A few weeks ago, I attended the U.S. Junior Amateur at Saucon Valley, and the first thing that struck me was the extraordinary level of talent.
The future of golf is in very good hands.
These kids are wildly more talented than I was at their age. Honestly, many of them possess skills I’m not sure I ever had. Their swings are polished, their preparation is detailed, and their understanding of how to play the game is remarkable. They hit shots with a confidence and precision that once took professionals years to develop.
Watching them compete was inspiring.
But as I walked the course and spoke with people throughout the week, I also saw how dramatically the world surrounding junior golf has changed.
It wasn’t surprising to see college coaches there. Elite junior golf has always been an important recruiting ground. What felt different was hearing just how far ahead many programs are now recruiting.
Coaches aren’t simply evaluating high school seniors. They’re scouting 14- and 15-year-olds and trying to project what those players might become two, three, or even four years from now.
Think about how difficult that is.
A coach may be making a significant decision about a kid who has barely hit puberty. They’re projecting where that player’s body, game, maturity, work ethic, and personality will be several years down the road. But those are enormously formative years. A 15-year-old may still have three years of physical growth ahead of him. During that time, he’ll begin driving, get his first job, form new friendships and relationships, and encounter all the distractions, temptations, mistakes, and not-so-great decisions that often come with being a teenager.
That isn’t a criticism of college coaches. They’re in a tough position. If one program chooses to wait, another may offer the player first. The system is pushing everyone to make decisions earlier, whether they believe that is the best thing for the young athlete or not.
The same thing is happening with agents.
They were everywhere, searching for the next phenom. They weren’t only pursuing 18-year-olds preparing to turn professional. Agents are now building relationships with—and sometimes signing—players who are 14 or 15 years old.
Many of the agents I spoke with don’t particularly like this model. They don’t enjoy feeling as though they have to hunt down children or sell families on representation before a kid can legally drive. But if they don’t establish those relationships early, someone else will. That is what the space has become.
For comparison, I signed with my first agent when I was 27. At that point, I had already been a professional golfer for four years.
Today, some junior golfers have agents, brand strategies, social media plans, NIL opportunities, swing coaches, fitness coaches, college coaches monitoring their progress, and rankings that update nearly every time they play.
There is nothing inherently wrong with any of those things. The opportunities available to young golfers today are incredible. Talented players can receive better instruction, gain greater exposure, earn scholarships, build valuable relationships, and create opportunities that previous generations never had.
But there is an important piece missing from many of these young athletes’ teams.
Who is helping them manage everything happening inside their heads?
Who is teaching them how to separate their personal value from their tournament results? Who is helping them process the expectations that come with being heavily recruited at 15? Who is preparing them for the attention to disappear if their development slows, their body changes, or another young player begins receiving the offers and recognition they once received?
A junior golfer may have an entire team devoted to improving the player, promoting the player, and planning the player’s future. But who is helping develop and protect the person?
These kids are still discovering who they are. At 14 or 15, they shouldn’t have all the answers. They should be allowed to grow, make mistakes, change interests, and experience life outside the ropes. Yet many are carrying expectations that would be difficult for a grown adult to manage.
They know where they are ranked. They know which coaches are watching. They know who received an offer, who signed an NIL agreement, and whose swing is gaining attention online. Even when the adults around them don’t say anything, young athletes can feel when every round seems connected to their future.
That pressure doesn’t mean we should eliminate competition, ambition, or opportunity. I believe competition is valuable. I also believe young athletes should dream big, work hard, and pursue everything the game may offer them.
The answer isn’t to take away their competitive fire. It’s to give them the emotional tools and personal foundation needed to carry the additional weight that now comes with pursuing elite golf.
Parents have an especially important role to play.
Pay close attention to the people surrounding your child. Make sure those individuals care about the person at least as much as they care about the player. Ask whether each new relationship is helping your child grow or simply adding another layer of pressure and expectation.
Most importantly, keep reminding your child who they are.
They are Johnny the person before they are Johnny the golfer.
Their score does not determine their value. A ranking does not define their future. A college offer is an opportunity, not an identity. Golf should be an important part of their life, but it should never be the sole answer to the question, “Who am I?”
The talent I saw at Saucon Valley left me incredibly optimistic about where the game is headed. Junior golfers have never been more skilled, more prepared, or surrounded by more opportunity.
But they may also have never been under more pressure.
As the game continues to change, our responsibility is not to resist every new opportunity. It is to ensure that the emotional support surrounding these young athletes evolves as quickly as the competitive world around them.
If we can do that, we won’t just develop better golfers.
We’ll help raise healthier, more grounded young people who are prepared for wherever the game—and life—takes them.