The Opening Tee Shot for April 30, 2025 ⛳

Published: Wed, 04/30/25

Updated: Wed, 04/30/25

Welcome to The Opening Tee Shot

Thank you for joining me here with another Spring edition of The Opening Tee Shot. With more summer golf camps, a new junior golfer spotlight, and a few tournaments we're highlighting, we have so much to dive into this week!

-Sara and Chili

Hole #16 at West Lake Country Club in Martinez, Georgia. The course is in incredible shape right now!

⛳ More summer golf camps

Last week I shared a list of summer golf camps I pulled together and they were located mainly throughout the Southeast. Today I've made a comprehensive list of many of the D-1 schools across the country offering their own summer golf camp programs or hosting one on their campus.

A D-1 camp may sound like a stretch for some junior golfers, but you may be surprised at how open these camps are to various skill levels. These camps typically skew on the "older" side, starting around age 9 or 10, and will often allow advanced-beginners or intermediate players.

Another key point you should note is many of these camps bring in coaches from other schools, including D-2 and D-3 schools, so your son or daughter may meet someone from a program they haven't previously considered.

Keep in mind your child does NOT have to attend one of these camps to get noticed by college coaches, but it can be a fun way to get on the radar, sharpen their skills, and have an incredible experience at the same time.

Many of these still have spaces available for 2025!

Southeast

University of Georgia – Chris Haack Bulldog Golf Camp
Clemson University – Tiger Golf Academy
University of Alabama – Alabama Golf Academy
University of Florida – Gators Golf Camp
Florida State University – Seminole Golf Camps
University of Tennessee – Tennessee Men's Golf Camps
Vanderbilt University – Vanderbilt Golf Camp
Georgia Southern University – Youth Summer Golf Camp
Augusta University – Augusta Golf Camp
Furman University – Matt Davidson Golf Camp

Northeast

University of Maryland – Junior Golf Camps
Boston College – Ever to Excel Golf Camps
Harvard University – Crimson Golf Collegiate Immersion Clinics
Dartmouth College – Rich Parker Elite Golf Camp

Midwest

University of Michigan – Michigan Men's Golf Camps
Michigan State University – Spartan Golf Academy Junior Golf Camp
University of Illinois – Nike Junior Golf Camps at University of Illinois
University of Minnesota – Nike Junior Golf Camps at University of Minnesota
Purdue University – Purdue Golf Camps
University of Notre Dame – Notre Dame Golf Camps
Ohio State University – Ohio State Men's Golf Camps
University of Iowa – Hoak Golf Academy Camps

Southwest

University of Texas at Austin – Longhorn Golf Camp
Texas A&M University – Aggie Golf Camp
Baylor University – 2024 Baylor Golf Summer Camp Flyer
Texas Tech University – Greg Sands Golf Camps
Southern Methodist University (SMU) – SMU Golf Camps
University of Oklahoma – Ryan Hybl Golf Camp
Oklahoma State University – Cowboy Golf Camp

West

Stanford University – Stanford Golf Camps
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) – UCLA Golf Camps
University of Washington – University of Washington Golf Camps
Washington State University - WSU Golf Camps
University of Arizona – University of Arizona Golf Camps
University of Alaska-Fairbanks – Summer Kids Golf Camp

Our son Hamilton (2nd from right) attending the Coach Chris Haack Bulldog Golf Camp at UGA

🏌️Junior golfer spotlight!

We're back with another standout junior golfer this week and it's so much fun to highlight someone we've seen grow up over the years.

Meet Grayson Baucom, Class of 2028 and an accomplished junior gofler from Hickory, North Carolina. It's clear he's loved the game of golf from a young age, which you can see more of (and his great swing) in the latest Instagram post.

Do you set goals for your golf game?

Absolutely. I believe setting goals is essential to success.

Which goal is the most important to you?

I would love to be a part of the US National Development Team for the Carolinas.

What is your biggest achievement in golf to this point?

I am very proud of my 3 AJGA wins, being a part of team NC and winning the PGA Junior League National Championship, and making a late charge to win the U.S. Kids Teen Worlds.

What part of your game are you working on right now?

I am tuning up my swing.

Is there some advice you can give others on getting prepared for tournaments?

Practice how you would play in a tournament. Focus on what you can control and not the outcome.

Favorite restaurant?

Drum and Quill- the Barbecue Wonton Nachos!

What other hobbies do you participate in when you’re not playing golf?

I like to play basketball and pickleball.

Who is your favorite social media influencer?

Ted Scott- Sunday Sermons.

Is there anything else you would like people to know about you?

I enjoy hanging out with friends and playing sports and being active.

🏆 Upcoming golf tournaments

Check out these junior golf tournaments a few of our subscribers are playing in during the upcoming weeks:

AJGA Preview at BethPage, May 2-4
David A. Wall Jr. Golf Invitational, May 3-4
HJGT ChampionsGate CC Junior Open presented by JumboMax, May 3-4
Tarheel Junior Golf Tour 2nd Annual "Cutter Creek" Junior Open at Cutter Creek, May 3-4
Drip Golf Series "The Junior Golf Showcase" at Eagle Crest Golf Club, May 10-11

Thank you to UP Consulting for your continued support as a sponsor and drop us a line if you're interested in affordable sponsorship opportunities with Junior Golf Playbook.