RecruitPKB: When Should I Start the College Recruiting Process?

One of the questions I get asked most often — through social media, during consultations, and at seminars — is simple: "When should I start the process?" Like so many things in recruiting, there's rarely a clean, definitive answer. And honestly, this one is among the trickier ones. While June 15th marks the start of the coach communication phase, there is plenty that can and should be happening before that date ever arrives. The real answer to when isn't always about age — it's more about the strength of a player's resume and where her game currently stands. An 8th or 9th grader shooting in the 70s from 5,800+ yards, ranked among the top players in her recruiting class, with a goal of playing high-level Division I golf? She likely needs to be building her resume and recruiting video, sending intro emails, engaging on social media, and [...]

By |2026-06-03T21:43:45-04:00June 3rd, 2026|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments

RecruitPKB: Ways to Make a Genuine Connection in Your Intro Email

Ways to Make a Genuine Connection in Your Intro Email In over 15 years of working in this industry, one thing has never changed: your emails to coaches must be specific and personalized. What has changed is the level of genuine insight and uniqueness that's now required — because as the years have gone on, more and more recruits are getting help from people like me or tapping into the wealth of educational resources available, like this very article. Simply commenting on a recent tournament finish is quickly becoming an outdated move. At best, it feels generic; at worst, it feels like you didn't really try. Finding deeper, more specific ways to show a coach you've truly done your homework — and that you're a real fit for their program — will give you a meaningful edge over the recruits who are still only doing half the [...]

By |2026-05-27T13:49:27-04:00May 27th, 2026|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments

RecruitPKB: Your College Golf Resume Could Be Costing You — Here’s How to Get It Right

Create a college golf resume. Sounds simple enough, right? Wrong. After 15 years of working with junior female golfers through the recruiting process, I have seen just about every version of a recruiting resume you can imagine — and I am here to tell you that a bad resume can quietly end your chances with a coach before the conversation ever really begins. I have seen resumes that are nearly impossible to read. Resumes with no tournament scores — which is the single most important thing a coach needs to see. Resumes that are buried behind a broken link or locked behind a file that a coach cannot even open. And resumes that are beautifully designed but missing half the information a coach actually needs to evaluate a recruit. Here is the truth: you may only get one shot to capture a coach's attention. If they cannot [...]

By |2026-05-19T14:31:14-04:00May 19th, 2026|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments

RecruitPKB: What Is Golf IQ — And Do College Coaches Think You Have It? Part 2

This is Part 2 from a coach survey I conducted, in which I asked college coaches to weigh in on the recruiting process. Every coach is different, but what follows represents some of the most consistent and eye-opening themes from their responses. The question: What are some examples you look for to help identify good golf IQ and players who can compete and get better at the next level? The responses were fascinating — and honestly, every junior golfer and her parents should read this carefully. Play Golf. A Lot of It. One of the most practical pieces of advice came from a coach who said simply: "Players that play a lot of golf have more golf IQ than those that beat balls. My advice is to play as much as they can with all different people — adults, boys, anyone." There is no substitute for on-course [...]

By |2026-05-08T10:35:51-04:00May 8th, 2026|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments

RecruitPKB: What Is Golf IQ — And Do College Coaches Think You Have It? Part 1

This is from a coach survey I conducted, in which I asked college coaches to weigh in on the recruiting process. Every coach is different, but what follows represents some of the most consistent and eye-opening themes from their responses. The question: What are some examples you look for to help identify good golf IQ and players who can compete and get better at the next level? The responses were fascinating — and honestly, every junior golfer and her parents should read this carefully. It Starts With How You Handle Adversity If there was one theme that dominated the coach responses, it was this: they are watching how you respond when things go wrong — not when they go right. As one coach put it plainly, "I love to watch players during their rough rounds. College golf will likely be more challenging than their prior experiences, so [...]

By |2026-05-08T10:33:44-04:00May 8th, 2026|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments

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: Negative Self Talk

Talk to Yourself Like You Would a Playing Partner Every time you hit a bad shot, have a tough hole, or make a mental mistake, pause for a second and ask yourself this: “What would I say to my playing partner if they just did the same thing?” Chances are, you wouldn’t respond with,“That was stupid,”“What were you thinking?” or“You’re terrible.” More than likely, you’d say something like,“It’s okay,”“Shake it off,” or“You’ve got the next one.” You probably wouldn’t have much emotional reaction at all. You might feel for them if they’re having a rough day, but you would never put them down or question their ability. So why do we do that to ourselves? Why is it so easy to tear ourselves down after a bad shot or mistake—but so natural to build others up? You Are Not Your Enemy The truth is, many golfers become [...]

By |2026-03-26T14:25:22-04:00March 25th, 2026|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments

RecruitPKB: Why Golf Tournaments Aren’t Where Girls Actually Improve

Why Golf Tournaments Aren’t Where Girls Actually Improve Junior girls spend countless hours preparing for tournaments. Players, parents, and coaches often measure progress by one thing: the scorecard. But here’s a truth that many golfers don’t fully understand until later in their development: Tournaments are where you test your game—not where you grow it. Real improvement in junior golf happens long before the first tee shot in competition. Understanding this difference can help players develop faster, build confidence, and avoid common recruiting mistakes. Growth vs. Performance in Junior Golf One of the most important concepts in junior golf development is understanding the difference between growth and performance. Growth involves learning and developing skills: Improving swing mechanics Developing short game touch Building confidence Experimenting with new techniques Performance, on the other hand, is about executing those skills under pressure. Golf tournaments are designed for performance. Players are focused [...]

By |2026-03-11T15:39:40-04:00March 11th, 2026|Uncategorized|0 Comments

RecruitPKB: Why Female Golf Recruits Should Contact 50+ College Coaches

One of the most common conversations I have with recruits is about why they aren’t hearing back from college coaches. Often, when a player shows me their list of schools, I notice two things right away: The majority of the schools are unrealistic for their current recruiting timeline or playing level.They simply haven’t contacted enough programs. Because of this, I often recommend that recruits reach out to at least 50 or more college coaches during the recruiting process. While that number may seem high at first, there are several important reasons why expanding your outreach can significantly improve your recruiting opportunities. Let’s break down the three biggest reasons. 1. Communication With Coaches Takes Practice Many recruits assume they’ll immediately feel comfortable speaking with college coaches, but that’s rarely the case. Coach communication is a skill that improves over time. Emails, phone calls, interviews, and recruiting conversations can [...]

By |2026-03-05T11:13:41-05:00March 5th, 2026|Uncategorized|0 Comments

RecruitPKB: Taking Time Off: Why It’s Part of the Process

Taking Time Off: Why It’s Part of the Process I once had a conversation on Instagram with a young golfer that stuck with me: Her: “What are your thoughts on taking a break from golf? Like, not picking up a club for two to four weeks?”Me: “I see absolutely nothing wrong with it if you feel it’s needed — I’d almost encourage it, especially if you’ve never taken a break like that before.”Her: “Thank you! I just see other girls still grinding it out, but I don’t want to get burned out. I need to focus on me and not feel FOMO.”Me: “Exactly. A couple of weeks off will not hurt you. You have a long golf career ahead, and rest is just as important as the work you’re putting in.” Rest is Part of the Game We often see quotes with Tiger hitting balls in the [...]

By |2025-11-13T13:06:33-05:00November 12th, 2025|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments
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