Birdie Class
Lesson Plan # 4
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Life Skill/Core Value: Setting goals that are specific and under your control
Golf Fundamental: On course strategies
Healthy Habit: Vision
Homework: Birdie Book pages 38-52
LEAD COACH: Today is a play day for students. The goal is to get them on the golf course for as long as
possible. Chapter staff has notified the course of this date, but it is your responsibility to make contact with
the golf staff prior to arriving at the course and establish a specific plan of action.
Warm-Up: Golf Fitness Warm-Up Activity: Pre-play stretches
Opening Questions: After completing golf fitness warm-up exercises above, coaches and participants will
discuss the following questions:
1. What are the 4 guidelines for setting goals?
2. How have you been using these guidelines to set/refine personal goals?
3. Take 90 seconds and use the 4 guidelines to set a goal for your time on the golf course today.
4. What other core values, and life skills have you found to be useful on the golf course?
5. What golf skills have you been practicing lately to improve your on-course play?
Activity: Play Day
Healthy Habit: Be sure to discuss vision and how it helps on the course. The First Tee definition of this
healthy habit is “make the most of one’s unique gifts, talents, characteristics and abilities. An individual needs
to learn from the past, value the present and create their vision and future to ultimately ‘leave a footprint’.
Please remind them to use positive self-talk and to ‘see’ the shot before they make the shot!
Objectives of Game: Participants will play the golf course using stroke play rules (coaches can select one of
the formats below as an alternative to stroke play if you wish). Players will be encouraged to apply all Player,
Par, and Birdie level core values and life skills that may apply.
Objectives of Golf Fundamental: coaches will review all golf fundamentals while playing the course.
Supplies: cones, balls, tees, coins
Description of Set-Up: participants should play the golf course from the red/forward tee boxes. Highly skilled
players can play from longer distances if appropriate.
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How to Play: Below are a few sample golf formats coaches can choose from. Think about your class skill level
when determining what format to play.
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Stroke Play – participants play their own golf ball from start to finish. Player with the lowest total of
strokes at the completion of play is declared the winner.
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Bingo Bango Bongo – rewards players for three things on each hole: being the first player in the group
to get onto the green; being closest to the hole once all group members are on the green; and being
the first player in the cup.
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Three Club Monte – is a golf format that requires the players to pick just three clubs to use during their
round. All players are allowed their putters in addition to the three other clubs they choose. The choice
of clubs can't be changed during the round - once you've chosen a 3-wood, 5-iron and 9-iron, for
example, those are the only clubs (other than putter) you can use during the round. Three Club Monte
is a good game to play in order to learn and practice half-shots, knock-downs and so forth.
Alternate Putting Game – if the golf course cannot handle the entire group on course at one time, split the
group in half. One group should go on course while the other group stays on the putting green and plays
the following game.
Putting Activity: Jousting
Objectives of Game: For players to knock over their partner’s cup and be the first to score 7 points.
Objectives of Golf Fundamental: to develop distance response with respect to putting.
Supplies: Lightweight cups (plastic solo cups, fast food cups, empty soda can or Styrofoam cups work great),
golf balls, putters
Description of Set-Up: each player puts a cup down on the green so they are about 10-15 feet apart. (More
advanced players can go 15-18 feet apart).
How to Play: players stand even with their targets. Both players count down “3, 2 , 1 putt” and each person
putts to hit the other players cup. Players should try to putt at the same time.
Scoring: Players get one point for hitting the opponent’s cup. Players get two points if they hit their
opponents target and the golf balls stays within one putter length of the cup.
Coach Notes: encourage participants to think about swing rhythm and how it is helpful in distance response.
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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 will the 4 guidelines for setting goals help you be more successful in the future?
2. What is one area of your life that these guidelines could be the most beneficial?
3. Will you commit to sharing these guidelines with your friends and siblings?
4. How do you plan on practicing your golf skills before the next time this class meets?
Lesson Plan Progression: Activities will follow this sequence.
 Light stretching and practice putting as participants arrive.
 Golf fitness warm-up
 Warm-up discussion questions
 Explain activities and break into groups
 Participants complete as many holes as possible
 Bridge to Life
Coach Notes: The goal of this week is to get the kids used to playing on the golf course. The first thing coaches
should be concerned with is the safety of players on the course. Equally as important is ensuring that students
are keeping up with the pace of play.
Players at the Birdie Level are more advanced but still be aware of these things if necessary:
 Who hits next?
 Safety (where are students standing or walking)
 Golf bags (show them where to place their golf bags to ensure a proper pace-of-play)
 Equipment (help them keep up with all their equipment)
Remember these things when you provide golf instruction:
 Instruction should not slow down play
 Instruction should be focused on the golf fundamentals this class has already experienced.
 Instruction should be age and skill level appropriate.
Remember to keep it simple, keep it light, keep it
fun!!!
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