College golf scholarships are extremely competitive to earn, but a variety of options exist beyond the Division I level.
With the cost of college education increasing drastically, many families have counted on the possibility of an athletic scholarship to eliminate their costs. College golf scholarships are extremely competitive, especially on the boys' side. However, many options exist for college golf scholarships and tremendous opportunities at a variety of levels. With the right knowledge, junior golfers can continue their playing career and get a good amount of their education paid for.
Know Your Options
A variety of options exist for junior golfers to pursue beyond NCAA Division I schools like UCLA and Arizona State. NCAA Division II, NAIA and junior colleges all offer some types of athletic scholarship money (NCAA Division III teams do not offer athletic scholarships). Golfers should honestly asses their golf games and find a level they will fit in, knowing that college courses are much more difficult than courses played in junior golf. You should then contact the appropriate coaches with a letter of introduction, resume and swing video.
The Myth of a Full Ride
While Division I sports like football and basketball offer full-ride scholarships, which cover every college expense, Division I golf is very different. On the men's side, full rides are few and far between, reserved for the top players at the upper-echelon programs. In the women's game, full rides are seen more often but are definitely not common. Typical college golf teams carry between six and 10 players. NCAA legislation and Title IIX limit the number of golf scholarships to six for women and 4.5 for men. These can be distributed however the coach sees fit, making partial scholarships much more practical.
Breaking Down Divisions
Division I schools will generally be the most competitive to earn scholarship money. Not every college golf program is fully funded to the six and 4.5 limits for men and women, respectively. Most often, 50 percent and even 25 percent athletic scholarships are common. Division II teams have a greater disparity. Only the top 10 programs will be fully funded to the scholarship limits, while others might have half the allotment and some D-II programs only offer academic money. NAIA schools have large amounts of money to give and the talent level isn't as great. The same goes for junior colleges.
Academics First for More Opportunities
Any college program, from NCAA Division I to Division II and III, all the way down to the NAIA and junior college level, will look at academics first. Coaches will try to award money from the school's academic scholarship allotment so the total athletic award is lessened and the impact on their athletic scholarship budget is minimal. Aside from the top-ranked players nationally, coaches will look first for a 3.5 grade point average or better. This will significantly open doors at every level of schools that grant college golf scholarships because of the lessened financial impact on the golf program.
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