What is a realistic university for me (walk on)?

[leezer99]

Probably would only be considered okay for a short time after leaving school. I'd add it as part of your experience or activities. It can show prospective hiring managers your ability to manage your time well while also showcasing whatever leadership you had on the team. If you were part of the recruiting team that would be a good indicator of how management / coaches trusted you.

[b.helts]

oK I see it could make sense if you’re right out of school.

I’m 42, played professionally for about 12 years after getting out of school. So I have about 10 years in a real workforce.

I haven’t seen the ubiquitousness of business owners/managers that are rabid (or even once-in-a-while) golfers that seems to be prevalent elsewhere.

that being said, golf did help me land my first job out of the golf world and did open doors that might have been otherwise closed.

so...... maybe I’ve changed my mind.

[heavy_hitter]

I think it depends on the field you are going into.

 

It is about the connections and networking while at school with former players, donors to the program, donors to the department you are graduating from.

[tiger1873]

Actually I would say the school you go to matters more then anything else. Some schools have much more Alumni support then others and tend to stick together. For instance just attending USC is good for networking but being an athlete really helps you network in that group of alumni.

 

If it's small school with not very active alumni I wouldn't expect too much.

[DFS PFD]

Definitely going to have to look at D3 if you want to walk on and prioritize education. D1 you'd already have partial offers or sessions with potential schools/coaches. Nothing wrong with D3 if you want to do both, and education doesn't have to suffer. That said, your education is going to be your life so I'd focus on that. STEM specifically (which I can't imagine balancing with golf but maybe you're the guy) Best of Luck!

[heavy_hitter]

Depends on the small school. Williams College in Massachusetts is a very distinguished school with a plethora of Alumni that are millionaires. By the same token, Barry in Miami isn't going to get you very far.

[wildcatden]

 

What are the most common majors for a D1 (or D2 or D3) golfer? Curious...

[DFS PFD]

I don't have any hard data on this, but at the University I attended it was business by a mile. Not one other male student (may be different for women) in any of my engineering courses from the golf team. Purely anecdotal, so take that with a grain of salt. Just not going to spend my day researching college majors, simply trying to give the best advice I could after wanting to play D1 golf and choosing my education instead. (and not being skilled enough to play D1 golf) But I still played with the guys on the team frequently as I was good friends with the coach.

[BeerPerHole]

I was an engineering major. Also a football player. Had to choose one or the other. Few athletes are in STEM majors. In the case of being in a non-STEM major...being in extracurricular activities probably helps one separate themselves from the large crowd. I had multiple job offers before I graduated and I was only a member of I Tappa Kegga. I was also involved in engineering student council a little. Can't speak to current conditions in universities much now, as I understand things have changed in the past 30 years...

[heavy_hitter]

Engineering is hard to balance while playing college athletics. I know D1 golf coaches will try to talk athletes out of it because it conflicts with practice schedules. Had this discussion with a coach at a Top University when my daughter was being recruited. I think Engineering will be what my son ends up majoring in.

 

I concur that a lot of college golfers major in something in business. If it is anything to do with accounting, finance, business analytics then they are set.

[Tannerbug33]

SCLSU Muddogs have a long history of walk ons. In south Louisiana the weather should be good for playing year round. And got to love the food down there.