Coaches and Instructors: How to Spot a Junior Golfer Who Deserves a Nomination
San Antonio golf coaches and instructors see talent first. The signs of a junior worth nominating to FGA and how to submit before the November 30 deadline.
Every coach knows the kid. First one at practice, last one off the putting green, still asking questions while you are locking up. Then one week they skip a tournament, and when you ask why, they shrug and say they did not feel like playing. Sometimes that is true. Often it means the entry fee did not fit in the family budget.
If you coach or teach golf in San Antonio, you can nominate that athlete to Future Golfers of America's Founding Athlete Class through November 30, 2026. Here is how to tell whether a junior fits, and how to write the kind of nomination that helps FGA see what you see.
Why a Coach's Nomination Carries Weight
A scorecard shows what a kid shot on one day. A coach sees everything around it: the effort between rounds, the attitude after a bad shot, the swing change that is finally starting to hold, and the gap between what an athlete could do and what their family can afford.
That is exactly what FGA's evaluation, GATE (Golf Access Through Evaluation), is designed to understand. Your nomination gives FGA a trusted first look. Selected nominees may then take part in interviews, an eligibility review, a golf-development assessment and a needs evaluation.
Timing matters too, because high school golf is growing fast. In 2025-26, 175,757 boys played the sport, an 8.3% jump that was the largest increase of any boys' sport, while girls' participation rose 6.3% to 90,176 players. More kids are reaching the competitive level, which means more kids are reaching the point where the real costs begin.
Five Signs of a Junior Worth Nominating
FGA is looking for competitive juniors, generally 11 or older and usually middle or high school age, not just kids who enjoy the game. The athletes who fit best tend to show most of these signs.
The first sign is simple: they compete, or they are getting ready to. School matches, junior tours or local events are on their calendar, or would be if the money were there. FGA wants athletes on a competitive path, not a recreational one.
Second, practice is a habit for them rather than a chore. You do not have to chase them to the range. They show up with a plan, or they ask you for one.
Third, they are improving. Their scores, ball striking, short game or course management are clearly moving in the right direction, and a steady climb often matters more than one standout round.
Fourth, they handle adversity. A double bogey does not end their day. They respect playing partners and officials, and they call penalties on themselves. Golf runs on that kind of integrity, and so does FGA.
The fifth sign is that something outside their control is standing in the way. It might be entry fees, travel, outgrown or worn-out equipment, no lessons, or no reliable ride to the course. The talent is not the problem. Access is.
You already know which kid stays after practice. Make sure FGA knows too.
The Quiet Signs That Money Is the Problem
Families rarely announce that they cannot afford the next tournament. Coaches usually find out sideways. A player stops signing up for events. A grip gets taped instead of replaced. A growing kid is still swinging the set they had two summers ago. Rides to the course become unreliable. A parent asks, carefully, which events are the cheapest.
Those signs make sense once you see the numbers. A single American Junior Golf Association event costs $95 to $295 to enter, and that comes on top of an annual membership in the same $95 to $295 range. Across all youth sports, the average family now spends $1,016 a year on a child's primary sport, up 46% since 2019, and a competitive golf schedule runs well past that once lessons and travel are added.
Cost is also what pushes kids out. Children from low-income homes quit sports over cost at six times the rate of kids from high-income homes. So when a talented player starts drifting, ask a gentle question before assuming they lost interest. For the full breakdown, see what competitive junior golf really costs a family.
What Happens After You Nominate
Nominees who move forward enter GATE, where FGA looks at the whole athlete. Interviews show who they are, an eligibility review confirms whether they fit the program, a golf-development assessment measures where their game stands, and a needs evaluation identifies what they actually need. GATE reviews run in November and December 2026, and the first athlete selections begin in December 2026.
Selected athletes then enter the FGA Pathway, where they may receive individual support for tournament fees, training, equipment, travel, mentorship and other approved development opportunities from December 2026 and throughout 2027. That support is built around each athlete's situation and competitive needs, and it depends on available funding.
FGA may request additional documents or information during evaluation, so it helps a great deal if the family knows the nomination is coming before FGA reaches out.
How to Nominate in Five Minutes
The form walks you through it one screen at a time. Have the golfer's basic details and a parent or guardian's contact information handy, and you can finish in one sitting.
Start by opening the FGA nomination form and entering your own details, including your relationship to the golfer as their coach, instructor or mentor. Next comes the golfer's information: how long they have played, where they train, and their recent tournaments, teams or results. A scoring average, handicap or swing video link helps if you have one.
To finish, choose the support that would help most and explain in your own words why FGA should consider this athlete. The form needs to be submitted by November 30, 2026.
What Separates a Strong Nomination From a Polite One
Coaches write a lot of recommendations, and most of them sound the same: great kid, works hard, loves the game. All true, and it tells the reader almost nothing. A polite nomination gets read. A specific one gets remembered.
Compare two versions. One says the athlete is dedicated. The other says something like: practices five days a week, has brought their scoring average down steadily over the season, and missed the last two tournaments because the family could not cover entry fees and gas. The second version gives FGA something real to evaluate.
Be honest about weaknesses, too. If the short game is a work in progress or the player tightens up under pressure, say so. FGA is selecting athletes for development, not perfection, and a candid nomination is more credible than a flawless one.
Talk With the Family First, and Keep It Honest
The form asks whether the parent or guardian knows about the nomination, and FGA's evaluation includes interviews and a needs review. The family will be part of the process, so bring them in early. Nobody likes being surprised by a call about their finances.
Keep that conversation honest. A nomination is for initial consideration only and does not guarantee acceptance, and support depends on available funding. Do not frame it as a scholarship or a ticket to college golf, either. Only about 5.4% of high school boys who play golf go on to play in the NCAA, and the figure for girls is 6.9%. What FGA can offer selected athletes is a better chance to compete, improve and be seen, and for many talented kids, that chance is exactly what is missing.
Nominating More Than One Athlete
Nominate each one separately. Every athlete is evaluated individually, and a specific, honest nomination for each player is far stronger than one note covering several. Think about who fits the profile, not just who is the best player on paper. The junior with real potential and the fewest resources is exactly who this program was built for.
Program details are on the nomination page, and the nomination form is open through November 30, 2026. If your program has gently used clubs, bags or shoes to pass on, they can be dropped off for FGA at Golf Club of Texas or Edwin Watts Golf in San Antonio (details here).
Common Questions
Can a private instructor nominate, or only a school coach?
Both. School coaches, private instructors, educators and mentors can all nominate an athlete.
Do I need the family's permission?
It is best to talk with the family first. The form asks whether the parent or guardian knows about the nomination, and FGA's evaluation includes interviews and a needs review, so the family will be part of the process.
Can I nominate more than one athlete?
Yes. Submit a separate nomination for each athlete. Every nominee is evaluated individually.
What if my athlete is younger than 11?
Nominees are generally 11 or older, but younger athletes may be considered when there is a clear competitive path.
What if my athlete lives outside San Antonio?
FGA's current focus is San Antonio and the surrounding area, so nominations are for athletes in that region.
Sources
- Future Golfers of America, Nominate a Competitive Junior Golfer
- Future Golfers of America, Nomination Form
- NFHS, High School Sports Participation Survey (2025-26)
- American Junior Golf Association, Tournament Fees and Benefits
- Aspen Institute Project Play, family spending on youth sports survey (2025)
- Aspen Institute Project Play, low-income kids and the cost of sports (2020)
- NCAA, Probability of Competing Beyond High School (2024-25)
