Birdie ClassLesson Plan # 4

Life Skill : Setting goals that are specific and under your control Healthy Habit :

o Vision – Vision reflects the ability to think about and plan for the future using intelligence and imagination.

o School – learning, building relationships and contributing to the school environment leads to success in other areas of life.

Rules of Golf and Etiquette: The Game of Golf and the Putting Green Golf Fundamental : On course strategies – Swing Rhythm 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: odd numbered workout day – see separate “Golf Circuit Warm-Up” handout located on the private coach website

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? (PICS)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?

Have participants use these guidelines to modify or create their written goals from the first class. This week we will focus on the last two guidelines (Specific and Under Your Control).

Rules of Golf and Etiquette:

The Game of Golf Golf is played in a round of 18 (or fewer) holes on a course by striking a ball with a club. Each hole starts with a stroke from the teeing area and ends when the ball is holed on the putting green (or when the Rules otherwise say the hole is completed). For each stroke, the player: • Plays the course as he or she finds it, and • Plays the ball as it lies. But there are exceptions where the Rules allow the player to alter conditions on the course and require or allow the player to play the ball from a different place than where it lies.

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Improvements Allowed on Putting Green During a round and while play is stopped, a player may take these two actions on the putting green, no matter whether the ball is on or off the putting green: (1) Removal of Sand and Loose Soil. Sand and loose soil on the putting green (but not anywhere else on the course) may be removed without penalty. (2) Repair of Damage. A player may repair damage on the putting green without penalty by taking reasonable actions to restore the putting green as nearly as possible to its original condition, but only: • By using his or her hand, foot or other part of the body or a normal ball-mark repair tool, tee, club or similar item of normal equipment, and • Without unreasonably delaying play (see Rule 5.6a). But if the player improves the putting green by taking actions that exceed what is reasonable to restore the putting green to its original condition (such as by creating a pathway to the hole or by using an object that is not allowed), the player gets the general penalty for breach of Rule 8.1a. “Damage on the putting green” means any damage caused by a person or outside influence, such as: • Ball marks, shoe damage (such as spike marks) and scrapes or indentations caused by equipment or a flagstick, • Old hole plugs, turf plugs, seams of cut turf and scrapes or indentations from maintenance tools or vehicles, • Animal tracks or hoof indentations, and • Embedded objects (such as a stone, acorn or tee). Note: Changed for 2019But “damage on the putting green” does not include any damage or conditions that result from: • Normal practices for maintaining the overall condition of the putting green (such as aeration holes and grooves from vertical mowing), • Irrigation or rain or other natural forces, • Natural surface imperfections (such as weeds or areas of bare, diseased or uneven growth), or • Natural wear of the hole. (Rule 13)

When Ball or Ball-Marker Moves on Putting Green There are two specific Rules for a ball or ball-marker that moves on the putting green. (1) No Penalty for Accidentally Causing Ball to Move. There is no penalty if the player, opponent or another player in stroke play accidentally moves the player’s ball or ball-marker on the putting green. The player must: • Replace the ball on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated) (see Rule 14.2), or • Place a ball-marker to mark that original spot. Exception – Ball Must Be Played as It Lies When Ball Begins to Move During Backswing or Stroke and Stroke Is Made (see Rule 9.1b). If the player or opponent deliberately lifts the player’s ball or ball-marker on the putting green, see Rule 9.4 or Rule 9.5 to find out if there is a penalty. (2) When to Replace Ball Moved by Natural Forces. If natural forces cause a player’s ball on the putting green to move, where the player must play from next depends on whether the ball had already been lifted and replaced on its original spot: • Ball Already Lifted and Replaced. The ball must be replaced on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated) (see Rule 14.2), even though it was moved by natural forces and not by the player, the opponent or an outside influence (see Rule 9.3, Exception). • Ball Not Already Lifted and Replaced. The ball must be played from its new spot (see Rule 9.3). (Rule 13) Note: Changed for 2019

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A Key To Good Golf: Swing In Rhythm

Whether it's a drive off the first, a crucial putt at the last, or some other stroke in between, rhythm is an

important ingredient to make a shot great—it's like the salt on french fries. Without it, the fries are OK. With

it, your mouth waters before the first bite. Ever notice how a drive made with less effort produces a tee shot

far better than if you take a rip at the ball? That's because you improved the rhythm of your swing. And

though it might be a good idea to take your time when you hit driver, other shots require different rhythm.

Take the greenside bunker shot you see me hitting here. This shot requires a little more energy. The buzzword

I'm thinking about when I hit bunker shots is brisk. That gets me to swing through the sand a little amped up,

so the club doesn't decelerate and leave the ball in the bunker. That's what I mean about swinging with good

rhythm. If you want to improve your game from tee to green, scroll down for some other buzzwords to help

improve your tempo on various shots.

– With Ron Kaspriske

DRIVER - BUZZWORD: PATIENCE

Grab a golf ball and toss it up, paying attention to the change of direction when it starts to fall back down.

Notice how it seems to hover in mid-air for a moment before dropping. If you emulate this feeling of hovering

when you change direction from backswing to downswing, you'll add good flow to your tee shots. Now for

your buzzword. Before you take the driver back, think of the word patience. There's no rush to complete the

backswing or to start swinging down. Look how my left heel has come off the ground like an old-school golfer's

swing (below). You can use this as a cue to know when to change direction. Let it come off the ground as you

swing back, and replant that heel before you start down. It will make your swing feel more in sync.

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IRONS - BUZZWORD: SMOOTH

Whether it's nerves, adrenaline or the instinct to lift the club, a lot of golfers jerk their irons up and away from

the ball as they start the backswing. This causes a lot of issues that have to be corrected on the way back

down if you want to hit it solid and straight. Mostly, it's a rhythm killer. Like the patient transition at the top of

a driver swing, you want to start your irons back with no appreciable effort. The buzzword here is smooth. The

club should quietly trace the turf for a foot or two before you hinge it upward. A great drill to help you get the

feel of this smooth takeaway is to address a ball with another ball behind your iron on the target line. Start the

swing by rolling the second ball away (below). You can even use this image when you play—especially under

pressure.

WEDGES - BUZZWORD: LIGHT

Shots inside 100 yards are often called finesse shots and require a different kind of rhythm.

A lot of it is determined before you take the club back. Like a shortstop getting ready to field a grounder or a

point guard shooting free throws, you should feel nimble when you address these short-game shots. Soften

your grip pressure, waggle the club a little, gently shift your weight back and forth between your feet. When

you're ready to hit the shot, set the wedge behind the ball and immediately start the motion (below). No need

to let all that rhythm you just prepped for transform into a rigid, disjointed swing. The buzzword I like for

these shots is light. It reminds me to get all the tension out of my body and make a fluid swing. If you stay

light, your touch around the greens will improve.

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PUTTER - BUZZWORD: EVEN

Although the follow-through in a good putting stroke is twice as fast as the backstroke, most amateurs I see

are all over the place with their putting speed. That's why my buzzword for putting is even. Thinking of

creating an even-paced stroke back and through will help you make the proper accelerating movement into

the ball and control the path. Download a metronome app for your phone. Set its beat interval to the pace of

what feels like a good stroke. Then practice to that rhythm (below). Sometimes I think one, two on the

backswing, and then boom, boom with the club striking the ball on the second boom. You'll find the

metronome implants great rhythm in your stroke. You'll probably still hear the beat in your head when you

play.

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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. This week we will concentrate on swing rhythm while playing the course.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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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!!!

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: 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 grip 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 “off-course” 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?5. How did you use vision today?

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

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