From Beginner to Varsity: What 18 Months of the Right Work Can Do
Every high school varsity golfer you see started in the same place:
A beginner.
Unsure.
Just hoping to make solid contact.
The junior hitting his approach pin high onto the green above and the one in the YouTube video below? That was him — Seymour, now a 9th grade varsity player.
Summer just before the start of 8th grade, Seymour had a raw, awkward golf swing. Contact was inconsistent, ball flight was unpredictable, and like most new players, he just wanted to get the ball airborne with some semblance of control.
Fast forward about a year and a half.
He’s now completed his first year as a high school varsity golfer making the team as a freshman. And the swings you see in this video are from his current offseason work (10F outside in Philadelphia) as he prepares for his sophomore varsity season (Fall 2026).
What You’re Seeing in This Session
These aren’t just a couple lucky swings on camera. This was a 2-hour coaching session indoors on TrackMan, working through a full scoring progression:
- Short chips to tight targets
- Partial wedges focused on distance and launch control
- Full iron shots into greens
- Driver swings built for both speed and accuracy
- Putting set up and alignment
What I’m most proud of isn’t just that he hits it solid. It’s the control, the consistency, and the confidence you can see in the way he goes about each shot. That kind of progress doesn’t come from one magic swing tip or countless videos pushed on your Instagram reel. It comes from building skills in the right order and sticking with a long-term plan and working with a coach who prioritizes fun and fundamentals.
One of My Specialties: Building Golfers (Not Just Fixing Swings)
There are some well-known golf instructors who focus mainly on already elite tournament players such as D1 golfers and Tour Pros. That’s not really my main lane. Instead, I do my best work with:
- Brand new junior golfers
- Athletic kids coming from other sports
- Middle school beginners who have big goals and dreams
- … who are willing to put in the work.
…and helping them develop step-by-step into legit high school varsity players. There’s no reason that turn into the no. 1 player on their teams, in the
With juniors like Seymour, we focus on:
✔ Fundamentals that hold up under pressure
✔ Short game and scoring (not just full swing)
✔ How to actually practice, not just hit balls
✔ On-course confidence and decision-making
✔ Athletic movement that grows with their body
This transformation didn’t happen from a “magic move.” It came from consistent coaching, structured practice, and patience — the same approach I use with all my developing juniors.
Why Year-Round Training Makes Such a Difference
A big reason for his progress? We work all year. During the season, we’re outdoors on the course and range. In the offseason, we move indoors and use tools like TrackMan to really dial things in:
- Distance control
- Ball flight patterns
- Scoring-based games and challenges
- Measurable performance benchmarks
That continuity is huge. It’s what allows a junior to show up each season better than they were when the last one ended.
Is This the Right Fit for Your Junior?
If your child is already a Division 1 commit or a national-level player, I might not be the exact niche you’re looking for.
But if your junior is:
- A beginner or newer golfer
- In middle school or early high school
- Coachable and motivated
- Hoping to make (or stay on) their high school team
That’s exactly where I do my best work. This video is a great example of what’s possible when a young player buys into the process.
Beginner → Varsity in 18 months isn’t luck.
It’s what can happen with the right guidance and consistent work.
Interested in a long-term development plan for your junior golfer?
Reach out and let’s talk about where they are now — and where they could be a year or two from now. Simply fill out the contact form or contact will@mcintosh.golf. And follow on Instagram @willcmcintosh.
Media is on location at Valley View Golf in Newtown Square and Penn Club on 2nd in Conshohocken, PA, both are home facilities for Will McIntosh and his students.