Division I-Bound Golfers Must Now Disclose All NIL Deals Over $600

by Golf NIL Staff

November 4, 2025

The NCAA and College Sports Commission have officially set new ground rules: high school and junior college golfers (and athletes in other sports) hoping to play Division I must now disclose any NIL deals worth at least $600 before enrolling.

For high school golfers, reporting starts July 1 or the first day of junior year; for junior college players, it’s July 1 or the start of their college enrollment—whichever comes later.

Incoming Division I athletes have a two-week window from enrollment to file all deals through NIL Go, the clearinghouse managed by Deloitte and the College Sports Commission. These policies apply only to recruits heading to Division I; Division II and III golfers aren’t affected.

The policy also applies retroactively, requiring recruits to track every NIL agreement signed since the start of junior year. For the game’s most connected players, that means digging up contracts and endorsement papers that stretch back two seasons.

Sohan Patel, Vanderbilt commit and Golf NIL High School Boys No. 23, at the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur | Dustin Satloff/USGA

High schooler golfers with equipment deals from major brands or other agreements like apparel partnerships, agency representation, or tech endorsements, now face detailed reporting requirements. Missing even one contract can put a golfer’s eligibility at risk, and the College Sports Commission has confirmed it will primarily enforce violations by pulling eligibility.

Supporters say stronger oversight protects players from bad actors and overstated promises. By reviewing contracts up front, the commission believes it can flag deals with empty booster promises and spot agents or sponsors who don’t have players’ best interests at heart.

The goal? Make recruiting less risky and more transparent for athletes, especially those weighing college choices for the first time.

Not everyone’s convinced. Some attorneys warn that this pushes compliance onto high schoolers before they even reach campus. These students weren’t involved in the legal settlements behind the new rules.

Critics argue that the regulations stretch the NCAA’s jurisdiction and create a burden for teenagers still figuring out the NIL landscape. There's also concern that it might discourage legitimate early sponsorships, potentially shutting down opportunities for junior golfers in states where NIL deals are legal.