From Germany to College Golf: Luise Pekoll’s Journey to the U.S.
When it comes to college golf recruiting, every player’s story is unique. Some athletes know years in advance where they want to go, others make their move more spontaneously. Today, I’m excited to share a guest post from Luise Pekoll, a freshman on the women’s golf team at the University of Northwestern Ohio (Racers). Luise’s path wasn’t the typical long-prepared recruiting journey – her biggest push came just in the year before college. Here, she shares her experience of late-but-successful recruiting, the challenges she faced, and what her first days in the U.S. have been like.
My Recruiting Journey
Hi, I’m Luise! I only really started the recruiting process a year before heading to college. That meant I had to get a lot done in a short amount of time – and yes, it was stressful.
One of the first hurdles was testing. I had to take the Duolingo English Test to prove my language skills, and also the SAT – a standardized test in English and Math that many U.S. colleges require for admission. If I could give one piece of advice, it would be: don’t take the SAT at the same time as your final school exams (the German Abitur).
“Between my Abitur and SAT prep, it felt like I had no free time – I really had to study a lot.”
Another big challenge was the visa process. I couldn’t even apply until I had my final school diploma, which left me with barely a month to get everything sorted. I applied for an “emergency appointment” at the embassy and, luckily, got a date within two weeks. It worked out – but it was definitely stressful.
To find a university, I created a recruiting profile with College Sports America. These agencies are specialized in connecting athletes with schools that match their athletic and academic profile. That was super helpful, and through that I got my offers and eventually found my spot at the University of Northwestern Ohio golf team.
First Days in the U.S.
Arriving in the States was a whirlwind – so many new impressions and people at once. Honestly, it was a little crazy, but in a good way.
“The Americans here live up to every stereotype – but in the nicest way possible. Everyone has been super welcoming, and my team already feels like family, even though I’ve only been here a week.”
I’m also the youngest on the team. Most freshmen are born in 2006, while I’m 2007, but it doesn’t matter at all. Nobody cares about the age difference, and I fit right in.
The daily routine is intense. I wake up at or before 6 AM every day, and there’s always something on the schedule: training, workouts, or both. At first, I thought that would be rough, but you really do get used to it quickly.
And one more funny thing I didn’t expect: the air conditioning. Dorms (student housing on campus), classrooms, even cars – everything is cooled down way more than in Europe.
“If I can give one very practical tip: pack warm clothes, even for indoors!”
Competing with the Racers
The University of Northwestern Ohio competes in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics). For those not familiar: NAIA is one of the main college sports associations in the U.S., similar to the NCAA. It may be smaller, but it still offers national championships, NAIA golf scholarships, and a high level of competition. For athletes like me, it’s a perfect platform to combine college life with serious golf.
Luise’s Tips for Future College Golfers
Looking back, here are some things I would recommend to anyone considering college golf in the U.S.:
- Take the SAT early. Don’t leave it until your final school year – it’s too much stress on top of everything else.
- Plan ahead for the visa. Even if you can’t control all the timing, be ready for some last-minute stress. Emergency appointments are possible!
- Work with a recruiting agency. They can really help connect you to the right schools and save a lot of time.
- Pack for cold indoors. Seriously – American A/C is no joke.
- Embrace the experience. The first days are wild, but your team will become like family fast.
Conclusion
Luise’s story shows that you don’t need to have your entire plan mapped out years in advance to play college golf in the U.S. Even if you only start late in the process, with good performances, determination, and the right guidance, you can still land at a great university.
And the best part? You don’t necessarily need a gap year (a year off between high school and college, often used for travel, work, or extra training) to make it work. Luise managed to handle everything in time and is already thriving in her freshman year with the Racers.
Her journey is a reminder that it’s never too late to chase the dream of how to play college golf – as long as you’re ready to work hard and stay focused.
