Trying to make college team / Hello

[tannerman200]

Hey guys,

 

Long time reader, first time poster. Really enjoy the site. I have a few questions for you guys. Right now I taking lessons from an assistant pro at a golf course and playing in the low nineties/high eighties. I am trying to walk on to my college team one year from now and was wondering if this is a possibility. From talking to one of the members of the team the average walk on shoots about 75-78's. Can this be done in one year. I have one lesson per week until then. Just wondering about some opinions from people on teams already. Thanks. By the way the college is Appalachian State in Boone, NC if that is any indication of the strength of the program. Division 1-AA school.

 

Thanks,

 

Tanner

[RJC59]

what do u normally shoot

[KingOAces]

Anythings possible. It may sound like I'm a total jerk, but I just started playing in May of last year and I'm down to a 3 handicap shooting 70-76 consistantly and shooting in the high 70's low 80's when playing absolutely awful. I am lucky to have a dad that is a Golf Pro, so it helps to have a reliable source to refer to whenever I run into a swing flaw. I'm hoping to become a Plus handicap by the time I finish High School. I've seen kids who have been playing less than I and are as good if not better than me. Like I said, if you put enough time and effeort into your practice, anything can happen!

 

KinG

[br61]

I was a golf coach for a Division II college that was ranked often in top 20 during my 3 year stint, I'd say that you'd need to shoot around mid 70's or better consistently if you want them to notice you in Division I-AA. But it'll depend on the strength of the program if they need someone that can play good golf.

[bk4]

App State is Division 1-A in golf. They are in the Southern Conference with Furman, Georgia Southern and the likes. I played for a different team in the SoCon and App was typically bringing guys to tournaments who would never break 80. I think as long as you can shoot in the mid to high 70's you could make it.

[lhsgolfer2]

remember the better you get, the less strokes you shave, but it's possible if you are willing to put in the time. i also think it takes a little natural talent to get that good in that amount of time. SHORT GAME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN LONG GAME!!!

 

mike

[GehenHerzog]

Hey guys,

 

Long time reader, first time poster. Really enjoy the site. I have a few questions for you guys. Right now I taking lessons from an assistant pro at a golf course and playing in the low nineties/high eighties. I am trying to walk on to my college team one year from now and was wondering if this is a possibility. From talking to one of the members of the team the average walk on shoots about 75-78's. Can this be done in one year. I have one lesson per week until then. Just wondering about some opinions from people on teams already. Thanks. By the way the college is Appalachian State in Boone, NC if that is any indication of the strength of the program. Division 1-AA school.

 

Thanks,

 

Tanner

 

 

 

Well there is no such thing as D1AA in college golf. It is a D1 school. Their coach has followed me a little bit this year, and I know somebody who tried to walk on there a few years ago and missed by a couple but he rarely broke 80, so I definitely think it is a possibility for you to walk there, you just need to work hard at for the next year and just hope that you play well.

 

I dont know how much fun it would be to walk on somewhere and never get to play though... If you work hard enough though, you can walk on and continue to get better and be able to play quite a bit or even earn scholarship money if you perform well.

[BridgestoneKevin]

it is definatly possible for you to improve your game in that time, you just have to be really commited. Ive only been playing for 2 years, and ive been in talks with D-1 programs right now. I first started playing golf in 10th grade and was shooting like 90-95's....then just worked wtih my coach and practiced every day and now its down in the low mid 70's, although i did have the biggest blow up of my life this weekend....i put a 90 in an ijgt and then an 80 (im deadly sick so i guiess ill just shrug it off).....but its whateevr. but yeah, you just gotta out work the otehr kids.

[PreppySlapCut]

Scott, on a semi-related note you have a beautiful golf swing.

[PreppySlapCut]

Good stuff. I'm always envious of people with solid swings who can create some speed. I am not one of those people...but I can get it in the hole

[thsgolf99]

I have a friend who played on my high school team and is a 1 or 2 handicap and he is currently at App and he was thinking about walking on. He talked to the coach and they have a two day try-out and if your two day total is below 148 your on the team. I am currently playing D-II golf and we have played App and they are typically at the bottom of the tournaments. I am not 100 percent sure on this but my advice would be to practice and talk to the coach.

[jboyd1]

im trying to walk on at Ga southern one of your rivals in about a week and mid 70's will get you laughed at here. if you dont shoot under 74 the first day you might as well not even come back. If i wanted to transfer i could probally play number 1 at your place and i may just get looked over here. (good for me they had a terrible fall season :drinks: ) I don't mean to discourage but most college coaches feel that if they didn't come out to find you, then you aren't good enough to play for them. play as many Amatuer Tounaments (state/city ams, pga section qualies as you can) they dont care about your handicapp, and they really dont care much about high school tournaments because its not the same level of competition you are going to see in college. You need to see how you stack up against real competition, not high school rollers. good luck guy

 

remember Driver/Putter are tied for number one then its all short game and confidence. you should spend at least 2/3 of your practice time on your short game and if your teaching pro doesnt agree find a new one. Also talk to him about your goals. I hope that he would be real with you and not blow smoke up your but because he wants the steady income.

 

cheers

scott

 

 

 

It doesn't surprise me , but like most stuff on golf message boards this is over exaggerated.

The very best player on that team LeFebre had an average of 74.9 .1 from being right in the middle of 70's. Now at what point would we laugh at the number one man, but you say that will get you laughed out of the building.

http://www.georgiasoutherneagles.com/lib/u...0Statistics.pdf

[Manywins]

All he is saying is that 74 is a number that will not "get you laughed out of the building". The number clearly shows that the leading golfer for GA Southern shoots 74.6 on avg. Numbers tend not to tell a far fetched story the way players do. Also, Ga Southern golf is not known as a traditional powerhouse.

The so called household names are signing with UGA or Augusta State not GSU. Although, I know you can name a player that is a standout that has won this and done that, remember there is an exception to every rule.

 

 

 

 

By the way, Tannerman

 

Go for it. Do not worry about what your going to shoot during try outs. Work hard now and do not worry about the results. Hard work will pay off no matter what you do if it is in sports or business or what not. You will def. see signs of improvement regardless and if it is not this year. Maybe, it will be next year that you make it. Worst Case- You develop into a good player that doesn't make a college team, but learns the true enjoyment of the game.

[jboyd1]

At what point did I say I was on a college team? I just said theres no reason for you to be busting on this guy, making him think its impossible because you are trying to toot a horn. The courses on that pdf file were 7000-7200. Which is long, but not crazy long for today's standards. There is just no reason to say its impossible for this guy if he doesn't shoot below 74 the first day. That is complete lies. What is the college scoring record like 70.2 or .4 right? That would mean even the best didn't shoot 65 or 66 everytime in college. For what it's worth to you, I am on a college team, which is my second team. I was on a crappy team out of high school, and transferred to a better team to which I walked on this past year. They took one person. This team is pretty good, no one gets laughed at if you shoot 75 or 76 though.

 

Also wise guy, how do you know I have not already won the state amateur event ? Don't go bashing people to protect your own ego.

[jboyd1]

"""this board is not about busting egos and you have taken it way to far"""

/

I am taking it to far ? I belive you were the one who was ASSUMING that I did not play college golf, and I didn't know what I was talking about. You also assumed that I couldn't shoot better then an 80 unless I was at some cow pasture. I think it was you also telling the guy that if he doesn't shoot less then a 74 the first day, that he should just not show up, and he would get ridiculed for shooting that high of a score. That is a great joke. College try outs are usualy at a pretty good course, and if you can shoot what the best man on the team averages , or even 1 to to 2 worse then that, your still doing pretty good. Now some people would take that as gospel and just not even try. The team I play for has won 4 of the wviac tournaments this past year, and is ranked among the top 2-3 schools in the conference, I could of took that as a no way I can make it. But I tried out and I did well enough to be kept. I play for fairmont state uni , in WV prior to that I played on wvu tech.

[WFUGolfer15]

Yeah, my best friend is going to be attending app. state next year on a now full-ride (half athletic-half adademic) I have also contacted the coach (just a sophmore) and I am a 4.9 handicap now. He said he would have to talk to me of course junior year. But I also have a couple of friends that have attended and played there on scholarships(Taylor Hines, Brady Eckerd, and others) so.?. i hope the odds look good for me

But my friend this summer posted 65.67.69.69.and a couple of low 70's

[bk4]

I played Southern Conference golf and Georgia Southern was actually the best team in the conference other than ETSU. They've won the SoCon conference tournaments as of late including last year. With ETSU leaving the conference they have been the best team easily. Granted teams change every year, but Georgia Southern was stacked for several years with a bunch of great Australian players, like Aron Price. In the Southern Conference there are/were basically three tiers of teams.

1. Georgia Southern and ETSU (now gone)

2. Furman, Charleston, Wofford, UNCG

3. the rest

App State and Citadel (Who no longer have a team) were basically a fourth tier though.

 

Last year GSU won conference's by 12 shots. The next five teams were within 12 shots of each other. The next three were within 7. App was last by 30 shots. The 9th place team was almost closer to first than they were to 10th.

 

 

 

If your friend who shot those scores keeps it up, he will be the best player App has ever had by far. Growing up in NC though, it seems like they always end up with a lot of kids who were good junior golfers who peaked early and couldn't play at UNC, NCSU, UNCC, Duke, UNCW, ECU or UNCG. Still, there's no shame playing anywhere in D1. The SoCon player of the year last year was from Western Carolina if that says anything.

[kevin4949]

Georgia Southern used to be stocked with great players like aron price. Not alot of people knew about them, but they could tear it up. Not sure how it is now though. Also, Good luck on trying to cut your scoring average that much. It wont be easy, but i've seen some guys make some dramatic improvements in a short span

[WFUGolfer15]

If your friend who shot those scores keeps it up, he will be the best player App has ever had by far. Growing up in NC though, it seems like they always end up with a lot of kids who were good junior golfers who peaked early and couldn't play at UNC, NCSU, UNCC, Duke, UNCW, ECU or UNCG. Still, there's no shame playing anywhere in D1. The SoCon player of the year last year was from Western Carolina if that says anything.

 

Yeah he has also talked to numerous other schools, but he decided on app. One becuase he is a massive homebody (we both live at rock barn which is 1 hour away from the school). Two because it was a full ride. Three he liked the campus. And Four he knew he was going to be able to play every single match all year.

 

But he has also been contacted by UNCC, UNCW, ECU, UNCG, AND College of Charleston.

 

 

But I also have a friend who is going to be going to UNCG to play on a full ride.

[bub72ck]

I played for Western Carolina from 2001-2005. We were towards the bottom when I was there, mainly because the coach wasn't geard towards a succesful program. My roommate from college is the coach there now and he has really turned the program around. Matt Cook (the SoCon player of the year) has a great game. He was the first really good recruit the school had and has led to some other good players coming to WCU.

 

My wife also played for WCU from 2002-2006. She holds a lot of the records for the women.

 

We played with App a lot when I was there. I assume Bill Dikus is still coaching and he is a good guy. If you can shoot in the mid 70s you should be able to make the team.

 

Good Luck.