RecruitPKB: What College Coaches Really Think About Your Social Media

Over the years, I have conducted coach surveys to ask their opinions on different topics. Below are some of the responses from coaches on their views of social media in the recruiting process. Don't feel like social media is something you must use in the process if you aren't comfortable with it, but it can be a great resource for exposure and research. Keep in mind that every coach is different — they look for different things and have varying opinions — but what follows represents some of the most common and consistent themes from their responses. What are the best ways for recruits to use social media during the process? And what turns you off? What Coaches Want to See The responses were remarkably consistent on this one. Coaches want to see a genuine mix of golf and personality — not a highlight reel, and not [...]

By |2026-04-28T20:09:21-04:00April 28th, 2026|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments

RecruitPKB: Prepare for Tournaments Better

Why Practice Rounds Don’t Equal Tournament Scores—and How to Prepare for That One of the most common things I hear from players and parents is: “But I played great during my practice round and shot ___.”or“I always play well at my home course.” And then the tournament comes… and the results don’t match. The reality is simple: practice rounds and tournament rounds are not the same—and they never will be. The goal isn’t to make them the same. The goal is to prepare for the difference—and understand how you’re going to feel, think, and react when it actually counts. Stop Keeping Score in Practice Rounds One of the biggest mistakes players make is treating practice rounds like tournaments. When you keep score, you start creating expectations:“I shot this yesterday, so I should shoot this again.” But conditions change. Pin locations change. Weather changes. Most importantly, pressure changes. [...]

By |2026-04-11T14:25:51-04:00April 9th, 2026|Uncategorized|0 Comments

RecruitPKB: Attend a College Tourney

📌 One of the most important recruiting assignments I give my players: Go watch college golf tournaments. I cannot emphasize this enough. With the spring season getting underway, now is the perfect time to plan a trip to watch a college tournament. If you are actively going through the recruiting process and communicating with multiple coaches, you need to see them in action. It’s one thing to sit in an office, talk on the phone, and ask questions. It’s another thing entirely to see how a coach actually leads during competition. That’s where you truly learn who they are. Every coach has a different style. Some are intense and demanding. Others are more laid-back and relaxed. Often, that tone depends on how the team is playing—but not always. Pay close attention to how coaches interact with their players and how players respond. As you watch, ask yourself: [...]

By |2026-02-04T11:45:48-05:00February 2nd, 2026|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments

RecruitPKB: Tournament Schedule Insight

I’m often asked which tournaments or tours junior golfers should play—and how many tournaments they need on their schedule. The truth is: this isn’t a question with a simple answer. There is no “one-size-fits-all” tournament plan. Every player is different, and tournament schedules should reflect a player’s individual goals, expectations, experience, family demands, priorities, and financial means. A few factors that influence tournament scheduling include (but aren’t limited to): • College golf goals & current resume. Early on, the number of tournaments and just getting experience may matter more as players need to development their game. As improvement happens, the focus often shifts to the quality of events and how that relates to your college golf goals. • Geographic location. Tournament availability varies by state. Some players have more local options, while others must travel to compete consistently. • Family logistics. Not every family has the [...]

By |2026-01-23T13:04:13-05:00January 21st, 2026|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments

RecruitPKB: Practice Rounds vs Tourney Rounds

I wrote an article about this topic a few years ago, but it’s one that continues to come up — and for good reason. You’ve probably heard it (or said it yourself): “She shot 72 in her practice round… why can’t she do that in tournaments?” As a long-time competitive player and coach, I want to respond with, “It’s just not the same thing.”But I know that answer alone doesn’t help anyone understand why it’s different — so let’s take a closer look at what truly separates practice rounds (and on-course practice) from tournament play. The Consequences Are Real Even when a player takes her practice rounds seriously — counts every stroke, plays with focus, and stays disciplined — there’s still one key element missing: real consequences. In practice, no one’s asking you to sign a scorecard. There’s no live leaderboard. You don’t have coaches, friends, [...]

By |2025-10-15T15:11:38-04:00October 14th, 2025|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments

RecruitPKB: Tips for Making Your Decision

As the decision-making time continues for many rising seniors and even some rising juniors, here are a few tips on things to consider as that time comes for you. Keep in mind, these are just a few general suggestions. The decision-making part of this process is a very specific and personal process for each individual recruit. Many factors have different levels of importance that play a role in what decision is best for you. Every recruit does need to ask plenty of questions, consider their priorities, see this as a long-term commitment, and take their time to make a decision. VIEW HERE   -Brandi Jackson, RecruitPKB College Consultant For questions or to schedule your free PKB 30 Minute Initial Consultation send an email to bjackson@pkbgt.org

By |2025-08-06T15:36:32-04:00August 5th, 2025|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments

RecruitPKB: Emails MUST be Specific

When we say emails have to be specific that does not simply mean you can include the coach’s name and the school name. ❌That doesn’t cut it these days! You also can’t just say “Your facilities are awesome and you have excellent academics” ❌It is likely not going to impress a coach either! You have to show you’ve done some actual research and know some legitimate insight about the school, golf program, and the coach. ✅ Do the research ✅ Do the work ✅ Trust the process If you want to learn more, here is a short Instagram clip I shared on this topic! WATCH HERE  

By |2025-03-19T20:49:24-04:00March 19th, 2025|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments

RecruitPKB: Starting the Process Webinar

Are you getting ready to start the college recruiting process? Check out the most recent PKBGT webinar for insight on tackling those initial steps. Understand the NCAA Rules and Eligibility  Insight Into Scholarships Scoring Average Standards for Playing in College Creating a Resume and Video Contacting Coaches WATCH HERE   -Brandi Jackson, RecruitPKB College Consultant For questions or to schedule your free PKB 30-Minute Initial Consultation send an email to bjackson@pkbgt.org

By |2025-01-29T12:11:06-05:00January 25th, 2025|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments

RecruitPKB: Handshake Tips

Making a good first impression on a coach (or anyone) is such an important skill to master. Start by practicing your handshake. Here are some tips: Smile: A big smile always makes a good first impression Hearty Hand: Firm grip but don’t overdo it Address: Address them by name if you know it. Or just introduce yourself by name and say “nice to meet you” Keep Eye Contact: Maintain good eye contact. Try not to look down or away. Smile with your eyes Enthusiasm Wins: Good energy and excitement to meet them. -Brandi Jackson, RecruitPKB College Consultant For questions or to schedule your free PKB 30 Minute Initial Consultation send an email to bjackson@pkbgt.org

By |2024-12-04T15:51:12-05:00December 5th, 2024|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments

RecruitPKB: Prepare for Coach Calls

As the coach communication process officially kicked off on June 15th for 2026 recruits and continues to heat up for 2025 recruits who still trying to find a college golf home, phone calls are very important. Since an initial call could be your one shot at earning a spot on the coach's potential recruit list you need to make sure you are prepared. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for that initial call: Have questions written down that you would like to ask the coach. Make sure these questions are relevant to the current timing of the process. Have some insight and facts about the school, golf program, coach, and team available for reference and talking points. Have some answers for potential questions that a coach may ask you. Be sure you have thought through your answers and they are honest and personal to [...]

By |2024-06-18T11:05:31-04:00June 17th, 2024|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments
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