What is the RecruitPKB platform?
The path to collegiate golf can be difficult and intimidating. The first step in the recruiting process is establishing a game plan. That is where we come in. We are here to help you understand the process and help you achieve your dreams of playing college golf.
RecruitPKB offers a way to connect current PKBGT players with opportunities in the collegiate game. This new service offers advice from our college consultant, insight into the recruiting experience and ways to become a more complete golfer. Our network of over 650 PKBGT alumni in the college ranks along with our resource center can help you on your way to playing college golf.
Where do I go from here?
Learn From Our Experts
RecruitPKB: Coach Communication Etiquette Tips
A few quick tips for improving your coach communications etiquette Email Etiquette: Always address the coach specifically and have a greeting to start the email Check your grammar and spelling Make sure you attach any documents Have an appropriate email address Create multiple paragraphs instead of one big chunk of an email Reply in a timely manner Reply to coaches with a nicely written email saying thank you but that you aren't interested for schools that reach out but that you aren't interested in pursuing Phone or Video Call Etiquette: Sit up straight and be attentive and enthusiastic Smile and be engaging (even on a phone call) Try to avoid the Uhs and Ums Have questions and topics to discuss Good manners and show gratitude for their time Don't have a lot of background noise Etiquette on Visits: Be on time Good handshake, look the coach in the eyes, and smile Sit up straight Speak for yourself and be prepared with questions and answers [...]
RecruitPKB: 13 Years of Brandi Jackson Golf
This past week I celebrated 13 years since I launched Brandi Jackson Golf. I took some time to share why I decided to launch this business.... The truth is I had no plans to ever do anything besides play professional golf, from the ripe age of about 9 years old all I wanted to do was play golf for a living, that was it. Thankfully I was a good student but never came up with a career path other than one that led to the LPGA Tour. After 4 years of college golf at Furman University, where I finished with a successful senior year stint as the NCAA East Regional Champion and a berth to the NCAA National Championships, along with earning All-American honors and SoCon Player of the Year plus a US Womens Am Runner-Up finish, I began my pro golf career. After a handful of Futures Tour (now the Epson Tour) events I was ready for LPGA Q-School where I managed a [...]
RecruitPKB: Practice with a Purpose
“Always have quality practices. Don't just beat balls. Staying on the range all day does you no good if nothing is accomplished.” - Division 2 Women's Coach Learning to practice with a purpose is a skill most junior golfers don't learn until they reach college. It is difficult to have the accountability, structure, and motivation to truly practice with a purpose as a young golfer. But for those players who can learn to achieve this at an earlier age will quickly see improvements in their game and be more prepared for college golf. Have a plan of action every day you go to the golf course: Before you even step foot onto the golf course or practice facility write down what you would like to accomplish that day. Simply writing it down will create some accountability and motivation. The more specific you are about your goals the better you will see the results. Never practice without a purpose: If you don't have a purpose [...]
RecruitPKB: A Look at DI Collegiate Averages
While this process has a great deal of subjectivity to it, I've come to appreciate data and numbers more over the years. This is a chart compiled of the average scores for the top 5 individuals from a mix of DI programs (through March 27th of the 2023-2024 fall and spring seasons). Typically collegiate tournaments at this level are played from approximately 6000-6200 yards. Also, collegiate tournaments are set up more difficult with pin placements, faster greens, and overall tougher conditions given the time of year that collegiate golf is played (not summer golf weather). And the added pressure of your coach and teammates counting on you heightens the stress level just a bit when you step on that first tee each time. Many times you will hear a coach say they are trying to recruit to replace their #2 or #3 players on the team, this is how they get better from one year to another. Yes, it may seem they have unrealistic [...]
RecruitPKB: How to say I am not interested
I've had this question asked several times by players over the years, "how do I tell a coach that I am not interested?". This may be a question you face at different stages of communication with a coach so I wanted to address a couple of scenarios and give you some insight into how I have my players address this topic. If you receive an initial email from a coach at a school that you know you would not attend no matter what, it is still common courtesy to send a reply back. Even if your resume is much stronger than the girls who play for that program, NEVER think you are better than the players, the school, or the coach. We have all been at different stages in our games, we all have different goals of playing (and coaching) college golf and many coaches work tirelessly to try and recruit better players so the least you can do is show them the respect of [...]
RecruitPKB: Recruiting Green Flag #2
Showing your interest in the program you are contacting is a definite green flag in the process. This is certainly easier at some programs if you have grown up as a fan of that particular school/program as opposed to just learning about it but you can still find ways. During the season you can always reach out about their current schedule and tourneys. Follow their social media. Keep up and follow along! Be excited and interested! Also, sometimes just showing you are interested in college or professional golf in general can be a green flag. Maybe you watched or attended an event. Or you have some questions. Just your interest and willingness to learn shows them a lot! But it has to be genuine. Don’t just do it bc you think you’re supposed to, do it bc you’re trying to learn and get better!
RecruitPKB: Recruiting Green Flag #1
Your willingness to include scores (good and bad) on your resume and emails is a huge green flag. Coaches LOVE to see scores and they LOVE transparency, honesty, and when you make things EASY for them! If you only tell them how you finished that doesn’t tell them anything. If you only give them your best scores that doesn’t show them the overall tourney experience you’re getting. If you leave out bad scores they have Google and a JGS coach login to see them all! If you don’t give them insight on what you’re learning from the bad rounds then you’re not showing them your development and growth. If you make things harder for them to get the important info they need to evaluate you then you are wasting the very limited they are spending on you!
RecruitPKB: What You Think You Deserve
"Golf is the one sport that doesn't give you what you 'think you deserve'." - Danielle Kang In consulting young female golfers who are extremely hard-working, intelligent, and disciplined I see their struggles with expectations and perfectionism on the golf course. So many of these young ladies have the mentality that when you study hard you expect to get good grades, therefore if you work hard at golf you expect to have good scores. And while yes, hard work and good golf scores do go hand in hand, that mentality of expectation with academics doesn’t exactly work the same with your golf game. And when that mentality takes over a young golfer's mind it is extremely difficult for them to adjust, relax, and allow things to happen once they struggle in a golf tourney. Hard work needs to build trust - not expectation. I am no golf psychologist or mental coach (there are some great ones out there tho ☺️), so to give you [...]
RecruitPKB: Verbal vs. NLI
I wanted to do a comparison of the difference between a verbal commitment and when you actually sign your NLI. A verbal commitment is just a verbal agreement which is not legally binding, however, the NLI legally binds a student-athlete (SA) to attend that institution for one academic year in exchange for receiving athletic aid. While a verbal commitment can be made once communication begins on June 15th prior to junior year, the SA can only sign the NLI when the signing period begins in November of their senior year. A verbal commitment is an agreement between an SA and the current coach. The NLI is an agreement between the SA and the institution. Once the NLI is signed all recruiting discussions with other coaches must end. If an SA has made a verbal commitment and the coach leaves that institution, the SA is not required to attend that institution. Also, the institution is not required to uphold the verbal commitment with the SA. [...]
Recruit PKB: Questions to Ask Yourself
As the spring and summer months creep upon us, many girls will be making their college decisions or kicking off the process on June 15th. It's a very exciting time but also a time to take a few minutes to ask yourself some questions about what you want out of your college experience. It easy to get wrapped up in the lure of a school, the golf program, the facilities, and the athletic department. Coaches will do their best to impress you when you are on a visit. It's part of their job to convince you that the school and golf program is outstanding. It's your job to decide if it will actually be the best fit for you or not. Below are a few of the questions that every player needs to ask before making their final decision to play college golf. Is your personality compatible with the coaches and current teammates? Do you have the work ethic and desire that will be [...]