“A prospective student-athlete is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade”
— NCAA bylaw 13.02.1
Simply put, the NCAA defines a Prospective Student-Athlete (PSA) as a student that has begun classes in the 9th grade, typically a high school freshman.
The PSA designation remains until one of the following occurs:
The student registers and enrolls in a full-time program and attends classes at a four-year college’s regular academic year. Think either the Fall or Spring semester, Summer is excluded.
The student participates in a practice or competition at a four-year college, before the beginning of either Fall or Spring. For a majority of colleges, practice will be the first encounter for a golfer. At the beginning of the year, teams normally have some version of qualifying for the first tournament.
The student registers, enrolls and attends classes during the summer term prior to the student’s full-time enrollment. This will usually be the summer prior to the students freshman year.
The student reports to a college orientation that is open to all incoming students no more than 14 days prior to the first day of class for either the Fall or Spring semester.
The PSA is an important designation during the student’s four years of high school, as it determines when communication / in-person meetings/campus visits are allowed.
Recruiting
FAQ
How many players play in a college tournament?
The format for college tournaments generally follows these guidelines. Five players travel to a 54-hole tournament, with a competition for individual medal play and team combined medal play. Each round the four lowest scores are counted towards the team total.
How many players on average are recruited each year?
The average team roster is 10 players, which means on average, 2.5 players are signed each year. Now, this can fluctuate each year depending on many factors; players turning pro, transfer to/from another college, injuries, poor scoring performance.
Are scholarships awarded for four years?
Most colleges award 1-year scholarships, renewable after each season. The amount of the scholarship can change each year. If a player’s scoring performance is below expectations, coaches may reduce next year’s scholarship amount or in some cases ask the player to look for another college team. A coach can also increase next year’s scholarship amount if the player’s performance exceeded expectations, more money is available, or the coach fears losing the player to the transfer portal.
How many years of eligibility?
Once a student-athlete enrolls and attends classes, they have four years of eligibility that can be used over a five-year period.