In our experience as NCAA college golf coaches, one of the biggest factors to hinder a player’s development and recruitment opportunities is a poorly planned tournament schedule.  Typically, players and parents tackle this process reactively, signing up for tournaments based on availability or peer influence. Some players prioritize quantity over quality, leading to burnout or underperformance in key events. 

A well-crafted tournament plan lays the foundation for peak performance, continuous development, and long-term success. With tournament registration season in full swing, here’s our guide to strategically planning your schedule to make the most of every opportunity and maximize your potential this year.

Tournament Traps – Player and Parent Perspectives

Many players and parents approach tournament planning without a clear strategy, failing to align short-term events with long-term goals. This reactive approach often undermines a player’s development. Instead, tournament planning should be deliberate, proactive, and strategic. It’s crucial to understand that not all tournaments hold the same level of importance. A well-designed schedule prioritizes major events for peak performance while incorporating periods dedicated to development, recovery, and skill refinement.

Strategic Considerations for Tournament Planning

Define Your Purpose

The first step in creating a successful tournament schedule is defining your overall purpose for the year. Ask yourself what you hope to achieve. Are you aiming to make a college squad, join a provincial or national team, or even take steps toward turning professional? Consider what success would look like if you had your best season ever. Balancing long-term objectives with short-term interests is essential. These goals should complement one another, ensuring every tournament you play has a meaningful role in your development.

For help with goal setting see our recent post: Your Best Golf Year Ever: A Roadmap for 2025

Assess Your Current Stage

Self-awareness and a realistic assessment of your current stage are key to effective tournament planning. Your schedule should align with your developmental level and aspirations. For guidance, Golf Canada’s Long-Term Player Development Guide provides benchmarks:

• Introduction to Competition (Female 11-13; Male 11-14): 7-15 events/year, including 9-hole, 18-hole, and 36-hole tournaments.
• Learn to Compete (Female 13-16; Male 14-17): Focus on 18- to 72-hole events, with a total of 15-20 tournaments/year.
• Train to Compete (Female 16-19; Male 17-22): 15-25 multi-round events, emphasizing periodization and reflection.

Consider the Academic and Athletic Transition

Your tournament schedule should reflect your stage in school and athletic progression:

• Junior eligibility: June 15th of Grade 10 year is key for recruitment visibility.
• Grade 11 to Grade 12: Establish consistency in performance.
• Grade 12 to college freshman year: Focus on tournaments that align with college recruitment.
• Returning to college: Transition to higher-level competition if planning to turn professional.

Building Your Tournament Schedule

Prioritize “Major” Events

Identify the tournaments where peak performance is essential. These should align with your key goals for the year. If making a college team is your objective, prioritize events where college coaches are likely to be in attendance. If you are aiming for provincial or national team selection, focus on qualifying events or those with high visibility. These “major” events should be the cornerstone of your schedule.

Plan Supporting Events

Supporting events should be selected strategically to prepare you for your majors. These events provide opportunities to work on specific aspects of your game, test tweaks in competition, and build confidence. Some tournaments might also serve as recovery-focused outings or simply be an enjoyable experience in a great location.

Key Considerations

When planning your tournament schedule, consider the following factors:

1. Cost: Budget for travel, accommodations, and entry fees.
2. Travel logistics: Factor in time and difficulty to reach destinations
3. Recovery: Avoid overloading your schedule, provide appropriate time between events
4. Life balance: Consider family, work, and other commitments.
5. Tournament options: balancing “Majors” with supporting events; playing the appropriate number of multi-day events for your developmental stage; compete in events appropriate for your skills level (you should win every tournament, nor should you miss the cut in every event)

Tours and Tournament Options

Canada offers a variety of tournament opportunities through different “tours” designed to meet the needs of players at various developmental stages. Here’s a breakdown of options based on skill and experience levels:

Introductory/Beginner Level

• Club and Local Zone Events: Ideal for players just starting out, these events provide a supportive environment to gain competitive experience close to home.

Intermediate Level (1-2 Day Competitions)

• CJGA and MJT: These tours host multi-day events across provinces, catering to players looking to transition from local to regional competition.

Advanced Level (Multi-Day Events)

• Golf Canada NextGen and Junior Players Tour (JPT): Offering three-day events nationwide, these tournaments attract top-level players. They award WAGR points, and JPT events now include RESP contributions as prizes, helping support education costs.

Elite Level (Four-Day Events)

• Provincial and National Championships: These premier tournaments feature four-day formats with cuts and often require multi-stage qualifying to participate. From a college recruiting perspective, these are the most valuable events for showcasing talent to coaches.

International Level

• AJGA, HJT, Notah Begay, Drive, Chip & Putt, etc.: Competing in these U.S.-based events allows Canadian players to benchmark themselves against American competitors. However, these events should be chosen strategically.
  • Pros: A strong performance can boost your visibility with U.S. college coaches.
  • Cons: Poor results may have the opposite effect, potentially removing you from consideration.
  • Tip: our opinion is that a top 20 in your provincial junior is more beneficial for recruiting and player development than a Top 50 AJGA.

Watch-Outs

There are a number of watch-outs that recur with unstrategic and poorly planned tournament schedules:

• Overloading your schedule, leading to burnout.
• Competing in events that are too easy or too difficult.
• Treating all events as equally important.
• Focusing solely on results rather than process and growth.
• Failing to plan or say no to unnecessary events.

Best Practices

To ensure success, talk to a knowledgeable coach who understands your goals and can help you create a strategic schedule. Keep the big picture in mind and balance your golf commitments with other aspects of your life. Planning early can help mitigate emotional decision-making and allow for contingencies, such as late invites to prestigious tournaments.

Act Now for the Best 2025

Your tournament schedule is as important as your reps in the gym and hours on the range. Work with a qualified coach who understands your long-term objectives and can design a schedule that supports your growth and success. At One Iota Golf, we specialize in helping golfers like you achieve their goals. Contact us today, and let us help you create a roadmap for an impactful 2025 season.