📝 Thank you notes
Last week was all about writing out the golf resume, but this week is focused on writing thank you notes. Woo-hoo! I can already feel the collective eye roll from all the junior
golfers reading this, but stick with me! I'm a professional writer and I still struggle with them, but I promise they're not so bad.
As a junior golfer (or the parents), I encourage you to start the habit early so you get comfortable writing them. There is always a reason in the golf world to write
someone a thank you note and it will send a strong message to whoever receives it.
When our son Hamilton was in elementary school I remember a mom of a college athlete told me that when the day comes, Hamilton should send thank you notes to any golf coach he ever meets with, such as at a camp. This
advice stuck with me and we put it into practice early, so let me share with you what I've learned.
Why do I need to write thank you notes?
Junior golf may feel massively large and overwhelming, but I promise you it's a much smaller world than you think. As much as it's built on the talent of all the junior golfers,
it's also built on relationships.
Writing a thank you note is a thoughtful way of building a relationship with minimal effort. It may not secure your spot in a tournament or replace having a great short game, but it does make you stand apart from all the other junior golfers who don't take the
time to send one.
It also builds confidence. The more you practice communicating with someone on a more professional level, the easier it becomes when it really matters, such as when you're emailing a college coach or following up after a college visit.
When should I send them?
My personal advice is to send a thank you note to anyone who gives you their time, access, or special opportunity. This could look like:
- The tournament director at the end of the local tournament season
- A coach who hosted you at a camp or clinic
- A tournament director who invited you into an event
- A sponsor who supported your tournament or junior tour
- A family friend who helped you secure a practice round
- A host family during
a travel tournament
- A teaching pro who went above and beyond
- Volunteers who ran a special event
If in doubt, go ahead and write one out! No one will ever be upset if they receive a thank you note when they weren't expecting one.
Here's an example
The good news is, you don't have to overthink these notes. My advice is to keep it to around 4 sentences and try to tie in at least one personalization. Here's an example you can borrow from:
Dear [Tournament Director],
I wanted to take a quick moment to thank you for the opportunity to play in the [name of tournament]. It was such a special experience for me, from meeting new friends to getting to play [name of
course]. The volunteers treated everyone so nicely and made me feel so welcome. Thank you again and I hope to be a part of it next year!
Sincerely,
Junior
Golfer
Email or handwritten?
I encourage you to send a handwritten thank you note any time you can. If you can't find an address then ask around until you find it or make a phone call to get it. I would only email if you've exhausted all options and simply can't find an address.
People receive emails all throughout the day, but getting a handwritten thank you note is special.
