Posted on Oct 31, 2007 - 12:10 PM

Golf Question of the Week: Which College or University Golf Program Would You Choose?

Do you, your son or daughter have what it takes to play competitive golf at the collegiate level? Ever think about which school would be best for that purpose?

Hence, our Myrtle Beach Golf Question of the Week:

Which college or university golf program would you choose?

While some might opt for a school with a "golf-first" emphasis and others might stress academics above all else, for purposes of this discussion we'll ask the question from a "balanced" perspective. Golf Digest's "balanced" rankings for men's and women's programs weigh academics (36.5 percent) more heavily than team adjusted scoring average (24.5 percent), while the inverse is true for its "golf first" college rankings (14 percent academics, 40 percent team adjusted scoring average). Schools in the balanced rankings are also assessed on program improvement/decline (6.25 percent), rate (6.25 percent), climate (12 percent) and facilities/coaches (14.5 percent).

Nationally, Stanford holds the top spot in the men's balanced rankings, while Duke has the honor in the women's listing. Here on the Grand Strand, Coastal Carolina University's men's program is No. 130 in the balanced rankings, while its women's program comes in at No. 121.

And throughout the state, South Carolina offers plenty of options for aspiring competitive golfers who also seek a quality undergraduate experience. The top South Carolina golf colleges and universities on Golf Digest's balanced scale include:

Men:

Clemson (18)
Furman (19)
Wofford (39)
Presbyterian (75)
South Carolina (102)
College of Charleston (109)
Coastal Carolina (130)
Winthrop (154)
South Carolina-Aiken (194)

Women:

Furman (13)
Wofford (25)
South Carolina (53)
College of Charleson (96)
Winthrop (115)
Coastal Carolina (121)
Newberry (142)
Citadel (182)

Golf Digest's complete collegiate rankings can be found here. Of course, if you're looking for more substantive advice on how to choose the collegiate golf program that's best for you or your child, Golf Digest offers plenty of that, too. Check out their "10 Do's and Don'ts for Parents," as well as this handy checklist.