By Rex Grayner, SVP of Business Development, Hurricane Junior Golf Tour
If you were a college coach doing a Sunday night inbox dive, would you pick you?
The players who get picked aren’t always the lowest scorers. They’re the ones who present their game so cleanly a coach can say yes with confidence. Here’s how to build that in 30 days.
Week 1: Build a coach-ready profile
Create a one-page resume that tells the right story.
List: current scoring average; best recent results (with dates, yardages, field size); JGS profile link; GPA/test scores; and a short “about me” that shows work ethic and leadership. Keep it scannable.
Film a 3-hole video (not a highlight reel).
Record three consecutive holes. Call the shot before you hit it. Show a tee shot, an approach, short game, and a putt. One continuous take per hole. Keep it under five minutes, upload, and link it on your resume.
Checklist
- Resume saved as PDF and Google Doc
- Public YouTube link to your 3-hole video
- Folder with 3–5 clear swing clips (backup)
Week 2: Make first contact the right way
Send a tight, personal intro email.
Lead with who you are (grad year), scoring average, and why you’re writing to this program. Add 4–6 bullet highlights, your video link, and upcoming schedule. Close with a simple ask to evaluate and advise on fit.
Subject examples:
- 2027 • 73.8 avg • Upcoming schedule + video
- Interest in [School] | 2026 | 74.2 avg | HJGT schedule
Clean up your online footprint.
Coaches will look you up. Remove anything off-brand. Post practice clips, tournament recaps, and small wins. Make handles consistent; pin your schedule.
Checklist
- Build a list of at least 20 target schools that match your academics, budget, and level (mix reach/fit/safety)
- Customized email sent to each coach on that list
- Profiles reviewed on Instagram, X, YouTube, LinkedIn
Week 3: Play where coaches pay attention
Stack your calendar with meaningful events.
Coaches evaluate results in context. Two-day tournaments, larger fields, and ranked events matter. HJGT runs 36-hole events and College Prep Series stops on college courses so families can compete and learn the campus environment.
Think like a coach when you choose events.
Mix local events (confidence) with regional/national fields (ceiling). Target regions your top schools recruit. Keep a shareable schedule link updated after every sign-up.
Checklist
- Register for at least one 36-hole event in the next 30 days
- Build an “Upcoming Schedule” share link
- Send that link to the coaches you’ve contacted
Week 4: Communicate like a recruit they want to coach
Follow up with substance, not fluff.
Within 3–7 days after your intro, or 48 hours after your next event, send a brief update: one learning, any improved stats, and what’s next on your schedule. Keep it player-led.
Show traits your launch monitor can’t measure.
Highlight growth, resilience, coachability, and consistent habits. If you bounced back after a rough front nine, say how. If a routine change helped, explain it. Coaches recruit people as much as they recruit scores.
Checklist
- Send one results update after your next event
- Log every coach contact in a simple spreadsheet (Date, Coach, School, Action, Next Step)
- Add one specific example that shows maturity or coachability
What this plan does for you
- Removes guesswork. You present your game so a coach can evaluate quickly.
- Builds momentum. Resume → email → event → update—each step feeds the next.
- Signals fit. Your choices show you understand how college golf works and what a coach needs from a recruit.
Ready to take the next step?
If college golf is the goal, compete in events that matter and communicate like a pro. HJGT gives families a clear runway with 350+ two-day ranked tournaments and College Prep Series stops on college courses. See what’s near you and build your schedule today.
Register for an upcoming HJGT event: https://tournaments.hjgt.org/Tournament
