Dec 24, 2011
By Jim Muir
One of the most time-consuming, nerve-wracking experiences that parents go through is the college-selection process for talented athletes. What’s a good fit? What’s not a good fit? Close to home? Half way across the country? Is it a good fit academically? Those are only a handful of the questions that parents agonize over in making the grueling and difficult college decision.
As far as golf is concerned, that process has been made much easier by a pair of Southern Illinois natives who for more than decade have been providing expertise, guidance and help to young golfers and parents.
Molly Hudgins and Sara Capie founded Future College Golf Association in 2011, an organization that provides a link between colleges looking for golfers and golfers looking for a college.
A native of Southern Illinois where she graduated from Carbondale High school and played golf at SIU for Diane Daughtery, Hudgins played three sports at CCHS and went on to have an outstanding golfing career at SIUC where she earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honors.
Hudgins said her own experience helped lay the groundwork for FCGA.
“One of the things I realized is that there are so many athletes – boys and girls – that have the opportunity to play college golf but also no have idea what to do about choosing a college, the tournament schedule they need to play and the schools that actually fit them,” said Hudgins. “There are so many athletes out there that need to know how and when and what coaches to reach out to.”
And from that experience FCGA was born.
Hudgins said FCGA is geared to mentor junior golfers and their families throughout their junior golf development and the college recruiting process. She added that FCGA provides junior golfers the opportunity to improve their competitive golf skills and secure valuable college scholarships and playing opportunities.
“Our main mission is to take families and walk them through the entire junior golf process,” said Hudgins. “We mentor families through the tournament schedule that the golfer needs to play and we help them understand the colleges that fit them academically and golf-wise and really teach them to communicate with coaches. So, we help them with junior golf and also help them navigate the recruiting process as well.”
Hudgins said the one key element that FCGA brings to families is “a clearer understanding.”
“We bring an understanding of what kids need to do to get exposure to understanding the college recruiting process,” said Hudgins. “We give families options, a lot more options than they knew they had without us.”
Drew Novara, a Murphysboro senior, is a client of FCGA and just recently signed to play at SIUC. His dad, Len Novara, who serves as athletic director at Murphysboro High School, said his involvement with FCGA was a positive one and helped pave the way for his son to play college golf at the D-I level.
“Drew might have been able to play college golf even if we did not have the assistance from the FCGA, but there is no way we would have had the insight into the structure of the recruiting process,” said Novara. “I cannot imagine having a son or daughter being a junior golfer and not having the services of Molly Hudgins and the FCGA. In fact, if Emily (my daughter) decides to become a golfer, my first phone call will be to Molly!”
The elder Novara said even as a longtime athletic director he learned a great deal that he didn’t know about the recruitment process.
“As an athletic director, I thought I had a pretty good handle on the recruiting process,” Novara said. “While I understand the process when it comes to the traditional team sports, the sport of golf is quite different. Molly’s relationship with many college coaches is based on trust, integrity, and past experiences. She has a full understanding of knowing the level of her students and works diligently to put them in a situation that is right for each student and school. If you are a parent of a junior golfer, and that golfer has aspirations of playing college golf I whole-heartedly recommend you call FCGA.”
This is the 10th year for FCGA and the clientele list has grown to include scores of athletes from throughout the Midwest.
“Our goal has always to work with Midwestern kids, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri,” said Hudgins. “We have about 75 clients right now and we like to keep it at that number so we can provide close and personal service.”
Along with a great response from athletes Hudgins said FCGA has also been well-received by coaches.
“We’ve built some great relationships with coaches,” said Hudgins. “While we’re helping athletes find colleges that fit them we’re also helping coaches find athletes that fit them. If you’re a ‘B’ student and shooting a 77 we’re probably not going to call Duke for you but we are going to find the right college fit. Coaches will listen to us when we pick up the phone and make a recommendation to them.”
Hudgins said through her many years of working with golfers and parents she witnessed two continuing mistakes being made.
“One of the biggest mistakes is that kids don’t get out and get enough exposure on the regional and national level from a tournament standpoint. Golf is not like football or basketball where you can get your exposure from game experience,” said Hudgins. “One of the things that parents miss is that kids need exposure early. The second biggest mistake in the recruiting process is that they know the schools that play football on Saturday afternoon but there are very few golfers that can play at those schools. So, being realistic is a key to finding a school that is a good academic and golf fit.”
Novara said his son started with FCGA during his sophomore year of high school and emphasized that it was a total family experience with FCGA.
“Molly does more than just promoting junior golfers to the colleges. She was involved in every facet of Drew’s high school experience and communicates with the whole family,” said Novara. “She had a hand in his off-season conditioning program along with his practice regiment especially in the off-season. Together, they set realistic goals that would put Drew on the right track for college golf. In the summer, she knew which tournaments would optimize his potential and at the same time give him the chance for maximum exposure.”
Being realistic is not always easy for parents, Hudgins said, which puts her in a position to sometimes have to burst a bubble about unrealistic college expectations.
“Probably the hardest part of my job is helping people be realistic,” said Hudgins. “Especially on the men’s side – college golf is so competitive at this point that to play Division I you almost have to be shooting par or better in big national tournaments. A big part of my job is helping families find out where they fit and being realistic with them.”
Hudgins said getting clients as early as 8th and 9th grade sometimes provides a dose of reality in itself.
“When they get out and compete on the national level they understand quickly just how hard it is and how tough the competition is,” said Hudgins. “While some of the guidance comes from me some they find out on their own. That’s why it’s important to start when golfers are younger. If you wait until you’re a senior it’s almost too late. I’ll provide parents with guidance if they call me late but it’s much easier to provide insight about a player when I get them early.”
