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: Nutrition
Nutrition is a topic I get asked by parents quite often who want me to emphasize the importance of eating properly to their daughters, and many times simply just encouraging them to eat on the golf course. As someone who's always had a hefty appetite, eating on the golf course was never an issue with me, eating healthy on the other hand was another story. I had a ritual for awhile as junior golfer that marshmallows were my good luck charm so I would devour a bag of them while I played, not exactly the healthiest of snacks. Having been a Health and Exercise Science major in college and becoming much more interested in nutrition over the years, I wanted to pass along a few suggestions to help get you started. Coming soon for PKBGT members will be more information about fitness and nutrition provided by Par4Success. One of the most important things to remember is that you need to eat on the golf [...]
RecruitPKB: Unused Golf Scholarships
Are there unused scholarships for girls? According to the NCAA, it was estimated in 2009 that over 200 of the approximately 1800 female golf scholarships were not used. While this is great news for an aspiring junior girl golfer it does lead to some misconceptions that it’s easy to get a scholarship as a female golfer. The fact is, many of these unused scholarships are at very small schools in rural areas or very expensive private schools. Many girls decide they would rather go to a bigger school and not play golf, than attend a really small school in an unfamiliar area. Finances can play a factor into the scholarships going unused as well. While it's great news to learn the school is offering you scholarship money, you may still be looking at a substantial remaining balance for tuition/room/board. Many of the unused scholarships are in colder states where it’s difficult to recruit players and fill rosters. In the warmer states, scholarships and even [...]
RecruitPKB: UNC Coach Interview
This is definitely a must read coach interview. While all coaches have their own opinions, philosophies and demands, Coach Jan Mann, the women's head golf coach at UNC Chapel Hill, has some great insight into the recruiting process and playing college golf. While I didn't play for Coach Mann she recruited me while she was at UNC Wilmington and I have been fortunate to maintain a good relationship with her and have the opportunity to spend time learning from her. Big thanks to her for taking the time to answer some questions for me. What is your own coaching philosophy? Every player is different in how you communicate and relate to them. I try to be conscious of the needs of each player and try to work with them in a manner that is beneficial to the individual. Team chemistry is very important to me. It is important to me that our program has a family atmosphere and that our team members respect [...]
Recruit PKB: Embrace the Grind
This time of year I see many junior golfers start to struggle with the grind of summer golf. Between the heat, the competition and the hundreds of golf holes played it can start to take a toll. I absolutely loved golf in the summer but it does start to become a bit of a grind. If I wasn't at a tournament, I spent all day at the golf course, usually taking a lunch and pool break during the middle of the day to cool off, then I was right back at it all afternoon and into the evening. I know for many players it may seem like work and if you aren't playing well it can really become tough to grind it out. Many non-golfers are probably at home hanging out in the air conditioning, or laying by the pool, while you sweat it out practicing or playing all day. But rather than see it as tough work, learn to embrace the grind. If [...]
RecruitPKB: The Landing Drill
When chipping from just off the green you should always pick a landing spot that you want to land the ball on. Assess the shot to determine what club will land about 5-7 ft onto the green and provide the roll needed to get to the hole. Take into account any break in the green and pick your landing spot accordingly. This will make the shot much easier when you can focus on hitting a spot that is only several feet in front of you rather than a pin that is farther away. Drill: Lay a towel or hula hoop about 5-7 ft onto the green. Start about 2 paces off the green with one of your wedges, landing the ball on the towel or hula hoop. You are only focused on where the ball lands. Repeat with SW through 8iron. A good goal is to land 15 balls on the spot with each club.
Recruit PKB: Wofford Coach Interview
Recruit PKB College Consultant Brandi Jackson caught up with Wofford Women's Golf Coach Angie Ridgeway to get her thoughts on the recruiting process and her own coaching philosophy. What is your own coaching philosophy? Work hard and have fun. Regularly evaluate your game to determine weaknesses, then formulate a plan to turn them into strengths. What do you love about being a college coach? Building relationships with the players on my team, and witnessing their growth at this stage of their lives. And, love the competition, of course. What do you look for with a resume, swing video? Good swing fundamentals; the ability to go low now and then What are some good questions you ask players on visits to help determine best fit? Why do you play golf? Describe your practice. What are some good questions they should ask you to help determine best fit? What does a weekly and daily practice schedule look like? How do you structure your practice and qualifying? [...]
Recruit PKB: Thoughts after my day of caddying
Yesterday I had the chance to caddy for one of my girls during the US Junior Girls qualifier in Cartersville, GA. We had the chance to play a practice round on Sunday, then the qualifier was on Monday. And she played well enough to qualify, Oklahoma bound in July! I'm fortunate to have the chance to get out with my players quite often to caddy and evaluate them on the course during a tournament, so I wanted to take the time to share a few of my thoughts from yesterday's experience that may help you all as well. Practice Round: Know your targets off each tee. Know your lay up spots. Know what club you want to hit based on the conditions, don't always assume it's driver. Know the elevation changes into greens and how that will affect club selection. Take note of what you hit during practice round on par 3s and where it landed on the green. Write these things down! During [...]
RecruitPKB: What I would tell my 17 year old self
This blog is a bit of a special one because I am celebrating my 34th birthday today. While 34 isn't really a big milestone birthday it did make me stop and think back to what I was doing halfway through my life when I was 17 years old. Many of the girls I work with are in that 13-18 year range and I catch myself saying to them over and over, "if I only knew then what I know now". I know many of the girls get tired of hearing that, as I did at that age, but it will never stop me from trying to impart a little wisdom on the young girls as they navigate their way through high school and into college. That span of years is the most influential time of a girl's life so I thought I would think back to what I would tell myself when I was that age. First let me fill you on what was [...]
Recruit PKB: Keeping Your Stats
As you begin to progress in taking ownership of your game one big step is learning to keep up with your own stats. I know it may seem hard to juggle your stats while trying to keep up the pace but if you can learn a few tricks then it will make it much easier. Start by keeping your stats during practice and keep the stats simple to begin with. Grab a scorecard and after each hole simply write an F if you hit the fairway and a G if you hit the green. Then mark a slash for each putt. If you miss the green and get up and down then write u/d or sand if it was out of the bunker. If you don't get up and down, then mark an X through it. These are just a few basic stats to get started with. As you get better at keeping your stats you can take it to another level and be [...]
Recruit PKB: Request for the Girls
With Father's Day just around the corner I want to do something fun for the dads. While I know that most of the article readers each week are more than likely parents, I want to get the girls involved with this request. I am asking the girls to send me a story or quick comment about their dads. While we all love our moms just the same, when it comes to golf, many times there is a unique and special bond between a girl and her father. I know for me there was one from the first time my dad handed me a golf club. So parents, please encourage your daughter to submit a comment or story over the next couple of weeks. It can be a funny story, or something sweet and sentimental, just something that the girls would like to share about their time with their dads in and around the game of golf. Please send them to me at bjackson@pkbgt.org.