Birdie Class
Lesson Plan # 6
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Life Skill: Getting to Your Goal
Golf Fundamental: Clubface and Ball Contact
Healthy Habit: Community
Homework: Birdie Book pages 64-77
Warm Up: Golf Fitness Warm-Up Activity (even numbered workout day – see separate “Golf Circuit Warm-Up”
handout located on the private coach website)
Opening Questions: After completing the golf fitness warm up above, coaches and participants will discuss the
following questions:
1. How comfortable do you feel setting goals?
2. What goals have you set for yourself recently?
3. Are you writing your goals down? Where?
4. Why is writing your goals down important?
5. How do you plan on achieving your goal?
6. Have you thought about the steps it will require getting to your goal?
7. What is the first step?
8. How many steps will it take to reach your goal? Have you thought about this before?
9. Discuss what a goal ladder is (Birdie Yardage Book p. 65)
Speak a bit about achieving a goal whether personal or golf related. Explain a “ladder” concept in which goals
have a certain order (easiest to harder) in order to attain a dream. Start off with the obvious and easiest FIRST
steps to reach your goal. Figure out the intermediate steps before the more specific goals that will lead you to
your desired outcome.
Putting Activity: Putting Ladder – This will help with setting goals and clubface and ball contact.
Objectives of the game: To put all golf balls into the rungs of the ladder in succession working from closest to
farthest rung. Explain that not all of our goals are reached the first time we try them. It may take a few tries
at one rung. Some steps trip us up but we continue to use PERSEVERANCE to reach the goal!
Objectives of the golf fundamental: To ensure the clubface is square to the target so it is easier to hit the
sweet spot.
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Description of the Set-up: With string or survey tape make a ladder on the green. The first rung should be a
bigger target than the one above it. Use tour sticks or clubs for alignment for clubface. Have participants
state their goal with three golf balls. For instance, 3/3 balls in the first two rungs, 2/3 in the next two, and 1/3
in the farthest, smallest rung. If they fail to reach their goal they must try again until completed successfully.
This mirrors what could happen when setting ANY type of goal. They are not all met on the first try.
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Full Swing Activity: SOLID STRIKE!!
Objectives of the game: Incorporate PERSONAL PAR and goal ladder
Objectives of the golf fundamental: The objective of this drill is to hit the ball solidly, feel the hands ahead of
the ball and to take the proper divot in front of the ball. This will help maintain solid contact. It may take a
little experimenting, but eventually you'll find the appropriate distance to line the balls up from the noodle.
Before long you should start to see a consistent line of divots occurring on the target side of the golf ball - a
positive sign!
Supplies: Noodles, towels and tees.
Description of the Set-up: Set up noodles (outside the back foot as shown) or a towel (inside the back foot) as
instructed.
This drill will get you to do the following through impact:
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Get the weight shifted onto the front foot.
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Lead the hands ahead of the clubhead.
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Take divots in the right place – after the ball!
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This also encourages good balance which leads to better ball contact.
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Bridge to Life: Use the following questions to help participants apply their “on-course” work to their “offcourse” activities and experiences.
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What are a few ways to achieve your goals?
In what ways can you help your community?
How did the drills today help you in making better ball contact?
It’s important to practice in order to be more consistent and be a better ball striker. Is this a part of
your goal ladder? How much time can you commit to your golf and goals?
Lesson Plan Progression:
 Warm up
 Opening questions
 Putting Ladder
 Solid Strike
 Bridge to Life
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