SMU Men’s Associate Head Coach Brandon Wilkins discusses course strategy during a practice round at a CGX Camp.

Weather and wind can drastically change how a golf course plays. Preparing for these variables is essential to maintaining your game plan and keeping your scores low. Here’s how to stay ready:

Monitor the Weather Forecast | Brandon Wilkins, SMU Men’s Associate Head Coach

Before the practice round and tournament day, check the weather forecast for:

Wind Direction and Speed: A strong wind can turn a reachable par 5 into a challenging par 4. Download a wind compass app to track real-time wind direction and plan shot selection accordingly.

Temperature Shifts: Cold air reduces ball carry, while warm air can add distance. Adjust your yardages and club selection to account for these changes.

Rain and Wet Conditions: Wet fairways can reduce roll and impact approach shots. Make notes in your yardage book about potential adjustments in landing areas.

Use Wind Compass for Real-Time Adjustments | Cole Buck, TCU Men’s Associate Head Coach

The Wind Compass app is a useful tool that can help you gauge wind direction on unfamiliar courses.

It’s USGA-legal and can be a lifesaver in situations where tree cover or terrain may block wind cues.

Don’t just feel the wind—use the data to confirm your strategy and avoid surprises.

Stay Adaptable with a Fluid Game Plan | Cole Buck, TCU Men’s Associate Head Coach

Revisit Your Yardage Book: Adjust target areas based on the expected weather conditions. For instance, aim for safer landing zones if strong winds are forecasted.

Identify Critical Holes: Pinpoint holes where weather could be a significant factor, such as long par 4s or narrow par 3s.

Stay Composed: If conditions change mid-round, remember that preparation means expecting the unexpected. Keep your focus and adapt your strategy as needed.

Weather is unpredictable, but your response doesn’t have to be. Stay prepared and keep your game plan flexible to handle any condition.

For players already in the recruiting stage, CGX camps offer a chance to interact with coaches in a more relaxed setting than a tournament. While the camps are structured to promote learning and growth, there’s also room for fun and casual golf, creating an environment where players and coaches can build relationships naturally.

For College Coaches, CGX camps are some of the best ways to foster connections with potential recruits both before and during the recruiting process.

They say you only have one chance to make a great first impression. That’s especially true when you meet someone face to face for the first time. For Nicole McGuire and Coach Dave Reinhardt, their first impressions of each other have led to what looks like a great fit for the Washington University women’s golf team.

McGuire, who is from Bloomingdale, Ill., just outside of Chicago, first reached out to Reinhardt during her sophomore year at Glenbard North High School. She was already in her second year on the varsity golf team and was an excellent student. But Reinhardt told her she needed to improve her golf scores. By the time they met at a College Golf Experience camp in Windsor, Conn., right before her senior year, she had done just that.

“I didn’t really have too much communication with her during her sophomore year, but when she did come to the camp, I got to know her more,” said Reinhardt, a three-time regional coach of the year and the Jackie Steinmann Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) National Coach of the Year in 2023 when his Bears finished as national runners-up. “I found out how driven she was. And as she told me, she took what I told her about getting better to heart.”

Connections like the one Coach Reinhardt and McGuire made are great examples of the opportunities found at CGX camps and how coaches and players are able to get to know each other. It’s quality time spent on the course and in seminars and Q&A sessions with athletes and their parents, all in a comfortable, relaxed environment.

McGuire is now a freshman at the Division III school in St. Louis. She has qualified for nearly all her team’s tournaments this season and by early spring already had two seventh-place individual finishes. In high school she excelled both on the course and in the classroom, becoming the first state qualifier ever at Glenbard North. She graduated with the highest honors, as an Illinois State Scholar and LPGA Marilynn Smith Scholarship recipient. She was in both the Math Honors Society and Science Honors Society. So quite naturally, her major at Washington University is biomedical engineering.

“Coach Reinhardt was transparent about what he was looking for in his student-athletes and how he runs the program at WashU,” McGuire said. “His honesty about expectations and his approach to coaching made me feel confident that he wants what is best for his players and program. His commitment to both athletic and personal growth showed me that he genuinely cares about developing well-rounded student-athletes, making it easy to trust him and envision spending four years under his leadership.”

Their mutual trust and respect would be cemented at that camp, where they not only spoke one on one, but McGuire was able to observe her play on the historic Keney Park Golf Course at the camp.

“I don’t know what she shot that day,” Reinhart said. “I know it wasn’t 69, but it wasn’t 88 either. But I saw what she had to offer in terms of ball-striking abilities. And she’s also a great putter.”

More than that, though, Reinhardt could see her resiliency and determination. She never seemed to get down on herself or get too high. And she always had a plan.

“We all have some great shots and some not so great shots, but her routine never varied,” Reinhardt said. “All the players get a little nervous when they get around golf coaches, but I could just tell she had good resiliency stick-to-itness to her golf game.”

McGuire said she entered the recruitment process a little on the later side, so the face-to-face interactions she had with coaches at the camp were crucial.

“Emailing and talking to coaches online is one thing, but having the opportunity to showcase your character and performance in person is where you truly make connections and opportunities open up,” McGuire said. “The CGX Camp gave me the platform to demonstrate not just my game, but also my work ethic and personality, which ultimately played a big role in finding the right fit.”

The CGX camps, which are conducted in different parts of the country throughout the year, bring prospective coaches and golf prospects together in a relaxed setting.

“That’s where I glean the most on who can potentially be a part of this program,” Reinhardt said. “I really find out who is kind of going through the motions or who’s really leaning in and trying to learn as much as they can about my coaching philosophy, and if those will fit with the individual.”

Not only did Reinhardt meet Nicole, but he met her father Dan McGuire as well.

“He’s a wonderful individual too. He was a golf professional, so he knows the ins and outs of the golf business,” Reinhardt said.

Not long after the camp, McGuire visited Washington University.

“I knew WashU was the right choice after my visit,” she said. “Meeting the team, seeing the campus, and getting a feel for the academic and athletic balance confirmed that this was the environment where I could thrive. The culture of the golf program, combined with WashU’s strong academics and supportive community, made it clear that this was where I wanted to spend my next four years.”

McGuire said college life has been a mix of memorable experiences and new opportunities. Expectations are high at Washington University, both in the classroom and on the golf course, but she has embraced that. She’s enjoyed all facets of college life, including Greek life and making new friends.

“Having the freedom to shape my own experience while being surrounded by amazing people has made it even more rewarding,” she said. “Collegiate golf has been an incredibly rewarding experience, especially when it comes to team success. “There’s something special about contributing to a shared achievement and celebrating those moments together.”

Her advice to junior golfers looking for the same or similar experiences is to find a way to make themselves stand out and let coaches know why they are specifically interested in their program.

“Take advantage of any in-person opportunities like camps and tournaments where you can interact with coaches directly,” she said.

“Coaches aren’t just looking at your golf game; they want to see your character, work ethic, and how you’d fit into their team culture, so showcase it all. It is also never too late so do not give up if you aren’t getting the attention you are seeking. Walk-on spots are always an option, so stay persistent with communication and interest.”

Dartmouth Women’s Head Coach Alex Kirk on campus with Claire Wan.

Dartmouth Golf Coach Alex Kirk’s first real encounter with golfer Claire came on a fairway. Her tee shot on a par 5 hole on the Whirlwind Course at Wild Horse Pass Golf Club in Chandler, Ariz., wound up on the edge of a bunker. The lefthander had to step into the bunker to hit the ball, which was about waist high. She managed a low running shot, good enough to set up a third to find the green.

“Coach Kirk drove his cart right up next to me, and I didn’t even notice,” said Wan of the Dartmouth women’s golf coach. “When I was taking a stance and about to hit the ball, he took a picture of me in the bunker. That’s what I like about him. I was nervous, but he was super down to earth and nice.”

Indeed, it was really the first encounter the two had, and it came at a College Golf Experience Camp in December of 2023. As it turned out, it would be the impetus of Kirk recruiting Wan to play for his Dartmouth squad in Hanover, N.H. And in April of last year, the senior standout from St. Stephens High School in Austin, TX, made an official visit and signed her letter of intent.

Next fall, Wan will start school at the Ivy League School, in an effort to continue her academic excellence (She scored 1520 on her SAT and had a near perfect GPA in high school) as well as continue to develop her golf game.

Would this have been possible had she not attended what was her second CGX camp? Sure, but would it have been likely? Connections like the one Coach Kirk and Wan made illustrate the opportunities found at CGX camps and how coaches and players are able to get to know each other in an atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else. It’s quality time spent on the course and in seminars and Q&A sessions with athletes and their parents, all in a comfortable, relaxed environment.

The camp gave them a chance to get to know each other much better than if they had just communicated by email or he had seen her play in a tournament. It gave them an opportunity to really connect, which is what the CGX camps are all about.

“I’m just a little kooky like that,” said Kirk of taking the photos. “I thought it was a funny picture.”

On a more serious note, though, Kirk said he looks at the camps as learning opportunities, both for the coaches and student golfers. It’s one thing to see them play in a tournament having to watch from afar and not getting to interact with them. It’s another to be able to meet them and their parents in a more casual atmosphere, get out on the course with them, and take part in the Q&A sessions that have proved so valuable in the CGX camps.

“The more I got to know her, I just liked her personality. She’s humble, and she’s very good academically,” Kirk said. “But I feel like it’s a two-way street. It also gives the players a chance to get to know us.”

Kirk was impressed with her demeanor, the way she conducted herself on and off the course. She also saw a lot of potential in her golf game, noting that Wan qualified for the 2023 U.S. Junior Girls Championship at the Eisenhower Course at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. Wan made it to match play, where she lost to the eventual champion, Kiaro Romero, 2-and-1.

“I knew her golf was good,” said Kirk, who has coached at Dartmouth for 14 years. “I think she’s kind of sneaky long, being a lefty. And her arms are kind of long arms, too. She had a lot of good distance.”

For Wan, after getting to know Kirk at the camp, and later bonding with many of the players on her official visit, she knew that she would feel comfortable playing for him.

“I remember him being super honest about everything,” said Wan, the daughter of parents who are engineers and a twin to sister Audrey. “Like he would say, if you’re super wanting to play in college, and really love the game, that was a big part of it.”

CGX camps connect players and coaches in changing the landscape of college golf recruiting.

“Players and parents want to get in front of and access college coaches,” said CGX Founder and CEO Joshua Jacobs. “They want to learn about college golf and the recruiting process. Parents want to be able to provide opportunities for their kids to fulfill their dreams. That’s what these camps do. We are the connective tissue between junior golf and college golf. It’s our mission to be the leading source of college golf information on the recruiting process and everything from how to communicate with a coach, when to communicate to a coach and how to figure out where you fit.”

When it comes to improving your golf game, setting the right goals can make all the difference. Cal Women’s Golf Coach Sofie Aagaard recently joined a College Golf Experience Instagram Live to break down the key distinction between process goals and outcome goals—and why focusing on the right ones can help you achieve long-term success.

Players will have the opportunity to engage with Coach Aagaard in person at the AJGA Mizuno West Coast Classic Tournament Prep Camp in Santa Rosa, CA, on March 16. This camp is a chance to engage with College Coaches, receive direct feedback, and refine your game for tournament success.

What Drives You? Understanding Your Goals

“Well, I think there are many parts to your goals. It’s again what drives you,” says Coach Aagaard.

She explains that there are two types of goals:

1. Outcome Goals – “You want to be on a certain team, you want to win a certain tournament.”

2. Process Goals – “What are the actions that you take to get to those things?”

While outcome goals are exciting and motivating, it’s the process goals — the steps you take daily — that truly determine success.

Why Process Goals Matter

“A process goal can be something that you’re taking action on,” says Aagaard.

She emphasizes the importance of consistent daily improvement:

“We keep saying ‘one day better today’—do something today that will drive you to your outcome goal.”

Unlike outcome goals, which often depend on external factors, process goals are entirely within your control. They help you focus on actions that lead to results, rather than just wishing for success.

Lower Scores & College Golf Exposure

For junior golfers looking to compete at the next level, lowering their scores is a major focus. But how do you actually achieve that?

Coach Aagaard explains:

“Something that’s not necessarily in your control, but it can be something that really excites you, is having a lower score. Because you know it might get you into tournaments, it might get you more eyes from College Coaches.”

This is where process goals become essential. Instead of fixating on a final score, players should analyze their game, set specific targets, and work on small improvements daily.

Using Data to Set Smarter Goals

One of the best ways to refine your process goals is by tracking statistics and performance metrics.

“That’s when a process goal becomes really important, because you don’t have to go in blind,” says Aagaard. “Look at your statistics—where are you today? What are the numbers that support potential improvement and how do you get better?”

By breaking down your stats, you can identify areas for improvement and set bite-sized, actionable goals to work on each month.

Small Steps, Big Results

Coach Aagaard believes that monthly process goals are a great way to build momentum toward long-term success.

“Monthly goals are really great for the process goals that then drive you to the future goal.”

By setting and consistently achieving small process goals—whether it’s improving putting accuracy, increasing greens in regulation, or refining course management—players set themselves up for greater success in the long run.

Learn more from Coach Aagaard at the AJGA Mizuno West Coast Classic Tournament Prep Camp

Want to learn more directly from Coach Sofie Aagaard? She will be one of the College Coaches at the upcoming AJGA Mizuno West Coast Classic Tournament Prep Camp in Santa Rosa, CA, on March 16. This is a unique opportunity for junior golfers to receive hands-on coaching, learn how to improve their game, and gain insights from College Coaches.

Final Thoughts

Success in golf isn’t just about dreaming big—it’s about taking action. By setting process goals, tracking progress, and focusing on one day better today, players can steadily improve their game and reach their biggest ambitions.

💡 Want to train with College Coaches like Coach Aagaard? Sign up for the AJGA Mizuno West Coast Classic Tournament Prep Camp on March 16 and start setting the right goals for your success!

“As a junior golfer, you feel like junior golf is the world, right? It’s what you base your identity on.” But when you get to college, “your arena changes, and all of a sudden college is really important.

“Then you look back at your junior golf days and think, you know what, if I made the most of every one of those junior golf days and focused on my development instead of comparing myself to peers or maybe comparing to a certain benchmark or ideal that I wished I was at, maybe I could have used those days more effectively.” These reflections underline the importance of maximizing every opportunity during your junior golf years.

“Then you get into the college ranks, you’re worked up about maybe being an All-American, preparing for professional golf, turning professional, and then you look back on your college days and think, man, I was so worked up about college. I wish that I would have just made the most of every single day.” The same principle applies at every stage—focus on what you can control and enjoy the journey.

“My best advice is that when you’re in junior golf, focus on development, focus on growth. As you transition to college golf, I’d encourage you guys to do the same too.” Growth and development remain the cornerstones of long-term success in golf.

“My best advice is that when you’re in junior golf, focus on development, focus on growth.” – Ruben Sondjaja, Men’s Assistant Coach, Illinois

“Sometimes I think we make things bigger than what they actually are. You attach yourself to the outcomes far too greatly. Detach from outcome and just focus on what makes you play good golf.” This perspective helps players stay grounded and perform at their best without undue pressure.

“Trust the process and let the process work itself out.” Whether in junior or college golf, this advice is a timeless reminder to embrace the journey and stay committed to improvement.

“Together, we aim to create transformative opportunities for aspiring collegiate golfers across Canada, helping them navigate their journey both on and off the course.” – Joshua Jacobs, College Golf Experience Founder & CEO

“We’re helping provide young athletes and their families with the knowledge and connections they need to achieve their collegiate golf aspirations.” – Trent Matson, MJT National Operations Director

Details on tournament dates and camp venues will be revealed with the release of the MJT’s tentative 2025 schedule. MJT members will have the opportunity to register for events starting January 3. For more information about both programs, visit College Golf Experience or Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour.

College Golf Experience (CGX), the leading educational golf camp company exclusively endorsed by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), is proud to announce a new partnership with Original Penguin, the renowned lifestyle brand recognized for its timeless style and contemporary flair. Every player at upcoming CGX Top25 boys and girls camps will receive two Original Penguin polo shirts, an outerwear item, and a hat, with scripted daily outfits, just like college golfers and professionals.

“Original Penguin is thrilled to partner with College Golf Experience and provide our iconic apparel to the next generation of players,” stated Brad Holder, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Perry Ellis International. “This collaboration is a perfect fit, as we continue to blend style, performance, and tradition in a way that resonates with aspiring athletes. We look forward to supporting these young golfers on their journey, both on and off the course.”

“This collaboration is a perfect fit, as we continue to blend style, performance, and tradition in a way that resonates with aspiring athletes.” – Brad Holder, Senior VP of Marketing for Perry Ellis International

This partnership will debut at CGX’s Top25 DI Boys Exposure Camp (East) and Top25 DI Girls Exposure Camp (East) on November 9-10 at the Château Élan Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. Players and their parents will gain exposure to and learn from college coaches leading teams ranked in the Top 25 within the last year. The Men’s roster will include: Jordan Byrd, Clemson; Rob Bradley, South Carolina; Ryan Blagg, Louisville; Ruben Sondjaja, Illinois; Forrest Schultz, Alabama; Brandon Wilkins, SMU; and Evan Smith, Georgia Tech. The Women’s roster will include: Amy Bond, Florida State; Aimee Neff, North Carolina; Kelley Hester, Clemson; Jay Goble, Baylor; Erika Brennan, Georgia; and Lisa Strom, Ohio State.

At Top25 Camps players and their parents experience all things college golf including one-on-one engagement with coaches, education seminars on college golf and the recruiting process along with open Q&A sessions, and college golf practice sessions featuring drills coaches use with their teams, skill development and challenges. Junior golfers will also receive on-course coach engagement and course management and strategy lessons during guided college golf practice and tournament rounds, all while experiencing real-time evaluation and personalized feedback from coaches to help them on their path to finding the right collegiate program fit.

“CGX golfers are going to love wearing this time-tested and excitingly fashion-forward apparel.” – Joshua Jacobs, CGX Founder & CEO

“It’s important to our team that CGX campers, for these two days, experience what it feels like to be in a college golf program, from the practice to the coach interactions, to playing and practicing on course like a full-fledged college golfer. Scripted apparel is a winning touch that we want these players to experience,” said CGX Founder and CEO Joshua Jacobs. “Original Penguin resonates with young players in a classic yet fun and daring way. We think CGX golfers are going to love wearing this time-tested and excitingly fashion-forward apparel.”

To reserve a spot at the Top25 Camp, or for more information on future dates and locations, visit collegegolfx.com/camps.

About An Original Penguin by Munsingwear

In 1955, Minneapolis-based Munsingwear – an underwear and military supply company – ironically became the touchstone of suburban sport with the introduction of the first iconic golf shirt to America – an ORIGINAL PENGUIN. Known for its unique, humorous and detail-oriented clothing, Original Penguin offers a full range of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, accessories and Original Penguin is present in North, Central and South Americas, Europe as well as India and the Philippines. There are over 1,250 points of sale, more than 99 Original Penguin stores worldwide and two dedicated e-commerce websites: www.originalpenguin.com and www.originalpenguin.co.uk.

About Perry Ellis International

Perry Ellis International, Inc. is a leading designer, distributor, and licensor of a broad line of high quality men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, and fragrances. The company’s collection of dress and casual shirts, golf sportswear, sweaters, dress pants, casual pants and shorts, jeans wear, active wear, dresses, and men’s and women’s swimwear is available through all major levels of retail distribution. The company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, owns a portfolio of nationally and internationally recognized brands, including: Perry Ellis®, An Original Penguin by Munsingwear®, Laundry by Shelli Segal®, Rafaella®, Cubavera®, Ben Hogan®, Savane®, Grand Slam®, John Henry®, Manhattan®, Axist® and Farah®. The company enhances its roster of brands by licensing trademarks from third parties, including: Nike® for swimwear, and Callaway®, PGA TOUR®, and Jack Nicklaus® for golf apparel. Additional information on the company is available at www.pery.com.

About College Golf Experience

College Golf Experience (CGX), established in 2021 with a first-of-its-kind endorsement from the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), empowers college coaches to showcase their programs via camps and other unique experiences while providing junior golfers unprecedented access to college coaches. CGX is committed to building value for college coaches and creating unique and transformational opportunities for youth athletes at all stages of development, with an emphasis on aspiring collegiate student-athletes. CGX camps include informative seminars for juniors and their parents, instruction, skills contests and simulated collegiate golf practice round and tournament experiences. The curriculum was created in tandem with the GCAA and its member coaches. CGX was founded by golf industry leader Joshua Jacobs, also the founder and CEO of TGA Premier Golf, a leading provider of introductory and recreational based programs. Learn more at www.collegegolfx.com. Follow @CollegeGolfX on Twitter and Instagram.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Kevin Frisch PR Joanne Miller

(815) 603-5119

joanne@kevinfrischpr.com

Kevin Frisch

(989) 614-0241

kevin@kevinfrischpr.com

For Perry Ellis International:

RG Narrative

Stuart Goldstein

201-681-0618

stuart@rgnarrative.com

Jake, center, holds his team’s state championship trophy alongside his teammates, including Charlie Woods.

You’ve always heard “Never meet your heroes.” However, no one has ever advised against balling out in a clutch tournament situation and pushing your team to win the state championship in front of a legendary 15-time major championship winner. So, that’s exactly what then-sophomore Jake, a Benjamin School (Palm Beach) teammate of Tiger Woods’ son Charlie, did at last November’s Florida state high school golf championship.

Jake – fresh off of an enlightening two-day experience at the College Golf Experience Top25 DI Exposure Camp (East) at Chateau Elan, where he had the opportunity to engage with and learn from a dozen top college golf coaches – holed the winning putt on the 18th hole to clinch Benjamin School’s title. The championship moment went viral online thanks to a celebration that involved the famed father/son Woods duo. With the three teams tied and Jake the last Benjamin golfer on the course, he jarred a lengthy birdie putt on the 17th hole to take the lead. He then secured the deciding putt on 18, sending the gathered crowd into a frenzy.

One of the first to show appreciation for Jake’s stellar performance and pat him on the back was the elder Woods, his generation’s greatest player. No matter what Jake goes on to do in his golfing career, he’ll always have this tale of heroism, with one of the game’s all-time greats looking on, to tell for the rest of his life.

Jake says his time at the CGX Top25 East Camp was the perfect preparation for a big tournament.

“I wasn’t as nervous as you would think. I’d just finished playing in front of a dozen of the best college coaches in the country.” – Jake Valentine (2026)

“I wasn’t as nervous as you would think. I’d just finished playing in front of a dozen of the best college coaches in the country. In comparison, standing on the 18th with the state title on my shoulders was a breeze,” he said. “Several coaches at the camp shared their strategies for dealing with pressure. For example, the importance of thinking about a difficult shot as an opportunity rather than a chance to screw up, the need to focus only on the shot you are hitting, of thinking only about things you can control, to be accepting of bad shots, and to have a short memory.”

Facetime with college coaches gave Jake and the other players at the Top25 East Camp insight into what coaches look for and value in potential players on their rosters. During meals and on-course practice rounds, players get hands-on coaching and a chance for coaches to see their personalities and decision-making skills in action.

Jake makes his par putt on the 18th hole, securing the State Championship.

“(Notre Dame Men’s Head Golf) Coach (John) Handrigan said I was very coachable. I took that to mean that I was positive, a good listener, and open-minded about suggestions for improvement. That’s something he wouldn’t have known about me if I hadn’t gone to the Camp,” Jake said.
Handrigan, who has participated in multiple Top100 and Top25 Camps, is quick to explain the value of attending a camp where players are surrounded by not only their talented peers, but also a panel of experienced coaches who are invested in the education and networking that goes on at the camps.

“Top25 players and parents receive a firsthand experience of what it takes to play college golf at a championship level program.” – John Handrigan, Men’s Head Golf Coach, Notre Dame

“The Top25 camp is an exceptional opportunity for College Coaches of elite programs to connect with the top juniors in the country, who are the future of college golf. Top25 players and parents receive a firsthand experience of what it takes to play college golf at a championship level program,” Handrigan said.

Rainy weather during part of last year’s Top25 DI Exposure Camp (East) also gave Jake a chance to show coaches his mental approach and sense of humor. “The weather was so bad that at one point I just started laughing and saying, ‘I love the rain!’ A confused coach asked if I was OK, and I told him it was because I’m from England and was taught to have a positive attitude about bad weather. If you can embrace the challenge while other players are moaning about it, you’re already a shot or two ahead. That’s a view into my personality that the coach couldn’t have gotten from just looking at JGS and AJGA rankings.”

Jake says he would attend another CGX Camp in a heartbeat, and perhaps one in a region far from where he usually competes. “I’d like to go to a College Experience Golf Camp in another part of the country. Coaches told us that they have limited time and it’s difficult to watch kids out of their region. The Camps are a chance to get in front of them. And, based on how I played at States (last year), I think [my high school coach] wants me to go again this year!”

It’s difficult to explain the thoughts that go through your head as a father when you see your son standing on the practice range, being coached by a man who has won 13 NCAA Championships.

It was early and chilly this Saturday morning at Mission Inn Resort in Howey in the Hills, FL, during the first day of a College Golf Experience (CGX) Boys Exposure Camp. My son Brady and I were there to see how his skills stacked up against the other juniors and to go behind the scenes with college coaches. He was always a baseball player who dabbled in golf but started to take the game more seriously four years ago.

CGX has not been on the scene long, but the popularity and growth of its engaging camps now include Tournament Prep Camps, Prospect Camps, and Exposure Camps (CGX Top25 Camps, Ivy Golf Institute Camps, DIII Camps, and International Camps). The educational camp model, which is all led by college coaches, has spread rapidly nationwide, inspiring our family and Brady to check out one of their DIII Exposure Camps. And we were not disappointed.

The camps bring junior golfers, parents, and college coaches together to learn from each other, gain exposure, and educate young men and women on the college golf landscape and the road to get there through transformational events. These events help players and parents understand the journey to finding their ideal fit and program. This includes learning about the unique recruiting pathway, Q&A sessions, simulated college golf practice and tournament rounds, and on-course management and strategy sessions.

By mid-morning, Brady, a 17-year-old high school junior, had already worked on bunker shots with Emory coach John Sjoberg and had moved to the full-swing portion of the skills sessions. That’s when Methodist College legend Steve Conley rolled up to Brady and started a conversation.

(Full disclosure: I have talked with Conley at least a dozen times in a previous life where my job was to write previews and recaps of the Division III season. But we hadn’t been in touch in probably 15 years.)

Conley diffused any nervousness with Brady by being playful and telling jokes, as he’s prone to do. Brady had been battling a right miss off the tee, so he hit a couple drives to show the coach, who got to work to diagnose the problem. Within five minutes Conley had Brady hitting beautiful draws unlike anything I had ever seen him hit. It was wonderful to see, knowing that Brady knew Conley was a big deal in college golf circles, but truly not aware of his unrivaled resume which includes nine NCAA titles in a 10-year span in the 1990s, and his 13th title coming just two years ago.

“This is my first experience with the camp,” Conley said. “I really like it for a lot of reasons. You can interact here vs. a regular tournament, where typically you can’t speak to a kid. You get to see their skill level, they get some idea about how you coach and teach, you can share philosophies, work on course management and you still get to see them play in a competitive environment.”

The first afternoon was spent with coaches rotating holes to make sure that they got a look at each camp participant for at least a couple holes. The star-studded coaching lineup on the men’s side included Conley, Sjoberg, 2023 NCAA champion coach Dan Rodgers from Carnegie Mellon, 2019 and 2021 NCAA champion coach Jim Ott from Illinois Wesleyan, Christopher Newport’s Jamie Coleman, Wittenberg’s David Wetterich and University of Redlands’ Jamie Zantua. Each coach was informative and helpful, while keeping the round as light as they could.

Brady worked through a situation with Conley where he, of course, wanted to go for the green in two on a par 5, his ball sitting just into the light rough 230 yards away from a back pin. Conley let Brady pull the trigger but didn’t question his decision or club selection. Brady thinned it, left the ball way short, finding water.

Conley calmly asked Brady which club he used. And here is the conversation:

Brady: 4-iron
Conley: How far do you hit that?
Brady: 225 yards
Conley: How far was it to carry the water?
Brady: 180 yards
Conley: Which club would you use that would easily carry 180 yards?
Brady: 6-iron

Nothing else needed to be said.

“It was a great weekend, and the coaches were so helpful,” Brady said. “I left there knowing what I need to work on to get better, starting with course management.”

Sunday included a competitive 18-hole round where coaches again acted like they would during a regular round for their own squad during a tournament. They were involved, helping players through club selection, judging wind directions and providing overall strategy. This time though, there were nervy moments because a score was being recorded.

“I would pass on a player that might be better statistically than someone that I know would fit better that has potential,” Carnegie Mellon’s Rodgers said. “That kid may pull others up, may be a great teammate or a great encourager. That’s where I’ve found that these camps are great for that.”

“Generally, I’m trying to see if I can be in the van with them for four years,” Rodgers continued. “That’s a big deal. I think we don’t talk about that enough. I plan to be there a long time. So this new person is coming in to be part of our extended golf family. How do they fit with us? It’s not us fitting with them. That’s a bad move.”

The most eye-opening portion of the weekend, however, came Saturday after dinner. Parents were on their own when the campers had dinner with the coaches but afterward there was a question-and-answer period where everyone could attend. Most were tired from a long day with an early start, but each coach was so helpful and answered question after question with great depth and sincerity. It was refreshing.

College athletics is such a cut-throat business, but the coaches who have won each of the last five NCAA Championships, among the others, had no problem answering openly and honestly. What do they look for in an email? What they do not want to see in an email. What sort of events do they expect you to play? What type of grades do you need? When is a good time for a campus visit? When do they typically finalize their team rosters for the next year? The pros and cons of social media.

No questions were off limits. In fact, one coach specifically gave Brady incredible advice on how to communicate with the coach of a school that he had been wanting to contact.

Illinois Wesleyan’s Ott, when explaining the benefits of playing Division III golf, had one of the best lines of the night. He’s passionate about his school, he’s passionate about his team and he’s passionate about students finding a place to play that fits them. He knows Division I is the top dog and he’s well aware of the aura that surrounds playing for one of those schools. His pitch however: why go to a Division I program and struggle to get playing time if you can go to a top Division III program, play more often, and participate in “meaningful golf.”

With those two words, a lightbulb came on in Conley’s head. He’s been coaching his Monarchs since 1987 and hadn’t heard this explained quite that way.

“Meaningful golf,” he said. “I’m writing that one down.”