximize their time at the golf course. Universities typically require student athletes to maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 to remain eligible for their sports team. How can I get myself noticed by college golf coaches? The best way to get noticed is by playing in the best junior and amateur tournaments in America which are attended by most college coaches and scouts. Fortunately, a number of golf coaches see the benefits of scouting across Europe and many of them will travel to the UK for some of the big summer events. The British Boys Championship, European Boys Championship, and European Young Masters always attract a large number of college coaches so you would be smart to target those events for exposure. May of 10

6 Coaches are not just looking for low scores, in fact they may not care at all for the number you shoot. Apart from assessing a player s golfing skills, they look for players who stand-out in the way they carry themselves on the golf course and will note how they communicate with other players and adults. Above all, coaches want to see how players deal with adversity. The coach will be taking the player under their wing for at least four years, so they target personable, friendly players that speak well and have a good sense of humour. How high is the standard of college golf? The standard of golf on the American collegiate circuit is getting increasingly stronger. Many of the world s top ranked amateurs are college players, and most college tournaments will offer as many world ranking points as the best amateur tournaments at home. It often takes foreign players several months, sometimes more than a year, to adapt their games to the American style of golf, so don t be too disappointed if you don t make a big impact initially. However, if you can compete at the highest level of amateur golf at home, there s no reason why you can t challenge for titles in America, so set your goals high and don t be intimidated. Some of the tournament venues that are chosen for college tournaments are among the best and most difficult courses in America. At last year s National Championship in West Lafayette, Indiana, a team score of +43 was enough for UCLA to win the title among a quality field of 30 teams. Courses in America tend to be long (usually over 7000 yards), and the greens can be extremely fast. It will take some time to get accustomed to this style of golf, but playing courses like these will provide you with the best possible preparation for the PGA Tour. So how do I get started? Start by compiling a list of at least 10 universities that you want to target, and send a brief letter of introduction to each coach via , or post if you wish. Include a detailed golf resume, letting the coach know your main achievements. Don t be afraid to show yourself off. List every low score you ve ever shot and be sure to tell him of your character strengths. The more effort you make with your initial application the better chance you will have of attracting interest. Start your recruiting process at least eighteen months before your anticipated start date at college. Most students enrol at the start of the academic year in August. However, you also have the option of joining in January, mid-way through the academic year. I ve sent away my information to coaches, what s next? If the coach is interested in recruiting you, he will first want to know your GPA and your SAT scores to make sure you qualify for admission into their school. The earlier you can arrange to take the SAT test the better. At the same time, you should register with the NCAA Eligibility Centre and provide them with your academic records etc. Some schools will turn you down as they may have already filled their roster. Don t let this discourage you; persevere until you find a school which is a good fit for you. Other coaches might jump at the chance of recruiting you and will try to convince you to choose their programme and ignore others. Try to keep an open mind and reserve judgement on your preferred schools until you have all the information you need. It s best not to make a commitment to join a school until you have had the chance to visit. May of 10

7 Should I visit my preferred schools? If you can, yes, as it can provide you with some valuable insights. When you have collected all the information you need, produce a shortlist of say 3-6 schools, and if you have the time, plan to visit as many as you can. Visiting the schools in person, rather than solely researching them online, gives you a much better idea of what they can offer you, and more importantly it gives you the chance to get a feel for the place where you may be spending the next four years of your life. NCAA rules allow for up to five official expenses paid visits to be made during your final year in school. There is no limit on unofficial visits which can be taken at anytime. Following your visit, don t be put off if the coach doesn t immediately offer you a place on his team. Regular contact from him and expressions of interest in you means that you are being actively recruited. The only formal offer the coach will make to you for a placement will be via the National Letter of Intent. What is the National Letter of Intent? The National Letter of Intent (NLI) is the final and most important step. It is the formal and binding agreement or contract between you and the school of your choice. The early signing period is in November (nine months before the start of the academic year in August). If you miss the early signing period you can sign during the regular signing period which is between April and July. Once you have decided on the school of your choice, the NLI has to be signed by you within 14 days of issuance by the school. How much will I have to pay in fees? For a Division I school, the annual school fees covering board and tuition are likely to be between $20k and $50k. If you are the best player on the team then you may be offered a 100% scholarship covering all your fees. If not then you can expect an award of between 35% and 75%. In some cases there may not be any scholarship money available to you at all. Scholarships are awarded on a yearby-year basis, so bear in mind your scholarship award could go up or down. You will also need to budget each term for expenses, including spending money, money for flights, car etc. Donations from former players and boosters are important to the programme and are often used to invest in top quality playing and practice facilities. Many of the top programmes also have endorsement deals with various golf equipment manufacturers (commonly Ping, Titleist and Nike), and players enjoy the benefits of free or subsidised golf equipment and clothing. After I sign the NLI what do I need to do? Once you have signed the NLI, there is some additional paperwork that needs to be taken care of before you can get your college career underway. In addition to completing your application for admission to the school, you will need to obtain final clearance from the NCAA Eligibility Centre and apply for a student VISA. Your new coach and academic staff at your university will help guide you through this process. To obtain your VISA, a trip to either one of two American Embassies, located in Belfast and London is required. May of 10

8 Finally, is there anyone that can help me with the recruitment process? Many young golfers wishing to take up a golf scholarship in America will use scholarship consultants such as ProdreamUSA or FirstPointUSA to assist them with the lengthy and complex recruitment process. Others prefer to handle it themselves and wish to be actively involved in deciding where they want to be for the next four years. It is wise to seek support and advice from your parents and your SGU coaches for help with choosing the right school and steering through the application process. A good source of advice might be other Scottish players who are currently at top golf colleges in America, or who have recently graduated. James Byrne, a current member of the Arizona State University golf team, writes about his recruitment process in his article My Road to ASU which can be found on his website. If you choose wisely, your four years at college in America will be an extremely rewarding experience. You will have the opportunity to make many new friends, gain a college degree and prepare yourself for life as a touring professional. Living away from home for four years is a daunting prospect, but if you approach the process with meticulous preparation then you will be primed for success. Additional Information Top Ranked NCAA Division I Colleges: RANK UNIVERSITY AVERAGE RANKING (last 10 years) CURRENT RANKING 1 Georgia Oklahoma State Georgia Tech Clemson Florida Southern California Arizona State UNLV Texas Wake Forest UCLA South Carolina Duke Auburn TCU Arizona Tennessee Washington Augusta State North Carolina Minnesota Pepperdine New Mexico San Diego State May of 10

9 How your Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated: (Ref. International Guide for Student-Athletes) The NCAA Eligibility Centre will calculate the grade-point average (GPA) of your Standard Grade passes (Grades 1-6) by converting them to quality points on a scale of 1.0 to 4.0. Grades from additional passes in subjects at Higher or Advanced level (Grades A-E) will be converted in a similar way but only if they improve your GPA or are needed to make up the minimum number of your subject passes to five. Standard Grade Equivalent U.S. Grade U.S. Quality Standard Grade Equivalent U.S. Grade 1 A C A D B D 1.0 Advanced/ Higher Grade Example: U.S. Quality Equivalent U.S. Grade U.S. Quality Advanced/ Higher Grade Equivalent U.S. Grade A A 4.0 D C 2.0 B B 3.0 E C 2.0 C B 3.0 U.S. Quality Subject Standard Grade U.S Quality Higher Grade U.S Quality English C 3.0 Geography Physics C 3.0 Chemistry French Mathematics B 3.0 A student passes 6 subjects at Standard Grade and 3 subjects at Higher Grade. The Quality Point score awarded for each subject at Standard Grade is used, except for Mathematics, where the better Quality score of 3.0 awarded for the Higher Grade is used. Standard Grade Passes U.S. Quality 1 at SG1 1 x 4.0 = at SG2 2 x 4.0 = at SG3 2 x 3.0 = 6.0 Higher Grade Passes 1 at HGB 1 x 3.0 = 3.0 GPA = Total U.S. Quality / SG&HG Passes assessed = 21/6 = 3.5 May of 10

10 Useful Links The NCAA - National Collegiate Athletic Association The NAIA - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics The NJCAA - National Junior College Athletic Association Websites of all the top golf colleges in the U.S. Ping American Online College Golf Guide NCAA Student-Athlete Eligibility and Recruiting NCAA International Guide for Student-Athletes NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student Athlete Apply for the SAT test Register with the NCAA Eligibility Centre Information on the National Letter of Intent (NLI) Golfweek College Golf Rankings (NCAA Div 1) Golfstat NCAA Men's Team Rankings (Divs 1, 2 and 3) R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking Golf Digest College Golf Rankings Prodream USA FirstPoint USA University of St Andrews Men s Golf Team Golf Scholarships at the University of Sterling Scottish Golf Union PGA European Tour Qualifying Schools May of 10