When did you fall in love with golf? For many PGA of America Professionals and enthusiasts like myself, high school golf was a formative experience, filled with camaraderie and memorable competitions.
These formative years didn’t happen by accident; they were shaped by the dedication of high school golf coaches who shared a passion for the game, offering guidance and encouragement. This spirit is central to the mission of the National High School Golf Association (NHSGA) at the PGA of America.
The NHSGA is committed to nurturing the growth and development of high school golfers across the United States. Essential to this mission is our unwavering support for coaches who inspire and lead these young athletes. By equipping coaches with valuable tools and knowledge, the NHSGA seeks to elevate the high school golf experience for both players and their mentors.
Central to our belief is the notion that every aspiring young golfer deserves a chance to develop his or her skills and possibly shine on a national stage. For elite high school golfers, this opportunity could mean competing in the annual PGA High School National Invitational, held this July at Pinehurst, North Carolina. For many students, particularly those who can’t afford or don’t have access to junior golf events, high school golf serves as their primary platform to demonstrate their talent.
PGA Professionals are instrumental in this ecosystem. By utilizing your resources and expertise, you can profoundly impact young athletes’ lives and elevate high school golf within your community. Here’s how you can contribute:
Connect with Local High School Coaches: To be actively involved, reach out to local high school golf coaches. Many programs face resource constraints and logistical challenges, but with the support of committed professionals like you, these hurdles can be overcome. Begin a dialogue to understand their needs.
Provide Practice Area Access: Beyond the golf course, practice areas are vital for refining skills at this age. Offering high school teams access to your facilities allows students to focus on sharpening their swings, putting and overall strategy – preparing them for competitions. Plus, it gets additional customers through your doors on a consistent basis throughout the year.
As Chad Wilks, PGA, GM at WestRidge Golf Course in McKinney, Texas, notes, “Opening up our practice facilities to high school teams allows us to provide targeted instruction and support. It’s a straightforward way to contribute to their development.”
Host Workshops and Clinics: Partnering with a school to market player development workshops and clinics present excellent opportunities for PGA Professionals to engage with young golfers, sharing expertise that extends beyond traditional playing skills. These interactions provide students with invaluable game insights and can inspire them to consider golf beyond high school, whether at a collegiate or professional level.
Mentor and Guide: Mentoring is another crucial form of support. As a trusted guide, you can help aspiring golfers navigate their journeys both on and off the course. Building relationships with young athletes can have enduring impacts that last beyond their high school years. Many of these young athletes will be our next generation of PGA of America Professionals.
Promote the Annual Coaches Conference: Our annual Nation- al High School Golf Association Conference, held each January at the PGA Show, is a cornerstone of our efforts. This gathering provides an exceptional opportunity for coaches to learn from industry leaders, connect with peers and discover innovative strategies to improve their programs. Covering a range of topics from technical coaching skills to player development, the conference is an invaluable resource for driving programs forward.
Supplemental Education – Building a Strong Foundation: The NHSGA is proud to offer additional training for coaches, such as segments of the American Development Model (ADM), which promote a holistic athlete development approach. This training empowers coaches to use age-appropriate practices that prioritize enjoyment and long-term engagement. By adopting ADM principles, coaches can cultivate thriving, sustainable environments where players learn and grow.
Join Us in Making a Difference: Let’s champion the development of high school golf coaches and their players. By empowering coaches, we enhance the experiences of young golfers nationwide. Contact me to learn more about how you can contribute and be a vital part of this transformative journey.
Together, we can drive the future of high school golf forward, ensuring every young golfer has the opportunity to fall in love with the game and develop into the leaders of tomorrow.
Mike McDonald, PGA, is the National High School Golf Association Lead at the PGA of America. He’s at mike@highschoolgolf.org.