Two $5,000 Golf Scholarships Open to S.D. Students

South Dakota students who have played golf and plan to attend college in fall 2027 can apply for either award by May 15, 2027.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Scholarships

Screen-print poster illustration of a single white golf ball on a green fairway edge beneath a wide prairie horizon and pale sky, in warm mustard, teal, and rust tones. — First Tee South Dakota and Sanford International are offering two $5,000 golf scholarships to state students who plan to start college in fall 2027, with applications due May 15, 2027. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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First Tee South Dakota and Sanford International have created two $5,000 scholarships in memory of T. Denny Sanford. Applicants must have lived in South Dakota for at least two years and plan to attend college or an accredited institution in fall 2027.

Why it matters

The scholarships give South Dakota students who have played golf a direct source of help toward college costs, at a time when families are weighing how to pay for the next step after high school. The awards also honor a name tied to the program's statewide reach.

Each of the two scholarships is worth $5,000, and applicants must have resided in South Dakota for at least two years. Applications are due May 15, 2027, and must include a cover letter, golf resume, extracurricular activity document, transcript, essay, and references or recommendation letters.

The players

First Tee South Dakota

A youth golf development program operating in 12 communities across eastern South Dakota.

Sanford International

A South Dakota-based partner that co-created the scholarships with First Tee South Dakota.

The details

Applicants complete the Scholarship Application Form and submit the required attachments by the deadline. Eligible applicants include students with First Tee South Dakota exposure and South Dakota Golf Association junior golfers who have competed across the state. Because the award requires enrollment at a college or accredited institution in fall 2027, students planning to start school that year are the ones the program is designed to reach.

May 15, 2027: Scholarship application deadline.
Fall 2027: Recipients are expected to begin college attendance.

Education Landscape

Memorial scholarships like these add to the private aid available alongside federal and state grants, which families increasingly seek as college costs remain a central concern. Scholarships tied to a specific sport or activity give students an additional route to funding beyond need-based and academic awards.

Students who have played golf in South Dakota and plan to start college in fall 2027 should note the May 15, 2027 deadline and gather a transcript, essay, and references in advance. For questions about how a scholarship fits with other aid, the school's financial-aid office is the right place to ask.

The takeaway

Two $5,000 scholarships are open to South Dakota golfers headed to college in fall 2027, with applications due May 15, 2027. Students should confirm eligibility and assemble the required transcript, essay, and recommendation letters before the deadline.