Birdie Class
Lesson Plan # 7
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Life Skill: STAR (Stop, Think, Anticipate, and Respond)
Golf Fundamental: Pre-Shot/Post-Shot Routines (Advanced)
Healthy Habit: Community
Homework: Birdie Book pages 78-91
Warm Up: Golf Fitness Warm-Up Activity - Inchworm (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. What kinds of challenges do you face on a daily basis?
2. How do you typically respond when you encounter something challenging?
3. Is there someone in your life that you admire for how they handle challenges?
4. Discuss the life skill STAR
 S – STOP and take a deep breath
 T – THINK of all your choices
 A – ANTICIPATE what could happen (good or bad) as a result of each choice
 R – RESPOND by selecting the best choice of what to do
5. When could this tool be useful on the golf course?
6. When could this tool be useful somewhere else?
7. What core value(s) might be important when taking on challenges? (perseverance, confidence, etc.)
8. Give an example of how STAR can be used as a perfect pre-shot routine
Putting Activity: “Think Outside the Box”
Objective of the Game: To implement a pre-shot routine using STAR as a guideline.
Objective of the Golf Fundamental: Players will use the life skill STAR as an effective pre-shot routine before
hitting each putt.
Supplies: Cones, survey tape and yarn
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Description of Set Up: Set up 3-4 holes of varying lengths. Set up a “Think Box” with survey tape and yarn.
Use cones to define the “Play Box”.
How to Play: Have players place the ball in the “Play Box” and step into the “Think Box”. Players will use STAR
to decide how they want to play the next shot. They will decide break, speed, green conditions, etc. Once
players walk to the “Play Box” they are instructed to keep their mind clear and trust their preparation.
Coach Notes: make sure that participants are using STAR as a pre-shot routine on all putts during this activity.
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If there are enough coaches and the golf course is available, players who are not yet old enough to
certify (will be 13 years old by the second week of the next season) can play as many holes as possible.
This will be a great time for them to practice using STAR in “real life” situations.
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Players who will be attempting to certify next week should remain on the practice range and complete
the following activities.
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Full Swing Activity: Certification Preview – full swing fairways and full swing approaches
Objectives of Game: players should be able to hit 3 out of 6 shots in to the designated fairway and green
areas.
Objectives of Golf Fundamental: students need to demonstrate all previously covered golf fundamentals in
order to meet the target scores.
Supplies: cones, golf balls, noodles, tees, golf clubs
Description of Set-Up: On the driving range set up 4-6 teeing stations and safety zones to accompany them.
Out in the driving range, set up 2 cones or noodles 100 yards out and 40 yards apart. This indicates an
imaginary fairway that participants must be able to hit the ball through. Also set up a circle of cones 50 yards
away with a diameter of 30 yards. This will represent a target green.
How to Play: for each challenge (fairways and approaches) players should pick up 6 golf balls and one-by-one,
attempt to hit them into the fairway and onto the green. At least 3 successful shot out of 6 attempts is
considered a passing score.
Coach Notes: coaches should remind students of the target score and that this is their opportunity to practice.
Have players use STAR for their pre-shot routine before each shot. Ask participants to verbalize this process a
few times so you can evaluate it and make recommendations. Ask participants about other life skills and golf
fundamentals that might help them in this situation.
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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.
1. How was STAR helpful with your pre-shot routine?
2. How did confidence and perseverance help you with the activities today?
3. Where else can you use STAR? How?
4. How can your friends benefit from using STAR?
5. Do you think you know enough about STAR to teach it to your friends?
6. How often do you run into challenges when pursuing your goals?
7. How can STAR help you achieve your goals?
8. Have students commit to play/practice golf before the next class. Encourage them to use STAR as a
pre-shot routine (participants don’t have to use STAR, but it’s a great starting place for those who do
not yet have a specific, repeatable routine).
Lesson Plan Progression:
 Golf fitness warm-up
 Opening discussion
 Think Outside the Box Putting
 Certification Preview or Course Play
 Bridge to Life
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