The college golf recruiting process has always been a grind. Tournament after tournament, email after email, hoping the right coach sees you at the right time. For most junior golfers, it feels like shouting into the void.
Dave West saw this firsthand while caddying for his two sons at tournaments across the country. And because he spent decades telling stories in Hollywood — from network reality shows to indie films — he knew there had to be a better way to help these kids get seen.
That’s how ReelATHLETE was born.
From Hollywood to the First Tee
West’s path to creating a golf recruiting platform wasn’t exactly conventional. He started as an actor, training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City before moving to Los Angeles. He worked in plays, commercials and indie films before deciding to take more control of his career by moving behind the camera.
As a producer and director, West worked on everything from massive network shows like Dancing with the Stars and Big Brother to smaller cable productions like Appetite for Life with Andrew Zimmern. He wrote and directed short films that found success on the festival circuit. He understood how to craft a narrative, how to make someone stand out, how to get attention in a crowded space.
But as the entertainment industry shifted and West spent more time with his family, he found himself in a new role: golf dad. Walking fairways, reading greens, carrying the bag for his sons at junior tournaments nationwide.
That’s when it hit him. Every one of these kids had a story worth telling. They had talent, dedication and dreams of playing college golf. But most of them had no real way to showcase all of that to the coaches who mattered.
West saw an opportunity to merge his storytelling expertise with his newfound passion for junior golf. The result is ReelATHLETE, a digital platform designed specifically to give junior golfers the visibility they need to get recruited.
What ReelATHLETE Actually Does
ReelATHLETE isn’t a recruiting service or an agency. It’s not going to make phone calls on your behalf or negotiate scholarship offers. Instead, it’s a centralized platform where everything about a junior golfer lives in one trusted, professional place.
The foundation is the Athlete Profile. Think of it as a living, breathing resume that goes way beyond a static PDF. Athletes can upload tournament scores, photos, schedules, academic information and more. Coaches can see consistency, improvement and the full picture of who this athlete is both on and off the course.
From there, athletes have options to expand their presence. Reel Hype allows them to share video content—either footage they upload themselves or clips edited by ReelATHLETE’s team. For those who want the full Hollywood treatment, the Player Profile Video offers premium, fully produced storytelling that captures an athlete’s journey in a compelling way.
The platform also gives athletes direct access to hundreds of college coaches across the country. No middleman, no waiting around. Athletes can research programs, compare options and reach out directly to coaches at schools they’re targeting.
And here’s the key: ReelATHLETE keeps all of this content in one place. It’s not scattered across multiple websites or buried in social media feeds. When a coach clicks on an athlete’s profile link, they get everything they need to make an informed decision.
The cost? Less than most monthly streaming services. West designed it to be accessible, not exclusive.
Why Visibility Matters at Every Level
One of the biggest misconceptions in junior golf is that recruiting is only about Division I programs. West and his team are adamant that there are incredible opportunities at every level of college golf.
Division II, Division III, NAIA and junior college programs all offer pathways to play competitive golf while getting an education. For many athletes, these programs are actually a better fit than the high-pressure D1 environment.
ReelATHLETE helps athletes explore all of these options. The platform isn’t just for five-star recruits. It’s for any junior golfer who wants to play in college and needs a way to get noticed.
Because here’s the reality: talent matters, but so does visibility. A coach can’t recruit an athlete they’ve never heard of. ReelATHLETE solves that problem by putting athletes in front of coaches early and authentically.
Enter Dr. Rick Sessinghaus and FlowCode
Just when ReelATHLETE was gaining momentum nationwide, West announced a partnership that takes the platform to another level.
ReelATHLETE has teamed up with FlowCode and Dr. Rick Sessinghaus to bring elite mental performance training directly to junior golfers.
If that name sounds familiar, it should. Dr. Sessinghaus is the performance coach for Collin Morikawa, the seven-time PGA Tour winner and two-time major champion. Morikawa became the first player ever to win a major in his debut appearance at both the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship.
But here’s the thing: Dr. Sessinghaus has been working with Morikawa since the golfer was eight years old. He holds a doctorate in sports psychology and is widely recognized for his innovative work in mental performance and competitive flow.
Through this partnership, ReelATHLETE athletes will gain access to proven mental game concepts designed to support both performance and long-term development. This isn’t just about hitting better shots. It’s about handling pressure, staying focused and developing the mental tools that separate good players from great ones.
To celebrate the partnership, ReelATHLETE is offering something special. The first 200 athletes who build an Athlete Profile and register with the platform will receive a free FlowCode mental game webinar hosted by Dr. Sessinghaus. And one participant will be selected for an exclusive one-on-one mental game session with him.
For junior golfers trying to take their game to the next level, that’s an opportunity that would normally cost thousands of dollars or simply wouldn’t be available at all.
Building Community, Not Just Profiles
What sets ReelATHLETE apart is that it’s not just a database or a video hosting site. West is building a community.
The platform offers a growing lineup of original content, including recruitment best practices, playbooks and golf-centered programming designed to educate and inspire. Athletes get access to ReelATHLETE’s network of partners and resources that go beyond just creating a profile.
The goal is to give junior golfers everything they need to take control of their own recruitment journey. That means understanding what coaches are looking for, knowing how to communicate effectively and having the tools to stand out in a crowded field.
It’s about preparation, exposure and persistence. And now, with the FlowCode partnership, it’s also about mental performance.
Still Early, But Growing Fast
ReelATHLETE is still in its early stages, but the response has been enthusiastic. Athletes and families are recognizing the value of having a centralized, professional platform that puts them in control.
West isn’t trying to disrupt the entire recruiting industry overnight. He’s simply offering a better way for junior golfers to tell their stories and get seen by the coaches who matter.
And because he’s a storyteller at heart, he knows that every athlete’s journey is unique. Some will end up at D1 powerhouses. Others will find their home at smaller programs where they can make an immediate impact. The platform works for all of them.
The addition of mental performance training through Dr. Sessinghaus and FlowCode shows that West is thinking beyond just visibility. He’s thinking about what actually helps junior golfers succeed, both in the recruiting process and in their development as players.
For junior golfers and their families navigating the often confusing world of college recruiting, ReelATHLETE offers something refreshingly straightforward: a professional platform, expert guidance and now access to world-class mental performance training.
It’s the kind of opportunity that didn’t exist a few years ago. And for the athletes who take advantage of it, it might just be the difference between getting overlooked and getting recruited.
For more information, visit reelathlete.tv or contact info@reelathlete.tv.