RecruitPKB: What I was surprised to learn through college golf

Recent Mercer University grad and golf alum, Jaelyn Tindal, shares her thoughts on what she was surprised to learn throughout her college golf experience. Jaelyn has also joined the Brandi Jackson Golf and RecruitPKB team as we continue to strive to provide education and guidance to the girls who are seeking to find their right college golf fit. As everyone knows, college is a time centered around personal growth and tremendous potential for learning. The entire experience presents a “sink or swim” opportunity for students to figure things out. Playing collegiate golf intensifies the need to learn, not only about the game, but also about one’s self. Beyond the standard lessons learned in college, such as how to manage time, improve study habits, or make responsible decisions, I was lucky to have learned so much more through my collegiate experience. “Fair is a place where pigs win [...]

By |2019-01-18T12:06:17-05:00January 18th, 2019|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments
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RecruitPKB: Myth 3: I am open to all opportunities to play college golf

Many players will say “yes I’m open to anywhere, I just want to play college golf.” But in reality, when it comes down to it they are often very picky about the factors they want and don’t want in choosing a school. Don’t get me wrong that is part of going thru this process is to figure those things out and find a school that fits you best. But when you take into account enrollment, academics, location, cost, team ranking, majors, and other factors a recruit can quickly go from “anywhere” to “nowhere”. It is certainly understandable and commendable to have certain criteria and expectations with your education. Many of you have worked extremely hard to earn good grades and accolades so don't feel pressured to sacrifice that if that is an important factor for your decision. Just keep in mind when it comes to recruiting the [...]

By |2018-12-15T13:34:49-05:00December 19th, 2018|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments
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RecruitPKB: Setting Realistic Goals and Dreams

I find myself very conflicted on the motto of "Dream Big" but also understanding in a setting like college recruiting what it can lead to through the process if you aren't realistic in your dreams and goals. If you have such a high standard for where you want to play college golf but physically, mentally, or maturity wise you aren't able to reach that dream, then you will end up feeling like the opportunities you have aren't good enough or you won't even give yourself the chance to find opportunities that will allow you to succeed in college golf. Yes, I hope you all have big dreams! Whether it's golf related, or your academics, or your future career, whatever it is - DREAM BIG! As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago I had a BIG dream when I was just 8 or 9 years old that I wanted [...]

By |2018-10-25T12:03:00-04:00October 25th, 2018|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments
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RecruitPKB: Setting Specific Goals and Dreams

While some goals and dreams are going to be general, do your best to keep them as specific as you can. This may mean that you need to readjust as you get closer to reaching your goal or dream to make it more specific to your current progress. As I mentioned the other week, I had a dream when I was 8 or 9 years old to play on the LPGA Tour, and while then it was obviously understandable at that age to not be very specific about that dream, as I got older I never readjusted to set a more specific dream. I technically did live out my dream to "play" on the LPGA Tour so I can't be mad at 8-year-old Brandi, but what might have happened if I had set my dream to finish top 10 in a tournament, or maybe even win an [...]

By |2018-10-18T08:11:15-04:00October 18th, 2018|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments
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RecruitPKB: Long Term vs Short Term vs Process Goals

Last week I talked about the importance of knowing the "why" behind your goals and now this week I want to talk about the difference between long term, short term, and process goals. All three are important but knowing the difference and which ones to focus on can be the difference in achieving them or not. Goals are normally thought of as future achievements. They are dreams and wishes for something you want to happen in the future. By the time I was 9 years old, I already had my long-term goal (or dream) - to play on the LPGA Tour. That is all I wanted to do. I never made a backup plan, never thought about another profession or career. Not long after that, I set another shorter, but still, long-term goal, to play at Furman University. Because of the legacy of the Furman Women's Golf program, I knew it [...]

By |2019-01-18T12:06:56-05:00October 11th, 2018|Player Performance Articles|0 Comments
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RecruitPKB: Club Golf in College

The goal for most young female golfers is to move on to play varsity golf in college, however, that plan doesn't always work out when the school of your choice and the golf program's needs for a player like yourself don't match up. If this does happen to you, it doesn't mean you have to give up playing golf once you get to college. The statistics on playing varsity golf in college aren’t exactly optimistic. According to the NCAA, only 2% of male high school golfers will play Division 1, and 3% for females. For students that don’t go to Division 1 though, there’s still plenty of options available. Division 2, Division 3, NAIA, NJCAA, as well as several smaller leagues provide a competitive outlet for students. One option that is often overlooked is non-varsity college golf. Club golf has grown tremendously in the last couple years [...]

By |2018-09-19T20:12:22-04:00September 19th, 2018|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments
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Recruit PKB: Building a Resume

As the PKBGT continues to grow, many new players and parents begin to seek advice about the college recruiting process, so I wanted to take us back to some of the early stages of the process for the next several weeks and cover the basics of getting started. Building a quality resume is one of the most important steps in the college recruiting process. While your game and on course demeanor will speak for itself out on the course, your resume will be the first insight a coach has into you as an all-around person. There are many ways to create a resume ranging from a simple document version, your own website or utilizing an online resume service. I recommend players utilize the Junior Golf Scoreboard resume service because it ensures you have a completed resume and it will automatically update the majority of your results for [...]

By |2018-04-18T10:58:03-04:00April 19th, 2018|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments
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RecruitPKB: Tournament Schedule

A very important step to remember is to email coaches with your upcoming schedule. Now that we are in full-time spring golf and the summer months are just around the corner it is a great time to do this. Coaches have no way of knowing where you will be playing unless you tell them. So, if you want them to come out and watch you play, make sure you let them know where you are going to be. Don't wait until the end of summer to send them your results, make the opportunity available for them to come out and watch you play. For 2019 recruits, coaches are able to reply to your emails so it may be a good question to ask if they plan to recruit at a tournament nearby that you are considering playing in. If you are a sophomore or younger you don't [...]

By |2018-04-05T11:30:43-04:00April 12th, 2018|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments
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RecruitPKB: Parent Role and the Coaches

This week's "Parent Role in the College Recruiting Process" will cover a parent's role with college coaches. The relationship a parent builds with a college coach through the process can have a major influence on the coach's decision. Below are a few areas to be aware of as a parent so that you as well can make the best impression on your daughter's future coach. Say hi to coaches at tournaments but don't approach them: Because recruiting rules can vary depending on a player's grad year, always stick to the side of caution when you see a coach at tournaments. Be friendly and say hi but try to allow them to begin a conversation if they choose to. Some coaches are more talkative and will carry on conversations with parents, others just want to be left to themselves so they can watch the players and evaluate. The same [...]

By |2018-03-22T16:12:41-04:00March 22nd, 2018|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments
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RecruitPKB: Parent Role at Tournaments

This week's Recruit PKB: Recruiting Process article from the series "Parent Role in the College Recruiting Process" will cover a parent's role at junior golf tournaments. I cover parent behavior quite often throughout my seminars and articles because I know the influence it can have on a young girl's golf career. I also know the influence it can have on a college coach's decision to recruit a player. One of the first experiences a coach will have when recruiting a player is the interaction that they see between a parent and child at a junior golf tournament. Below are a few tips on ways to ensure your role at a tournament is a positive one for both your daughter and a college coach. Don’t hover when they are warming up: Try not to hover over your daughter while she is warming up to play. It is ok to [...]

By |2018-03-21T20:35:56-04:00March 15th, 2018|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments
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