How Junior Golfers Stand Out in the College Golf Recruiting Process?

The dream of playing college golf inspires thousands of junior golfers each year, but earning a roster spot requires more than talent and a good swing. Coaches look for players who communicate well, present themselves professionally, and show that they are ready for the demands of collegiate athletics. Understanding how to navigate the recruiting process step by step can make all the difference.

I am Michael LaBella, a performance golf coach at MLaB Golf, located at Butler Country Club. For more than 15 years, I have been coaching golfers. I have seen firsthand how the most successful recruits are not always the most skilled but the most prepared. Here, I will help you understand what coaches expect and how you can stand out in a competitive recruiting landscape.

Start With a Strong College Golf Recruiting Resume

A good recruiting resume helps coaches understand the golfer a whole. Many junior golfers overwhelm coaches with long documents or scattered information, which is not often preferred by the coaches. Think of your resume as your first handshake. It needs to be clean, organized, and confident.

Highlight your tournament performance, scoring averages, and national or regional rankings. Coaches want to see your progression over time, consistency, and how you perform under pressure. Include your academic profile as well. GPA, coursework, extra curriculars, and test scores matter because college golf demands a strong academic commitment.

Finally, share a few personal attributes that reflect your character and work ethics. Coaches are building a team, and they want golfers who show leadership, discipline, and maturity. Keep everything to one page and create a digital version you can easily link in emails.

Craft a Personal Professional Emails to College Coaches

Reaching out coaches is not just a step in the process. It is an opportunity to make a strong first impression. Many junior golfers send the same email to every coach, but personalization shows respect and genuine interest.

Use a clear subject line with your name and graduation year. Make sure the email address you use looks professional and includes your name. This is part of your brand as a recruit.

Introduce yourself briefly with your name, hometown, and graduation year. Then explain why you are interested in their program specifically. Coaches want to know that you have done your research and are writing to them intentionally.

Share a few of your biggest academic and golf highlights and provide a link to your resume and recruitment video. Close with a simple request to connect or learn more about the program. 

One important reminder is to always proofread. Getting a coach’s name or school wrong sends the wrong message and can end communication before it starts.

Lastly, coaches are blasted with emails from around the world, keep sending them emails with updates from tournament rounds, and your personal progress with the coaches you work with. This will show them that you’re interested in their program and they will keep seeing your name.

Build an Online Presence That Supports Your Goals

College coaches do not stop at your email. They look you up. Your online presence should reinforce the type of student-golfer they want on their team.

A strong recruiting video is essential. Instead of random swings on the driving range, create a three-hole on-course video. Show full swings, short games, putting, and narrating your decisions. Coaches want to see how you play, think, and carry yourself, not just your mechanics. Keep it under five minutes and upload it to YouTube for easy sharing.

Your social media matters, too. Coaches check Instagram, Twitter, and even TikTok to see who you are off the course. Make a golf only account, for example have your “friends” account separate and kept on private mode, and make a golf only page open to the public, for example “Michael LaBella Golf.”  Keep your content positive, professional, and golf focused. Posting swing videos, you on the course,  tournament highlights, practice clips, and progress updates shows your commitment. It works against you in recruiting.

Choose Tournaments That Give You the Best Exposure

Performance is a major part of recruiting. Coaches track tournament scores, but they also look at the types of events you play. A strong tournament schedule shows growth, confidence, and a willingness to compete at higher levels.

Play a mix of local, regional, and national events to gain experience and increase visibility. HJGT events are ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard and offer 36-hole competitions, which gives coaches a better picture of your game.

College Prep Series tournaments also provide valuable exposure, especially when played on actual college golf courses.

If you are targeting schools in specific regions, try to play events in those areas. It increases the chances that a coach will watch you compete.

Communicate as a Player Coaches Want on Their Team

The way you speak, write, and follow up tells coaches a lot about your maturity. If a coach does not respond to your initial email, do not take it personally. College coaches receive hundreds of messages every month. Following up after two weeks is normal and shows persistence without pressure.

Be prompt and polite in every communication. When you have an academic update, a scoring improvement, or a big tournament finish, share it with them. When your schedule is set for the season, send it to coaches you are pursuing, especially if you will be competing near their campus.

This kind of consistent proactive communication is one of the most underrated ways to stand out. I have seen many juniors earn opportunities simply because they were prepared, organized, and respectful.

Take Action and Own Your Recruiting Journey

Standing out in the college golf recruiting process is about taking responsibility for your progress and staying committed to the journey. Start today by reviewing your resume, creating a simple three-hole recruiting video, and sending personalized emails to a few college coaches. Clean up your online presence and build a tournament schedule that challenges you and showcases your skills.

The earlier you start, the more momentum you build. Remember, coaches are not looking for perfect golfers; they want hardworking, coachable athletes who will represent their program well.

If you need guidance on any part of this process, Michael LaBella and MLaB Golf are always here to help junior golfers prepare for the next level with confidence.