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: Discipline, Plan and Commitment
The drive time in my car is usually my chance to brainstorm with a clear head. This past week while I was driving back from spending Thanksgiving in Charleston I had a few thoughts pop into my head that I wanted to share. I posted this on my social media but for those that don't follow me here is what I feel like are some key things to remember in order to find success both on and off the golf course. "If you have more discipline than desire, If you create a plan instead of goals, If you focus on commitment more than effort, Then you will create results instead of dreams" For me, I had a dream to play on the LPGA Tour from the time I was 7 playing in my first golf tournaments. Yes, I had the desire, I put in the effort and I had some goals but as my career moved along I lacked the discipline, the plan, and [...]
RecruitPKB: Happy Thanksgiving
As we head into the holiday week I want to say a quick Happy Thanksgiving to all the PKB members. I am very grateful for the privilege to work with the PKB, it's staff and the families of the PKB. It's been an awesome 4 years of this partnership and I look forward to many more years of advising and consulting the girls on the college recruiting process. The last couple of weeks I asked some of the PKB members what they are most thankful for this time of year so I wanted to share what they had to say. "I'm thankful for the support from my family and coaches" - Channing Hensley "I'm thankful for my family and everything the do for me." - Gracyn Burgess "I am thankful my family and all of the friendships and opportunities that golf has provided" - Hailey Joy "I'm thankful for my family friends and the ability to play golf." - Kendall Turner "I’m thankful for my [...]
RecruitPKB: Parent Role on Visits
It is the time of year for many of you to be taking college visits and meeting with college coaches. This week's Recruit PKB article will cover a parent's role on college visits. The first on-campus meeting with a college coach can make or break their decision to continue recruiting a player. In many cases, the behavior of a parent can have a serious impact on which direction the recruiting process will go from there. Below are a few tips for parents to be aware of when they are on visits with their daughter. Allow your junior golfer to do all the talking: I know this may be difficult when you have a junior golfer who is quiet or shy but they need to do the majority of the talking. Meeting with a college coach can be a very nerve-racking experience for many young athletes. Help them prepare ahead of time with some questions to ask the coach, as well as some questions the coach [...]
RecruitPKB: College Recruiting Breakdown
Many coaches have a particular range of tournament averages, handicaps and strength of schedule that they look for when identifying potential recruits. While this is not an exact science the chart below breaks down those averages, stats, and tournaments for each division level to give you an idea of what it takes to compete at that level. This is a great starting point for creating your list of schools where you fit athletically. You can use www.golfstat.com to then find schools that fall into each of these categories. Top DI – Max of 6 scholarships per program Handicap: 2 or below Tournament average: 76 or below 6000+ yardage in tournaments Top 10 finishes in regional/national tours and tournaments (ex. AJGA, USGA, PKBGT, HJGT, Golfweek, and other top regional/national tournaments) Top 5 finishes in state tourneys Low DI – Max of 6 scholarships per program Handicap: 4 or below Tournament average: 78 or below 6000+ yardage in tournaments Top 20 finishes in regional/national tours and tournaments [...]
RecruitPKB: A Must Watch Video for Parents
This week is Junior Golf Week on the Golf Channel and an interview they conducted with Jon Gordon really caught my attention so I wanted to share the clip along with a few of my own thoughts in regards to what he is referencing. Here is the LINK to that clip so check it out first. I am sure each of you got something different from what he talked about but hopefully, it resonated a little with how you see your daughter's junior golf experience. Here are my two favorite quotes that he mentioned which relate to many of the questions I get asked about competitive junior golf, parenting, and the recruiting process. "You can't drive anyone else's bus, you have to encourage and inspire them to drive their own bus" I know it's tough to want the best for your daughter and know the impact that playing golf can have on her future but as Jon mentioned, "you can't drive anyone else's bus". Yes, [...]
RecruitPKB: College Coach Perspective
As the college season starts to wind down I will be posting some new insight, interviews, and feedback directly from the college coaches but for now here is an oldie but goodie about some advice a coach would give a junior golfer going through the process. If you could give a junior golfer one piece of advice what would it be? "All around good in every area. Overachieve in academics, golf, life, comm services. Be a role model" - Division 1 Women's Coach "Work hard on your short game!" - Division 1 Women's Coach "Get the best grades possible." - Division 1 Women's Coach "Have a Game Plan and Goals" - Division 3 Men's and Women's Coach "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 Men's and Women's Coach "Begin Clearinghouse registration early and be familiar with NCAA rules" - Division 1 Men's and Women's Coach "Ask [...]
PerformPKB: The Junior Golf Epidemic
This article is part of guest series to the RecruitPKB "Complete Golfer" program by Chris Finn, owner of Par4Success in Cary, North Carolina. --- As Fall is upon us and school has started, the Girls High School Season has started without much of a break from the Summer grind and the Junior Golfing Boys are trying to catch their breath after a summer filled with heavy travel and play. This is the time of the year that, as a Physical Therapist and Strength Coach working with golfers, I tend to get a long line at my door of injured junior golfers. Now, that isn’t to say they all just suffered an injury recently, quite the contrary. The reason they are walking in now is because even though they have been hurting for at least a month, they were afraid to take a break and miss a “big tournament”. They, and their parents, are terrified it will hurt their chances for ranking points, AJGA stars [...]
RecruitPKB: On Course Drills
How many of you feel like the time you spend on the golf course (when it's not a tournament) can be a bit repetitive and often times not very productive? It's easy to run out and play 9 holes or maybe 18 and not really have much focus or accountability to what you are doing. Then a tournament rolls around and all of the sudden the bad shots have consequences, you have to actually hit that shot from under the trees and you have to putt out every single putt (no gimmies). Take the time when you are on the golf course to learn how to play and be creative. Try different shots from out of trees or off bad lies. Hit shots with different trajectories. Compete against others. Anything that makes you treat the time on the golf course as you would during a tournament or as a chance to try new things that you can't do on the practice facilities but that [...]
RecruitPKB: Getting Started with the Process
Every junior golfer is at a different place in the college recruiting process but there are some basic steps that you need to follow in order to get started. Learn the NCAA rules and regulations – A student-athlete who knows the rules of college recruiting will not only impress a coach but also be able to better navigate the process and not get confused. Register at www.eligibilitycenter.org by your junior year. Get a 3rd party evaluation – Every student-athlete needs an unbiased 3rd party evaluation to assist with setting realistic goals and expectations as well as develop a plan to reach them. Build a college recruiting resume – One of the most important steps! Every coach needs to see a complete resume with all of the proper information so they can fully evaluate the student-athlete. Record a quality swing video – Along with the college recruiting resume, coaches need to see a swing video with a variety of shots. A clear, simple, to the [...]
RecruitPKB: Volunteer Work
Every coach likes a well-rounded player who gives back for the opportunity they have been given to play the game of golf. Some school organizations have you complete so many hours of volunteer work but go beyond that and volunteer on your on time. I know schedules can get very busy with school and golf but try to find time once a month, once a quarter or around the holidays. This will not only be a great addition to your resume but it will also give you a great perspective on life. I became a Big Sister through the Big Brother Big Sister organization about 5 years ago and I can personally say that it has made a huge impact in my life. I also walk dogs at the Humane Society every week which is a great place for young kids to volunteer to help with the puppies and cats. There are many different ways you can volunteer that fit one of your interests [...]