Golf Scholarships
Golf scholarships offered by outside organizations are more common than in many other sports as the game has grown in popularity with players like Tiger Woods bringing more spectators to the sport. While the NCAA still controls a large portion of the funding awarded by colleges, golfers willing to do a bit more research will find that scholarships in the sport are easier to find than they thought.
A goal and trend of golf scholarships recently has been to broaden the diversity in the field, with many awards now targeting women and minorities. Such awards often only require an interest in the field or intent to pursue golf in the future, with less emphasis placed on being the best golfer on your high school team. Other awards from golf associations looking to reward college-bound golfers often place some weight on financial need, extracurricular activities and academic records beyond talent. Don’t rule out the lesser-known funding sources, as they may be far less competitive and just as generous as awards given by your college.
Check out some examples of golf scholarships below. For additional information about golf scholarships and awards based on different criteria, try conducting a free college scholarship search at Scholarships.com.
About $1 billion in full and partial athletic scholarships are awarded each year by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to more than 126,000 undergraduate student-athletes at Division I and Division II schools. Although these scholarships are awarded and administered directly by each academic institution, not the NCAA, you’ll be required to meet the requirements of the NCAA to receive any funding. Those requirements include a minimum GPA for both the college-bound and those already on campuses, and qualifying standardized test scores. Contact your intended school’s athletic department for more information if you have the academics and the skill to play on a college team.
The NCAA won’t be the only resource for you to investigate if you’re pursuing golf on the post-secondary level. The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) also awards full and partial scholarships to talented athletes. If you’re a golfer interested in community college, consider contacting those schools about potential scholarship opportunities in your sport. If you’re at a high level of skill with a decent academic record, consider your options on the junior college level, but know that if you transfer to an NCAA college after two years, the GPA and standardized test score requirements may be stricter.
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) also offers scholarships on both the Division I and Division II level. While the association will have fewer scholarships to go around than the more expansive NCAA, the requirements of getting onto a team and staying there at an NAIA school are less strict. Students must two of the following three criteria: have a minimum ACT score of 18 or minimum SAT score of 860, have a minimum 2.0 GPA, or have graduated high school in the top half of your graduating class. Don’t rule out NAIA schools when looking for colleges where you could be a student-athlete.
Caitlin Brondolo Charitable Foundation Golf Scholarship
Application Deadlines:
May 31, Annually
A charitable Foundation has been established to honor the memory of Caitlin Brondolo. Caitlin lost her life tragically at the age of 12, on May 31, 2009. Caitlin had a passion for golf, and always strived for academic excellence. Caitlin started playing competitive golf at age eight and hoped one day to play collegiate golf. The objective of the Caitling Brondolo Foundation Scholarship is to [...] More
Anne Trabue Scholarship
Application Deadlines:
May 15, Annually
Anne Trabue, affectionately known as the mother of women's golf in Southern California, was a noted journalist who wrote extensively about golf in Southern California in the first half of the 20th century. Her contemporaries described her as a woman of gracious charm, intelligent foresight and great patience. She was the driving force behind the organization of the Women's Southern California [...] More
Bev Granger Memorial Scholarship
Application Deadlines:
May 15, Annually
Family and friends of Bev Granger, to celebrate her life, collected contributions to establish a scholarship in her name. Not only was Bev an avid golfer, she was also an ardent tennis player and skier.
A graduate of the University of Minnesota's School of Nursing, she balanced family and career, working as an x-ray technician for 45 years and raising three children. Fishing, tennis, skiing and [...] More
Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship Program
Application Deadlines:
January 27, Annually
In 1988, the National Collegiate Athletic Association established the Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship Program as a means of recognizing the contributions of the former executive director through encouraging excellence in academic performance by student-athletes. Under this program, one male and one female student-athlete annually will be awarded a postgraduate scholarship in recognition of [...] More
Mimi Deatherage Memorial Law Scholarship
Application Deadlines:
May 15, Annually
Marion (Mimi) Deatherage practiced law and loved the game of golf. Born and raised in Long Beach, she attended Wilson High School, and obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Colorado before attending Southwestern School of Law. After graduation from Southwestern, she joined her father's law office. During the seventeen years she spent practicing [...] More
Bill Dickey Scholarship
Application Deadlines:
April 26, Annually
One of the greatest challenges facing America today is preparing our youth for the future...reaching them; empowering them and inspiring them to make goals and realize their potential to achieve. This challenge has never been greater. Thus, the opportunity never brighter for The Bill Dickey Scholarship Association (BDSA) to impact the lives of young men and women throughout the United States. [...] More
Webber International University Athletic Scholarship
Application Deadlines:
Varies
The Athletic Scholarship is awarded at the discretion of the athletic deptartment in football, basketball, tennis, volleyball, soccer, golf, softball, cross country, baseball, track and field and cheerleading.
For more information about this opportunity, please [...] More
Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship
Application Deadlines:
September 30, Annually
The Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship is a grant that covers tuition and housing (when applicable) in an Evans Scholarship House and may be renewed for up to four years at the Foundation's option.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Caddie
- Academic
- Financial Need
- Character
Applicants must have caddied for a minimum of two years at a WGA-affiliated club, rank in the upper [...] More
The Dinah Shore Scholarship
Application Deadlines:
May 11, Annually
The Dinah Shore Scholarship was established in 1994 by The LPGA Foundation to honor the late Dinah Shore, a graduate of Vanderbilt University, a Hollywood entertainer, and an honorary member of the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame. The Dinah Shore Scholarship is granted annually to a female high school senior who played golf during high school and is pursuing a college education, but will not be playing on [...] More
Western Colorado Golf Foundation
Application Deadlines:
March 01, Annually
The following minimum criteria must be met to qualify for a scholarship.
1. The student must be a graduating senior from a public or private school located on the Western Slope of Colorado (as defined by the Colorado Golf Association) and admitted to an accredited college or university on a full-time basis (minimum of 12 credit hours). If a student is reapplying for a subsequent scholarship, [...] More
Founders Scholarship - Duck Woods Ladies Golf Association
Application Deadlines:
March 31, Annually
The Founders Scholarship Fund was established in 1991 to honor the founding members of the Duck Woods Golf Association. Scholarship recipients must have a strong academic record, athletic ability and should demonstrate interest in the game of golf and attend high school in Dare or Currituck counties.
One or more scholarships each year to students who are in good academic standing, are involved [...] More
The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund
Application Deadlines:
December 01, Annually
The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund is considered "The Golf Charity of Massachusetts" and is one of the largest independent scholarship organizations in New England. The Ouimet Fund was founded in 1949 and since that time has awarded over $14.2 Million in need-based college tuition assistance scholarships. The Ouimet Fund is a 501 (c) (3) organization, to which contributions are tax-deductible. [...] More
Furman University Athletic Scholarships
Application Deadlines:
Varies
The Furman University Athletic Scholarships are partial to full scholarships awarded in 17 men's and women's intercollegiate sports. For more information, contact the director of athletics or the head coach in the sport in which you are interested.
For more information, please [...] More
GCSAA Scholars Program
Application Deadlines:
June 01, Annually
The GCSAA Scholars Program offers awards to outstanding undergraduate students who are planning careers as golf course superintendents. Selection criteria for this program includes academic excellence, work experience, extracurricular activities and potential to become a leading professional in the golf course management industry. These scholarships range from $500 to $6,000.
Applicants must be [...] More
J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship
Application Deadlines:
Varies
The J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust has provided over $9.18 million in college tuition grants to deserving caddies associated with the Member Clubs of the Golf Association of Philadelphia.
Since 1958 the Trust has made it possible for 2,816 caddie/scholars to receive the benefit of important educational dollars. The scholarship program is open to young persons who have caddied for at [...] More
The Marilynn Smith Scholarship
Application Deadlines:
May 11, Annually
The Marilynn Smith Scholarship is granted annually through The LPGA Foundation and the Marilynn Smith Scholarship Fund. Established in 1999 by Marilynn with the proceeds of a golf tournament she organized, the objective of the Marilynn Smith Scholarship is to provide a scholarship to a female high school senior who has played golf in high school or in her community, and is planning to play golf [...] More
Gallup Organization Cornhusker State Games Scholarship Program
Application Deadlines:
June 15, Annually
The Nebraska Sports Council and The Gallup Organization will award five $1,000 scholarships to Cornhusker State Games athletes. The scholarship is for the coming fall semester at any Nebraska post-secondary educational institution.
Any participant in the Cornhusker State Games who is a high school graduate is eligible.
Applications, and all required materials, must be postmarked by June 15th. [...] More
New Jersey State Golf Association Caddie Scholarship
Application Deadlines:
March 01, Annually
The New Jersey State Golf Association (NJSGA) Caddie Scholarship is available to qualified applicants who have caddied at a member NJSGA club for at least two seasons. Full-time attendance as an undergraduate at an accredited institution that is a member of the Association of American Colleges and Universities is required. Children of private golf club members are not eligible for [...] More
The Phyllis G. Meekins Scholarship
Application Deadlines:
May 11, Annually
The Phyllis G. Meekins Scholarship is granted through The LPGA Foundation and the Phyllis G. Meekins Scholarship Fund. Established in 2006, the objective of the Phyllis G. Meekins Scholarship is to provide a need-based scholarship to a female high school senior from a recognized minority background, who will be pursuing a full-time course of study and playing collegiate golf at an accredited [...] More
Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (SAMMY) Awards
Application Deadlines:
March 09, Annually
The SAMMY Awards recognize 25 outstanding high school senior student athletes who represent excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership who make the most of their days by grabbing nutrient rich milk with breakfast.
Milk Mustache celebrity judges will help select 25 winners from across the country who will receive a $7,500 college scholarship, an awards ceremony at Walt [...] More
William Woods University Athletic Scholarships
Application Deadlines:
March 01, Annually
The William Woods University Athletic Scholarships are available to students who demonstrate talent and skills in the areas of basketball, baseball, cross country, track and field, golf, soccer and women's [...] More
Women's Western Golf Foundation Scholarship
Application Deadlines:
March 01, Annually
The Women's Western Golf Foundation is a charitable trust providing undergraduate scholarships. Award winners receive a grant in the amount of $2,000 yearly. The scholarship is renewable each year, for four years, provided the recipient shows continued financial need and maintenance of GPA above 3.0.
Applicant Qualifications:
- High school senior female who intends to graduate high school in [...] More
GCSAA Essay Contest
Application Deadlines:
March 31, Annually
This program awards scholarships totaling $4,500 to applicants who are undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in turfgrass science, agronomy or any other field related to golf course management. The original essays should focus on golf course management and should be 7 to 12 pages in length.
The winning essay may be featured in the online version of GCM. The annual deadline is [...] More
Kyle R. Magoto Scholarship Fund
Application Deadlines:
March 22, Annually
To be eligible for an award from the Kyle R. Magoto Scholarship Fund, applicant must be a Russia High School (Shelby Co., Ohio) graduating senior who is pursuing an associate's or a bachelor's degree as a full-time student at an acredited educational institution, have a high school GPA not less than 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale and must have participated in no less than five (5) athletic seasons [...] More
Davis Law Group Scholar Athlete Program™
Application Deadlines:
Varies
Whether you are a dedicated student athlete or an individual looking to recognize one, we welcome you to the Davis Law Group Scholar Athlete Program. Anyone can nominate a Scholar Athlete; peers, parents, coaches, teammates, teachers or administrators.
The Davis Law Group started the DLG Scholar Athlete Program to recognize outstanding senior-class student athletes who perform both on the field [...] More