Slanted Chalk

How many browser tabs do you have open with junior golf schedules right now? If you're a golf parent in NorCal trying to map out a season — what to play, what to skip, what actually matters for recruiting — this one's for you. We built the NorCal Junior Golf Blueprint because we wished it existed when we were starting out. In this video: • Why most junior golf parents are spending $10K+ a season f...

What does it really look like when the coach on your kid's sideline is also a dad in the stands? In the first ever Coach's Corner, Andy E sits down with Coach Chris (Santa Clara Sporting Girls Academy) and Coach Doug, a volunteer coach who built his club's girls program from the ground up. These two have seen it all — from rec soccer all the way to Surf Cup with 30 college coaches on the sideline....

Public Service Announcement for Junior Golf Parents (Especially Classes of 2026, 2027, and 2028) In today’s recruiting landscape, college coaches heavily rely on ranking platforms like JGS, TUGR, Junior Golf Hub, and AJGA rankings to identify prospects. But what happens when the data is wrong? We recently found multiple ranking errors including: Incorrect field sizes Missing players in tournament...

Welcome back to Slanted Chalk , where dads talk about what it really takes to raise elite athletes. This episode is different. Fred opens up about the side of junior golf and college recruiting that most families never see — the uncomfortable conversations, the closed-door realities, and the moment he realized that talent and 10,000 hours of work don’t always open doors in Division I golf. From be...

🎙️ Skipping college and turning pro at 15 - Lucky Cruz [Part 2] In Part 2 of our conversation with Fred Cruz , father of 15-year-old golf phenom Lucky Cruz , we go deep into the emotional battle behind junior golf recruiting — especially for minority families fighting to be seen. Fred opens up about: 🔹 The fear of handing your son to a system that wasn’t built for families like theirs 🔹 The cult...

What does it really take to raise a pro-caliber junior golfer? In this episode, Andy sits down with Freddie Cruz—dad of Lucky Cruz—to unpack the Cruz household (four kids, ducks, dogs, and all), the moment golf “found” Lucky at age 5, and the wild ride from U.S. Kids and STPGA to Drive, Chip & Putt at Augusta. Freddie shares candid lessons on keeping it fun, navigating early success, and the r...