Jackson Reid
College golf is an extremely competitive sport, with only a small percentage of high school golfers going on to compete at the college level. To play college golf, student-athletes must meet certain academic and athletic requirements. While scoring averages are important, they are not the only factor considered by college coaches during recruitment. Coaches also consider factors such as tournament experience, course and slope ratings, and the character of the player. To gauge a recruit's performance, coaches often refer to national rankings and tournament results through platforms like the Junior Golf Scoreboard, Golfweek, and the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) website. The highest level of college golf is NCAA Division I, with male players shooting an average tournament score of 73.61 and female golfers an average of 76.78.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scoring averages for college golfers | Depend on the level; the highest level is NCAA Division I |
| Average tournament score for male players | 73.61 |
| Average tournament score for female players | 76.78 |
| Lowest men's scoring average | 69.36 |
| Highest men's scoring average | 85 |
| Lowest women's scoring average | 69.78 |
| Highest women's scoring average | 88 |
| Average score across all other levels for men | 76.68 |
| Average score across all other levels for women | 81.71 |
| Average course yardage in college | 6,600 to 7,300 |
| Handicap for golfers at Division 1 and 2 levels | -0 to +2 |
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What You'll Learn
College golf scores vary depending on division level
College golf scores vary depending on the division level, with the highest level being NCAA Division I. The average tournament score for male players at this level is 73.61, while female golfers average 76.78. The lowest average male score is 69.36, and the highest is 85; for women, the lowest is 69.78, and the highest is 88.
Across all other levels, the average score is 76.68 for men and 81.71 for women. To compete for an NCAA golf team, a good handicap is 3.5/4 or better, with golfers at Division 1 and 2 levels typically having a handicap of between –0 and +2.
College coaches analyse golf scores from multiple angles. They rarely consider scores from courses less than 6,600 yards, as the average course yardage in college golf is 6,600 to 7,300 yards. Coaches also evaluate the course and slope rating, which indicates the difficulty of the course.
Recruits can use resources like the Junior Golf Scoreboard to see how they measure up against top golfers from across the country and find out where verified tournaments are taking place. Golf Stat is another useful platform, tracking individual and team rankings from NCAA Division 1 to NAIA.
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High school scores are not a good comparison for college scores
High school golf tournaments are typically overlooked by college golf coaches as they are significantly easier than college golf courses. College golf has become increasingly competitive, with the best golf score 20 years ago now being the average score among NCAA Division 1 athletes. Therefore, high school golf scores are not a good comparison for college scores.
When recruiting, college coaches tend to focus on national tournaments and rankings rather than high school events. They rarely consider scores from courses that are less than 6,600 yards, as the average course yardage in college is 6,600 to 7,300 yards. As a result, high school golfers aiming to compete at the college level should gain experience in multiple-day tournaments of at least 36 holes.
To evaluate a golfer's athletic ability, coaches analyse a recruit's national ranking and "tournament score differential". They pull scores from individual multiple-day events and compare how the recruit played each day. For example, a recruit who shoots 72 on the first day and then crumbles under pressure on the second day may not be a good fit for the team.
The Junior Golf Scoreboard is the most popular site for college coaches to follow, as it compiles scores from over 2,000 verified tournaments across the country. Recruits who go on to compete at the Division 1 level earn high rankings on these sites and have top finishes at AJGA, USGA, and state tournaments. Division 1 programs tend to recruit players with an average golf score of 72 and lower, while top Division 2, Division 3, and NAIA programs look for players who average 74 or lower.
In addition to scoring, college coaches consider other factors such as academic performance, the character of the player, and the quality of tournament experience. Therefore, while scoring averages are important, they are not the only element that determines a golfer's recruitment to a college program.
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College coaches analyse scores from multiple angles
College coaches analyse golf scores from multiple angles when recruiting new players. The first thing to note is that college golf is extremely competitive, and the best score 20 years ago is now considered the average among NCAA Division 1 athletes.
Coaches tend to follow national tournaments and rankings before high school events, and the most popular site they follow is the Junior Golf Scoreboard, which compiles scores from over 2,000 verified tournaments across the country. They will also look at tournament results through the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) website and Golfweek.
Recruits who go on to compete at Division 1 level earn high rankings on these sites and have top finishes at AJGA, USGA, and state tournaments. Division 2 and 3 recruits may also be found on these lists, while mid-to-low-tier recruits compete in state, regional, and local tournaments.
When it comes to scores, coaches rarely consider scores from courses that are less than 6,600 yards, as the average college course yardage is 6,600 to 7,300 yards. Coaches also evaluate the course and slope rating, which indicates the difficulty of the course for scratch and bogey golfers, respectively.
High school golf tournaments are often overlooked as they are considered easier than college courses. Therefore, coaches tend to follow student-athletes who maintain scores in the low 70s at competitive national tournaments, where the difficulty level truly tests their mental and athletic abilities.
While scoring averages are important, other factors come into play when recruiting for college golf, including academic performance, character, and the quality of tournament experience.
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The Junior Golf Scoreboard is a good indicator for recruits
College golf recruiting is highly competitive, with only a small percentage of high school golfers reaching any level of college golf. College golf coaches are looking for the best recruits and turn to national tournaments and rankings before high school events.
The Junior Golf Scoreboard is a popular site that ranks junior golfers and provides scoring history. It compiles scores from over 2,000 verified tournaments across the country. It is a good indicator for recruits as they can see where junior players from the last four years have been recruited, and view each player's ranking and tournament scoring differential. Recruits can also find out where verified tournaments are taking place and improve their national ranking by signing up for multiple-day tournaments that are at least 36 holes.
Coaches use the Junior Golf Scoreboard to gauge how a recruit measures up against top golfers from across the country. They also look at other ranking systems like the American Junior Golf Association (AGJA) and Golfweek. Recruits who go on to compete at the Division 1 level earn high rankings on these sites and have top finishes at AJGA, USGA and state tournaments.
While rankings are important, coaches also consider other factors such as academic performance, character, and the quality of tournament experience. They also validate golf scores by analyzing a recruit's national ranking and their "tournament score differential". They pull scores from individual multiple-day events and compare how the recruit played each day.
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Scoring averages for college golfers
Top Division 1 programs tend to recruit players with an average golf score of 72 and lower. Top Division 2, Division 3, and NAIA programs are also selective, with coaches at these schools looking for players who average 74 or lower. Most mid-tier Division 2 programs make offers to recruits who average 76 or lower, while lower-level Division 3 and NAIA programs are more flexible, with scores ranging from the high 70s to low 80s.
College coaches analyze golf scores from multiple angles. They rarely consider scores from courses less than 6,600 yards, as the average course yardage in college is 6,600 to 7,300. They also evaluate the course and slope rating, which indicates the difficulty of the course. High school golf tournaments are often overlooked as they are easier than college golf courses. Therefore, college coaches tend to follow student-athletes who maintain scores in the low 70s at competitive national tournaments.
It's important to note that scoring averages are not the only factor considered in recruiting. Academic performance, character, and tournament experience also play a role in the process. Additionally, a player's handicap can also be a factor, with a good handicap for NCAA teams being 3.5/4 or better. Golfers at Division 1 and 2 levels typically have a – 0 to +2 handicap.
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Frequently asked questions
Scoring averages for college golfers vary depending on the level. The highest level of men's and women's college golf is NCAA Division I. The report found that male players shot an average tournament score of 73.61 while women golfers shot an average of 76.78.
College golf has only become more competitive. The best golf score 20 years ago is now the average score among NCAA Division 1 athletes. Of the 144,000 high school athletes who play golf, only two percent go on to compete at the Division 1 level. Recruits can see how they stack up against college athletes by following collegiate rankings on Golf Stat.
College coaches analyze golf scores from multiple angles. They rarely consider scores from courses that are less than 6,600 yards as the average course yardage in college is 6,600 to 7,300. Coaches evaluate the course and slope rating. They tend to follow student-athletes who maintain scores in the low 70s at competitive national tournaments.
