Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer shares a message for Canadian college golf athletes

November 12, 2021

temp fix empty alt images for attachment

Golf Canada

Kevin Blue, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer, took to twitter yesterday to share a message with Canadian golfers who recently signed NLIs to play U.S. college golf.

“Celebrate your accomplishments with your friends and family,” wrote Blue. “After that, set a new goal. This is just one step in your long golfing journey.”

What followed was a thoughtful thread of both career advice and life lessons from an individual with a wealth of experience in the college golf landscape.

Blue joined Golf Canada in 2020 after serving nearly five years as Director of Athletics for the University of California, Davis, an NCAA Division I institute.

Read the full thread below:

Congratulations to the many Canadian players who signed NLIs yesterday to play US college golf. ????

Some thoughts for players and parents from this Canadian, who once played major college golf and then became a NCAA D1 Athletics Director:

(thread)
— Kevin Blue, Ph.D. (@kevinablue) November 11, 2021

2/ Learn as much as you can about the US while you live there.

It’s the most important country in the world, and deeply understanding it makes you a better global citizen.

Make friends outside of golf, too.
— Kevin Blue, Ph.D. (@kevinablue) November 11, 2021

4/ There are many great things about US college sports, but also many imperfect things.

Canadians see college sports on TV and make certain assumptions about what US college sports are actually like.

There are lots of things about NCAA sports that are hard and not prestigious.
— Kevin Blue, Ph.D. (@kevinablue) November 11, 2021

6/ When considering both academics and athletics, the very best Canadian university golf programs are at least as good as most US programs for the majority of Canadian players.

This is underappreciated in Canada, perhaps due to "grass is greener" thinking.
— Kevin Blue, Ph.D. (@kevinablue) November 11, 2021

8/ Going to college until graduation is rare for LPGA tour players.

Of the current world top 50, only 5 graduated from college.

There are other ways to finish your education if you’re committed to the LPGA path and good enough to turn pro.
— Kevin Blue, Ph.D. (@kevinablue) November 11, 2021

10/ With some important exceptions, college coaches are generally not advanced teachers of golf technique.

Make sure you continue to seek out the right technical support, and facilitate communication between your college coach and anyone else you are getting help from.
— Kevin Blue, Ph.D. (@kevinablue) November 11, 2021

12/ Some people you'll play against are better than you are now. But they are not improving as fast as you.

Because of winter, you are behind some who have practiced for more hours as kids. Understand this, work hard, and play the long game.

Be patient and keep getting better.
— Kevin Blue, Ph.D. (@kevinablue) November 11, 2021

Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer shares a message for Canadian college golf athletes

Newsletter