College Golf Scholarships and Recruiting
How do I Get a College Golf Scholarship?
Earning a golf scholarship is more than just about shooting low scores; it’s about shooting the scores in the right tournaments. Don’t expect to be found just because you are playing in tournaments. You must make the effort to get in contact with college golf coaches and continually update them when you have significant tournament results to report. Follow our advice on how to do this correctly.
Where do Coaches Watch Golf Recruits Play?
Coaches will only come to your tournaments once you have established contact and proven you are a serious recruit. Oftentimes, coaches are very particular about the tournaments they visit, so be prepared to go to those tournaments first. Once contact has been established, use these steps to move forward with the process.
How do I Improve My Chances of Getting a Golf Scholarship?
With golf being a nonrevenue sport, having good grades will help open up more opportunities. The more schools you can qualify for academically, the higher your chance will be of earning a scholarship. Click here to find out more ways to improve your chances.
What Kind of Golfers Get Scholarships?
College golf coaches want to recruit athletes who have great potential and strong fundamentals. Showing your potential goes beyond just playing golf. Getting recruited comes down to intangibles like the ones laid out in our plan for getting recruited.
What Are the Academic Requirements?
The academic requirements for what a college golf coach is looking for changes based on university and division level. There are, however, basic requirements that have to be met to be eligible.
How Good are College Golfers?
These are the general guidelines for what coaches look for in a golfer. If you fall outside of these general requirements it is still possible to play at that level, but there will be fewer opportunities.
Men’s Golf
| NCAA DI | NCAA DII | NCAA DIII/NAIA | NJCAA | |
| Driving Distance | 270+ yards | 260+ yards | 260+ yards | 250+ yards |
| Putts Per Round | Under 30 | Under 32 | Under 34 | Under 34 |
| Scrambling | 50% | 45% | 40% | 35% |
AJGA = American Junior Golf Association
USGA = United States Golf Association
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Top DI
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- Top finishes at the AJGA, USGA, regional and state levels
- Summer golf schedule consists of AJGA, USGA, regional, state, and multiple local tournament wins
- Has a high Polo Golf Ranking
- Average scores from courses over 6,800 yards
- Low End: 65
- High End: 75
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Lower DII
- Competes at the AJGA, USGA regional, and state levels
- Summer golf schedule consists of AJGA, USGA, regional, state, and multiple local tournament wins
- Has a good Polo Golf Ranking
- Average scores from courses over 6,800 yards
- Low End: 67
- High End: 77
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NCAA DIII
- Competes in regional, state, and local tournaments
- Summer golf schedule consists of regional and state tournament participation and high finishes in local tournaments
- Average scores from courses over 6,700 yards
- Low End: 68
- High End: 79
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NCAA DIII/NAIA
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- Competes in local tournaments
- Summer golf schedule consist of high finishes in local level tournaments
- Average Scores from courses over 6,600 yards
- Low End – 70
- High End – 83
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NJCAA
- Competes in local tournaments
- Average Scores from courses over 6,600 yards
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- Low End – 68
- High End – 85
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Women’s Golf
| NCAA DI | NCAA DII | NCAA DIII/NAIA | NJCAA | |
| Driving Distance | 235+ yards | 225+ yards | 225+ yards | 220+ yards |
| Putts Per Round | Under 34 | Under 36 | Under 36 | Under 38 |
| Scrambling | 50% | 45% | 45% | 35% |
AJGA = American Junior Golf Association
USGA = United States Golf Association
-
Top DI
-
- Top finishes at the AJGA, USGA, regional and state levels
- Summer golf schedule includes a rigorous AJGA, USGA, regional, and state level tournaments
- Has a high Polo Golf Ranking
- Average Scores from courses over 6,400 yards
- Low End: 66
- High End: 78
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Lower DII
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NCAA DIII
- Competes in regional, state, and local tournaments
- Summer golf schedule consists of state and regional tournament participation and high finishes in local tournaments
- Average Scores from courses over 6,200 yards
- Low End – 70
- High End – 88
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NCAA DIII/NAIA
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- Competes in local tournaments
- Summer golf schedule consist of high finishes in local level tournaments Average Scores from courses over 6,200 yards
- Low End – 75
- High End –92
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NJCAA
- Competes in state and local tournaments
- Average Scores from courses over 6,200 yards
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- Low End – 68
- High End – 95
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How many Golf Scholarships are Available?
Not all colleges that are eligible to offer scholarships will choose to do so. For example, Ivy League schools choose not to offer athletic scholarships.Golf is an equivalency sport which means all scholarships are not full scholarships. For example, in NCAA D1, men’s golf coaches can divide the value of the 4.5 scholarships available to them between as many players as they see fit.
Men’s Golf
NCAA DI: 4.5
NCAA DII: 3.6
NAIA: 5
NJCAA: 8
Women’s Golf
NCAA DI: 6
NCAA DII: 5.4
NAIA: 5
NJCAA: 8
Number of College Golf Programs
Men’s Golf
NCAA DI: 294
NCAA DII: 200
*NCAA DIII: 277
NAIA: 175
NJCAA: 241
Total: 1,187
Women’s Golf
NCAA D1: 238
NCAA D2: 135
*NCAA D3: 166
NAIA: 123
NJCAA: 113
Total: 775
*NCAA Division 3 schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but do offer other forms of financial aid.
IMPORTANT: NCSA College Recruiting provides a college search tool where you can explore women’s golf and men’s golf scholarships by state. What are you waiting for? Start your search today!
Who Are the Top College Golf Programs in Each Division?
Men’s Golf
NCAA DI:Auburn University, Oklahoma State, Southern California, Stanford University, Texas, Texas A&M University, Vanderbilt University, University of Georgia, University of Florida, University of Illinois and the University of Virginia.
NCAA DII: Barry University, California State-Monterey Bay, Ferris State University, Florida Southern College, Lander University,Lee University, Lynn University, Rollins College, University of Missouri-St. Louis, University of North Alabama and the University of West Florida.
NCAA DIII: Concordia University (TX), Emory University, Hope College, Huntingdon College, LaGrange College, Mary Hardin-Baylor, Methodist University, Oglethorpe University, Rhodes College, St. John’s University (MN), Texas – Tyler,
NAIA: British Columbia University, Dalton State, Grand View University, Keiser University, Northwestern Ohio, Oklahoma City University, Southeastern University, Texas Wesleyan University, Victoria – BC. and Wayland Baptist University.
Women’s Golf
NCAA DI: Alabama, Florida State University, Furman University, Kent State, Purdue University, Southern California, Stanford University, UCLA, University of Arkansas, University of Florida, University of Georgia and Wake Forest University.
NCAA DII: Barry University, California Baptist University, Dallas Baptist University, Florida Tech, Lynn University, Missouri-St. Louis, Nova Southeastern University, Rollins, Tarleton State, Saint Leo University, University of Findlay and the University of Indianapolis.
NCAA DIII: Amherst College, Berry College, Carleton College, George Fox University, Methodist University, Rhodes College, Texas-Tyler, University of Redlands, University of St. Thomas, Whitman College, Williams College and Wittenberg University.
NAIA: British Columbia University, Dalton State, Embry Riddle – AZ, Keiser University, Oklahoma City University, SCAD-Atlanta, SCAD-Savannah, University of Cumberlands, USC Beaufort andWilliam Carey University.
College Women’s Golf Scholarships
Don’t just rely on your coach to set you up with a scholarship
Author: David Frank
Find opportunities for athletic scholarships and get connected to college coaches.