How to Get Recruited for Women’s Golf

Student-athletes looking to compete at the college level need qualifying scores, tournament experience, solid grades and (sometimes) test scores, as well as a strong mental game. If you want to be successful, you need to research which colleges are the best fit for you and create a communication strategy to garner coach interest. In this guide, you’ll find answers to the most common questions student-athletes ask on how to get recruited for women’s golf.

Watch the video below to see how NCSA helped women’s golf recruit Maddie Fleck get recruited to play college golf.

How does college golf work?

The transition from high school to college sports is a big one—but even more so in golf.

High school tournaments are often one day (nine or 18 holes). College tournaments are typically multi-round stroke play (often 54 holes), with travel, practice rounds, and multiple days on-site.

Here’s the format most recruits should know:

• 5 golfers compete for the team in most stroke-play events.
• 4 scores count each round (the high score is dropped).

Teams usually carry more players on the roster than travel/compete at any one event, so not everyone competes every week. (And at the NCAA Division I level, roster and scholarship rules have recently changed—more on that later.)

When does recruiting start for women’s college golf?

The NCAA establishes a recruiting calendar that regulates when college golf coaches can reach out to student-athletes.

In general:

• NCAA Division I coaches can begin recruiting contact June 15 after sophomore year (calls, emails, texts, direct messages—and verbal offers).
• NCAA Division II coaches can contact recruits at any time.
• Official and unofficial visits can begin August 1 before junior year.

Generally, contact begins June 15 after sophomore year when D1 coaches are allowed to call, email, text and make verbal offers to recruits. During this time, top NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 schools set the pace for women’s golf recruiting by offering scholarships to their top prospects. Division 3 and NAIA schools, on the other hand, typically become more active during junior and senior year when test scores start to roll in.

Keep in mind, though: before those dates, coaches are still building their list of recruits and evaluating athletes behind the scenes. They follow rankings, monitor tournament results, and review swing videos so they’re ready to move quickly when contact rules open up.

That’s why it’s so important to get on a coach’s radar before your junior year. You can get on a coach’s radar early by:

• Researching schools and division levels,
• Creating an online profile and swing video,
• Proactively reaching out (even if your reply is limited until your sport’s contact date).

What coaches look for (scores, tournaments, academics)

When making scholarship decisions, women’s golf coaches typically prioritize:

• scoring average
• tournament experience
• strength of schedule
• ranking and trend lines over time

While each division has its own set of standard scores, one of the quickest ways you can determine a coach’s needs is by visiting their team roster.

1. Look at the team’s top 4–5 scorers.
2. Estimate what you’d need to shoot to realistically compete for a travel spot.

Coaches don’t want a player who blends into the overall team average. They want someone who can contribute quickly—especially in a format where only four scores count.

They also pay attention to consistency and competitive resilience. Many coaches look beyond a single hot round and evaluate how you score across multiple rounds and tougher conditions.

How to get noticed by women’s college golf coaches

Recruiting can feel like a roller coaster. One week you’re hearing from coaches, the next week it’s quiet. It’s a lot easier to manage when you know what steps matter most.

Here are five things the most sought-after recruits do to secure a roster spot:

1) Qualify academically

The NCAA Eligibility Center determines the academic eligibility and amateur status for NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 athletes.

Important update: For students who first enroll full-time on or after August 1, 2023, NCAA Divisions I and II removed standardized test scores (SAT/ACT) from initial-eligibility requirements.

That said, many colleges (and academic scholarship programs) may still request test scores for admissions or merit aid—so strong academics still matter.

2) Understand the different division levels

Each division comes with different expectations for scoring average, tournament history, and depth of roster. Knowing where you fit helps you build a realistic target list and focus your outreach.

3) play the right tournaments (and build a ranking)

College golf courses and events are typically more demanding than high school schedules, so coaches lean heavily on competitive tournament results and rankings.

As you pick events, prioritize:

• multi-day or multi-round tournaments (36+ holes)
• stronger fields
• course setups that reflect college-style challenges

Rankings can help coaches quickly sort and compare recruits—and many coaches treat rankings as a starting point, not the full story.

You can visit Junior Golf Scoreboard to find tournaments that contribute toward your national ranking.

4) Create an online profile

Make it easy for women’s golf coaches to evaluate you when they can’t watch you live.

Your profile should clearly include:

• scoring average and tournament results
• schedule of upcoming events
• swing video link
• GPA / coursework
• contact info for you and your coach

5) Contact coaches—and follow up

We can’t reiterate this enough: proactively reach out to college coaches. Send an introductory email that includes your online profile, swing video, academic information, outstanding athletic achievements and personal interest in the program.

Quick rule: personalize every email. Coaches can spot copy/paste messages fast.

Then follow up with meaningful updates:

• new tournament finishes
• improved scoring average
• new video
• academic updates
• upcoming tournament schedule

Do golf coaches care about academics?

The short answer—yes.

If a coach is comparing two recruits with similar golf scores and tournament experience, they’re almost always going to pick the one who is stronger academically. Strong grades suggest the student-athlete works hard, is responsible, and will likely transition well to college.

Also, athletes with strong academics may qualify for more academic aid, which can reduce the pressure on athletic scholarship dollars, especially as scholarship and roster rules evolve at some levels.

Bottom line: grades are important in college golf recruiting.

Best women’s golf camps and tournaments for exposure

Tournament play is the number one factor college coaches use to evaluate recruits. The key is choosing events that match the school you want.

Use your target list to guide your tournament plan:

• Which events do those coaches attend?
• Which tours produce commits at those programs?
• Are you consistently scoring well in multi-round formats?

A strong tournament plan and consistent follow-up is often what turns “interest” into a real recruiting conversation.

Find women’s golf tournaments near you.

What women’s golf tournaments should I compete in?

Competing at the national level gives student-athletes a chance to:

• play in front of college coaches
• improve their national ranking
• and see how they measure up to top recruits across the country

Here are a few common avenues families use:

National golf tours

Tours like the AJGA and other multi-day circuits attract strong fields and college coach attention. Rankings and “trend lines” across events can be a useful barometer for coaches.

Junior Golf Scoreboard

A search on Junior Golf Scoreboard can help you find tournaments and track rankings across age groups and regions.

USGA Championships

USGA junior and amateur events remain some of the most prestigious competitions, with rigorous qualifying standards.

Golf recruiting video tips

Swing videos are becoming more important in college golf recruiting. With thousands of tournaments taking place every year, coaches don’t have the opportunity or budget to see each student-athlete play in person.

That’s why you should create a swing video and email it to college coaches. It can help you secure a second, more in-depth evaluation. Your video should capture a wide variety of swings and club selections from different parts of the course, including:

• 2 or 3 swings with a short iron/wedge
  • “down the line” angle and a “face on” angle
• 2 or 3 swings with a mid/long iron
  • “down the line” angle and a “face on” angle 
• 2 or 3 swings with a driver
  • “down the line” angle and a “face on” angle
• Several chips, pitches and bunker shots (both angles)
• Short, medium and long putts (both angles)
• Straight putts from five to 10 feet (both angles)

Keep it simple:

• normal speed swings
• steady camera
• minimal editing
• no music needed

If done correctly, many recruits can keep a video in the 8-10 minute range while still showing a complete picture.

Research golf schools and create a target list

To successfully be recruited, student-athletes need to build a list of target schools that meet their academic needs, athletic ability and personal preferences.

Here’s a simple way to build that list:

Learn the differences in division levels

Pick a few schools and review rosters and recent results. Make sure you’re in range athletically before spending a ton of time emailing.

Consider time commitment and goals outside your sport

Look at training schedules, travel, academic support, and offseason expectations. Some programs feel like a full-time job; others offer more balance.

Don’t overlook academics

Coaches recruit athletes they believe will succeed in class. A strong academic profile can also expand your options for merit aid.

Once you have a good grasp on the athletic and academic landscape, you can start to add schools to your target list.

When to contact coaches (and what to say)

There’s a balance you want to strike when contacting coaches. On one hand, you don’t want to wait too long, but you also don’t want to reach out to them when you’re not ready.

Before you initiate any contact, make sure you have:

• a realistic school list
• recent tournament results (ideally multi-round)
• a clean athletic and academic snapshot
• a swing video and profile link

Learn what average score and tournament experience you need to get a particular coach’s interest, and then double check that your grades and test scores meet the college’s expectations.

After you feel confident that you have a list of realistic programs, start to send college coaches introductory emails that showcase your online profile and swing video.

If you’re looking to compete at an NCAA Division 1 or Division 2 school, you’ll need to establish relationships with coaches during your sophomore year.

The top golf programs in the country will make verbal offers to recruits during the summer after their sophomore year.

But generally speaking, the second half of sophomore year through the end of junior year is when recruits want to be at their best golf game and proactively reaching out to college coaches. This is a peak time in recruiting.

That being said, several coaches, including NCAA Division 3, NAIA and NJCAA coaches, continue to recruit into senior year, so there is opportunity later in high school, as well.   

How your high school/swing coach can help

Remember that you’re not alone in your recruiting journey. You can lean on your swing coach or high school for support along the way.

Here are a few ways student-athletes rely on their coaches throughout the recruiting process: 

As a character reference

College coaches often ask coaches about your work ethic, attitude, leadership, and how you respond under pressure.

For honest feedback

Your coach can help you evaluate realistic college fits and identify areas to improve to reach your target level.

When creating a swing video

Whether they’re giving feedback on your mechanics or simply holding the camera, coaches can help you capture clean, consistent footage—and make sure it reflects your current game accurately.

Ready to get recruited for women’s college golf?

NCSA helps student-athletes get discovered by college coaches, stay organized during recruiting, and communicate with confidence.

With an NCSA profile, you can:

• Build a recruiting profile with your golf stats, academics, and swing video
• Share key updates (tournament results, rankings, schedule) with coaches faster
• Get guidance on next steps based on your goals and division level

Create your free NCSA recruiting profile today and start getting in front of the right college golf programs.