Birdie Class
Lesson Plan # 5
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Life Skill: Goal Setting
Golf Fundamental: Body Balance
Healthy Habit: Mind- Influences our emotions and behaviors and can be utilized for selfimprovement, building confidence and maintaining perspective.
Homework: Birdie Book pages 52-63
Warm Up: Golf Fitness Warm-Up Activity (odd numbered workout day – see separate “Golf Circuit WarmUp” handout located on the private coach website).
Opening Questions: After completing the golf fitness warm up above, coaches and participants will review the
4 guidelines for setting goals
 The goal is Positive
 The goal is Important to You
 The goal is Under Your Control
 The goal is Specific
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Have you taken the time to write down your goals?
How are you making progress towards one of your goals on the golf course?
How are you making progress towards one of your goals at school?
Why is it important to set goals that are important to you?
Who do you go to for advice on reaching your goals? Why?
What is one way you can help someone else reach a goal they have?
“If you have a goal, write it down. If you do not write it down, you do not have a goal - you have a wish.”
Left foot/right toe & right foot/left toe & Left Leg Only & Right Leg Only
Pitching/Chipping Activity: “Rear Foot Back” Drill
Objectives of the Game: each player will chip to targets with their rear foot placed behind their front foot.
Players will chip until they successfully complete each task.
Objectives of the Golf Fundamental: this drill encourages players to swing in control and maintain good
balance. This drill will also promote the proper, downward, ball first strike when chipping and pitching.
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Supplies: cones, string, scissors, (a washer or another small and heavy object would be beneficial)
Description of the Set Up: Coaches will set up 3-5 holes on the practice green. Please use cones to mark the
starting point and safety zone for each hole. For each hole cut a 10-15 feet piece of string. Tie one end to the
flag stick and tie a washer (or some other small object) to the opposite end. See diagram for details.
How to Play: Players will be split up and placed at each of the holes. Participants should drop their golf ball
between the two cones and chip (rear foot back – see picture) towards the correct hole. Once a player has
chipped, they should proceed on to the green and determine if their shot was successful using the string attached
to the cup. If their ball cones to rest inside the length of the string, they have successfully completed that
particular hole. A player finishes the game by successfully completing all the holes. To make this task more
challenging for highly skilled players, they can be required to hit consecutive (or multiple) shots within a string
length. The coach can also mark a shorter portion of the string using a piece of tape.
Rear Foot Back – this drill helps ensure a downward strike on the golf ball and also promotes good balance.
Follow these steps to do this drill correctly. A right handed golfer should set up with the golf ball directly in
front of their left foot. Next, the player should lift their right foot, move it straight back several inches and place
their toe on the ground. Players should chip/pitch each golf ball from this position.
Coach Notes: before beginning this activity ask students to set a goal for their performance. A goal could be
OUTCOME related such as “I want to take less than 10 shots to complete this challenge.” Or the goal could be
PROCESS related like “I want to use my new pre-shot and post-shot routines on every shot I hit.” Check to
make sure participants are thinking about their goals.
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Full Swing Activity: Balance Sequence
Objectives of the Game: players will hit golf balls to targets using different balance drills.
Objectives of the Golf Fundamental: this drill encourages players to maintain good balance throughout the
swing (as an added benefit, the drill also encourages a downward strike on the golf and an effective weight
transition).
Supplies: cones, golf balls, golf clubs
Description of the Set Up: Coaches will set up hitting and safety zones on the driving range. It would also be
helpful to place multiple targets on the practice range for participants to aim at. Targets should be 100 yards or
closer.
How to Play: Players will be split up and given 25 golf balls. Players should hit their golf balls using the
sequence below. Players should restart the sequence below if time allows.
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