Plug in the Pipeline
Young minority golfers often can’t afford to enter the big-name tournaments, but efforts are underwayto produce the sport’s next superstar.
By Frank J. Matthews
Going from a golf fan to a serious player to a professional is no simple feat. Those who have made the journey recognize how slim the odds truly are. And although most PGA and LPGA golfers can’t agree on how best to swing a club or which grip is the most reliable, it’s almost universally accepted that college experience is critical to professional golf success.
For thousands of junior golfers in the United States, the professional dream meets with harsh reality when they realize that there are only 800 to 900 combined scholarships available for men’s and women’s Division I golf. For most, continuing their golf dreams means accepting offers from Division II- and III-level schools.
“Ninety percent of freshmen who go to college think that one day they will be good enough to play on TV,” says Eddie Payton, head coach of men’s and women’s golf at Jackson State University in Mississippi. “After about two years, reality sets in and … [many] realize that their best hope is to become real good college players, get a marketable degree and get a job within the golf industry so they can stay close to the game that they love.”
