Men’s Golf Recruiting Guidelines
(Based on the results of a study completed by NCSA Recruiting Network)
General Expectations for Golfers, by Division
Division I
- Top-Tier DI
- Handicap: Scratch or better
- 18 Hole Average: 72 or under
- Success at National Tournaments, such as the AJGA, FCWT, and USGA
- Competes in State and Local Tournaments
- Lower-Tier DI
- Handicap: 1 or better
- 18 Hole Average: 73 or better
- Competes in National Tournaments, such as the AJGA, FCWT, and USGA
- Competes in State and Local Tournaments
Division II
- All Tiers
- Handicap: 2 or better
- 18 Hole Average: 74 or better
- Competes in National Tournaments, such as the AJGA, FCWT, and USGA
- Competes in State and Local Tournaments
- Some DII coaches require DI standards
Division III
- All Tiers
- Handicap: 3 or better
- 18 Hole Average: 75 or better
- Competes in State and Local Tournaments
- Preferably competes in Tournaments, such as the AJGA, FCWT, and USGA
- Some DIII coaches require DI standards
NAIA
- Top Tier NAIA
- Handicap: 2 or better
- 18 Hole Average: 74 or better
- Competes in National Tournaments, such as AJGA, FCWT, and USGA
- Competes in State and Local Tournaments
- Lower Tier NAIA
- Handicap: 3 or better
- 18 Hole Average: 75 or better
- Competes in State and Local Tournaments
- Preferred Tournaments, such as AJGA, FCWT, USGA
- Some NAIA coaches require DI standards
*According to the NCSA Recruiting Network, the average golfer recruited to play in college has a handicap of (1), an 18-hole average of 72.5, and a GPA of 3.37. These golfers also compete in national tournaments such as AJGA, FCWT, and USGA, along with state and local tournaments.
Preferred Grades for All Divisions:
3.0 GPA
24 ACT
1000 SAT (on 1600 point scale)
(No scores needed for underclassmen)
Men’s College Golf Recruiting Statistics
Schools with Men’s Golf Programs
- Division I: 303
- Division II: 215
- Division III: 288
- NAIA: 181
- Junior College: 216
- Total: 1,203
Average # of Athletic Scholarships, per school:
- Division I: 4.5
- Division II: 3.6
- NAIA: 5
- NJCAA (varied by school): 8
Total Student-Athlete Population, by Division
- Division I: 2,698
- Division II: 2,234
- Division III: 3,097
- NAIA: 1,455
- Junior College: 1,734
- High School Student-Athletes: 157,062
women’s college golf Recruiting Guidelines
(Based on the results of a study completed by NCSA Recruiting Network)
General Expectations for Golfers, by Division
Division I
- Top-Tier DI
- Handicap: 5 or better
- 18 Hole Average: 78 or better
- Competes on courses of 6000+ yards
- Competes in national tournaments such as the AJGA, FCWT, and USGA
- Competes in state and local tournaments
- Lower-Tier DI
- Handicap: 8 or better
- 18 Hole Average: 82 or better
- Competes in national tournaments such as the AJGA, FCWT, and USGA
- Competes in state and local tournaments
Division II
- All Tiers
- Handicap: 10 or better
- 18 Hole Average: 85 or better
- Preferably competes in national tournaments such as the AJGA, FCWT, and USGA
- Competes in state and local tournaments
- Some DII coaches require DI standards
Division III
- All Tiers
- Handicap: 15 or better
- 18 Hole Average: 95 or better
- Competes in state and local tournaments
- Preferably competes in tournaments such as the AJGA, FCWT, and USGA
- Some DIII coaches require DI standards
NAIA
- Top Tier NAIA
- Handicap: 10 or better
- 18 Hole Average: 85 or better
- Preferably competes in national tournaments such as AJGA, FCWT, and USGA
- Competes in state and local tournaments
- Lower Tier NAIA
- Handicap: 15 or better
- 18 Hole Average: 95 or better
- Competes in state and local tournaments
- Preferably competes in tournaments such as AJGA, FCWT, USGA
- Some NAIA coaches require DI standards
*According to the NCSA Recruiting Network, the average golfer recruited to play in college has a handicap of (1), an 18-hole average of 83.7, and a GPA of 3.42. These golfers also compete in national tournaments such as AJGA, FCWT, and USGA, along with state and local tournaments.
Preferred Grades for All Divisions:
3.0 GPA
24 ACT
1000 SAT (on 1600 point scale)
(No scores needed for underclassmen)
Women’s College Golf Recruiting Statistics
Schools with Women’s Golf Programs
- Division I: 256
- Division II: 144
- Division III: 168
- NAIA: 140
- Junior College: 93
- Total: 801
Average # of Athletic Scholarships, per school:
- Division I: 6
- Division II: 5.4
- NAIA: 5
- NJCAA (varied by school): 8
Total Student-Athlete Population, by Division
- Division I: 2,085
- Division II: 1,020
- Division III: 1,203
- NAIA: 311
- Junior College: 311
- High School Student-Athletes: 69,223