How to Make the Varsity Golf Team

Making the varsity golf team is about more than just a pretty swing or the occasional great round. It’s an achievable goal, but it demands a smart, structured approach to your game. This guide will give you a clear roadmap, covering everything from understanding what coaches are looking for to building a purposeful practice routine and developing the on-course maturity that separates hopefuls from teammates.

Know What You’re Up Against

Before you hit a single practice ball, you need to know the target you’re shooting for. Showing up to tryouts blind is like playing a course without a yardage book - you’re just guessing. To move from hoping to planning, you need to do some straightforward reconnaissance.

Talk to the Coach

This is the most direct and valuable step you can take. Coaches are generally happy to talk to prospective players about their program. Don’t be intimidated, a simple, polite email or a conversation after school can give you all the information you need. Ask a few targeted questions:

• What were the average tryout scores last year?
• How many open spots are you expecting on the team?
• Besides raw scores, what do you look for in a player? (e.g., attitude, potential, course management, teamwork)

The coach's answers will give you a strong sense of the score needed, the level of competition, and the intangibles that can make or break your chances. Some coaches will take a player who shoots an 82 but has a great attitude over a player who shoots 79 but has a terrible temper.

Figure Out the Target Score

Once you have information from the coach and maybe some inside intel from current players, you can establish your target score. This single number becomes the driving force behind your entire preparation plan. For most competitive high school varsity teams, you’ll likely need to consistently shoot in the high 70s or low 80s during a multi-day tryout. Freshman or sophomore players might get a little more leeway if they show promise, but upperclassmen are typically expected to post a number immediately.

Write this number down. Pin it on your wall. This isn’t a dream score you hope to shoot once, it’s the score you need to be able to produce under pressure, on demand.

Craft a Practice Plan That Translates to the Course

The biggest mistake aspiring players make is heading to the driving range to mindlessly bash a large bucket of drivers. That’s exercise, not practice. To shoot your target score, every minute of your practice time needs to have a purpose that directly contributes to lowering your scores on the course.

Stop Beating Balls, Start Practicing with Purpose

Organize your practice time logically. A great rule of thumb is the 50/30/20 rule:

• 50% on Putting and Short Game: This is the scoring zone. More strokes are gained or lost within 100 yards of the green than anywhere else. This is where you prove you belong on the team.
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Focus on approach shots and consistency. -

Work on your driver/3-wood and get on the course as much as possible to apply what you’ve practiced.

Master the Scoring Zone: 100 Yards and In

Varsity-level golf is defined by a sharp short game. Here's a practice blueprint:

Putting Drills

• Start Line Gate Drill: Set up two tees just wider than your putter head, about a foot in front of your ball. Practice rolling puts through the "gate" from 3-5 feet away. This trains you to start the ball on your intended line, which is everything.
• 3-6-9 Foot Circle Drill: Place three balls at 3 feet, three at 6 feet, and three at 9 feet in a circle around the hole. Work your way through all nine putts. Don't leave until you've made them all. This builds confidence on the must-make putts.
• Lag Putting Zone Drill: Forget about making 30 and 40-footers. Your only goal is to lag the ball into a 3-foot "safety circle" around the hole. Practice from various long distances until a two-putt feels automatic.

Chipping & Pitching Drills

• One Ball, Three Clubs: Go to a practice green, drop one ball, and hit three different shots to the hole using three different clubs (e.g., a low-running bump with an 8-iron, a standard pitch with a PW, and a high-soft lob with a sand wedge). This develops feel and shot variety.
• Landing Zone Game: Instead of focusing on the hole, pick a specific landing spot for your chips and pitches. Place a towel or a headcover on the green and try to hit it. This forces you to focus on an intermediate target, which improves distance control dramatically.

Sharpen Your Ball Striking

A great short game saves pars, but solid ball-striking sets up birdies. Your full swing practice should be about playable consistency, not perfection.

• The Stock Shot: You don’t need to hit every shot shaping the ball like a pro. A much a better plan is to develop one, reliable "stock" shot shape (e.g., a five-yard fade). Practice hitting that shape over and over until it’s second nature. It's better to be reliably good than occasionally great.
• Fairway Finders: The driver doesn’t have to go 300 yards. It absolutely must stay in play. Dedicate part of your practice to a "go-to" tee shot you can count on when the fairway feels tight. This might be choking down on your driver for an 80% swing or hitting your 3-wood. Find a shot that gives you confidence that you'll be hitting your second shot from the short grass.

Play Like a Varsity Player

Shooting your target score is as much about how you think as how you swing. Coaches watch for on-course maturity and decision-making just as closely as they watch your ball flight. They want players who know how to manage their game, not just hit the ball.

Course Management is Your Superpower

Weekend golfers try to pull off hero shots. Varsity golfers play the percentages. Adopt a "boring golf" mindset to avoid the big numbers that get you cut from the team.

• Aim for the Middle: Unless you have a wedge in your hand, your primary target on almost every approach shot should be the center of the green. Ignore tucked pins. A 30-foot putt from the middle is infinitely better than a short-sided chip from deep rough.
• Accept That Bogeys Happen: Getting upset over a bogey is a sign of immaturity. A bogey won’t get you cut. What gets you cut is trying to save a bogey and compounding your mistake, leading to a double or triple bogey. Those are the round-killers.
• Develop a Simple Hole Strategy: Before you even step on a tee box, have a simple plan. Where is the absolute "no-go" area? Where is the safe miss? Knowing the answers helps you make smart decisions instead of reactive ones.

Develop a Rock-Solid Pre-Shot Routine

Under pressure, your brain can race. A pre-shot routine is your anchor, something you can perform on autopilot to calm your nerves and keep you focused. It doesn’t need to be long or complicated, but it must be consistent for every single shot. An example:

1. Analyze (Behind the ball): Stand behind the ball, pick your precise target line, and visualize the shot.
2. Feel (Practice swing): Take one or two practice swings mimicking the feel of the shot you want to hit.
3. Execute (Over the ball): Step into the ball, take one final look at your target, and swing without hesitation.

Performing When It Counts: The Tryout

You’ve done the work, you’ve put in the hours, and now it's time to show what you've got. How you handle yourself during tryouts is the final piece of the puzzle.

The Day of the Round

Get a good night’s sleep and have a good breakfast. Arive at the course in plenty of time, but not so early that you have time to get nervous. Stick to your familiar warm-up routine. The range before a tryout round is not the time to be searching for a new swing thought. Trust the swing that got you there.

During the Round

Play with confidence, even if you’re faking it at first. Walk with your head up and good posture. Most importantly, control your emotional response to bad shots. The coach isn't just watching your good ones, they're paying very close attention to how you react to the inevitable poor one. Do you slam your club? Do you slump your shoulders and pout? Or do you take a deep breath, forget about it, and focus completely on your next shot? Your reaction is a direct reflection of your character and maturity.

Be polite, encourage your playing partners, fix your ball marks, and rake the bunkers. Be the kind of player that represents the school and the team well. When the round is over, no matter your score, shake hands with your competitors and thank the coach for the opportunity. Professionalism and a positive attitude will always be remembered.

Final Thoughts

Making the varsity golf team is a process of disciplined preparation and smart execution. By understanding the score you need, creating a practice plan that targets your weaknesses, and playing with on-course maturity, you shift your goal from a hopeful wish to a realistic objective.

While working through your plan, having immediate access to expert feedback a huge advantage. We created Caddie AI to be your personal coach and strategist, available anytime. Maybe you need a smart game plan for handling a long Par 4, or you just want quick clarity on what type of shot a tricky lie calls for. You get instant, simple advice right when you need it, helping you make smarter, more confident decisions and develop the course management instincts that every varsity coach wants on their team.