Being recruited to a U.S. university on scholarship to play golf has become a “phenomenon” in Taiwan in recent years. However, most of the parents and their children are receiving misleading concepts or ideas from the rumors that often circulate in their communities. Parents are often listening to vague suggestions instead of clear and first-hand information. In order to provide young golfers and parents with the right information, National Golf Academy and Miaoli County Future Star Golf Association invited Athletic Consultants Asia (ACA), an Asian sports consulting company specializing in athletic overseas study, on March 11th, 2023 to hold a seminar at the National Golf Country Club in Miaoli. The “U.S. Athletic Overseas Study Seminar” was free of charge and open to all young players and their parents.
The seminar attracted more than 30 parents and kids, and the atmosphere was very interactive. Some of the attending golfers were still in elementary school, but their parent wanted to plan early for their future. This is especially true after the Olympic bronze medalist, C.T. Pan, had such a successful experience from his early study abroad time. More and more parents it seems intend to follow this path, letting their children apply to college and play NCAA golf first, then move forward to PGA tour if possible.
During the seminar, ACA CEO Jim Mehren and his team fully explained and analyzed the current situation of American college sports, how young athletes can win favor with college coaches and further apply for scholarships. Also, Jim encouraged young kids not to give up on the schoolwork while playing sports. He stressed that only by enhancing both “academic” and “athletic” performances can students increase their chances to play on a competitive American college team.