Course Program

Can you stop the ball on a dime? Distance control test

Stop on a dime, for a 18-handicap player, ~15 minutes at Mickelson National

Short GameAll teesProgram HCP 17.79 drills

Program Snapshot

Handicap range

10 to 45

Average HCP

17.7

Duration (single session)

3 hr 54 min

or

1 drill/day: 9 days · 26 min/day

Ideal tee

All

Skill Distribution

Scoring44%
Distance Control30%
Visualization22%
Precision4%

Overview

Program Structure

Can you stop the ball on a dime? Distance control test. Vary landing spot and stop on a dime. Focus on Scoring, Distance Control, Visualization. For a 18-handicap player, in ~15 minutes.

Skill

Distance Control

Shot

Mixed

What you will improve

  • Scoring
  • Distance Control
  • Visualization
  • Precision

Program details

Sessions
9 focused drills
Recommended
2–3 sessions / week
Total duration
3 hr 54 min
or
1 drill per day
9 days · 26 min/day

Drill Framework

Program breakdown

Each drill is designed to prepare you for the course. Follow the program or repeat the drills to improve key areas of your game.

01

DIY Course Easy

Short Game

Make a DIY 9 hole easy-difficulty course. Every hole is PAR 2. Count the score.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for DIY Course  Easy
1

Set up a 9-hole short game course around the green. Each hole is PAR

2

Put 9 balls in easy spots around the green, like in sand or rough.

3

For each hole, hit a wedge onto the green and then putt the ball in.

4

Finish each hole (chip and putt) before going to the next ball spot.

5

Do the whole 9-hole course 4 times, moving balls for variety if possible.

6

This gives 36 total tries (9 holes × 4 rounds).

7

After all 36 tries, count your total strokes and compare to PAR 72 (36 holes × PAR 2).

8

See how many strokes over or under par you got.

9

Write down how many holes you finished at or under par, out of 36 tries, in the app.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score141516182022242628
02

DIY Course Easy

Short Game

Up to 5 players play easy-difficulty 9 hole ‘PAR 2’ DIY course. Best final score wins.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for DIY Course  Easy
1

Set up 9 short holes around the practice area. Put one ball per player on different lies like sand, rough, and slopes.

2

Each hole is a PAR 2 challenge.

3

Play the 9 holes two times. Take 2 shots per hole each time. This means 36 shots total.

4

At each hole, hit your wedge or short shot to the green, then putt until you finish the hole.

5

Go to the next hole when you finish. Do this for all 9 holes, two times.

6

Count each hole finished in 2 shots or fewer as a success.

7

Add the number of successful holes. Enter your score in the app out of 36 attempts.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score3028262218141074
03

DIY Course Hard

Short Game

Make a DIY 9 hole hard-difficulty course. Every hole is PAR 2. Count the score.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for DIY Course  Hard
1

Put 9 balls in hard spots around the chipping green, like sand, slopes, rough, or uneven ground.

2

Each ball is a PAR 2 hole. Chip onto the green and putt in, aiming for 2 strokes per hole.

3

Play all 9 balls, counting strokes for each.

4

Do the 9 balls two more times in new spots if possible, for a total of 36 shots.

5

Add up all your strokes for 36 shots. Fewer strokes is better.

6

Count how many holes you finished in 2 strokes or less.

7

Enter the number of holes finished in 2 strokes or less out of 36 attempts in the app.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score161718212427303336
04

DIY Course Hard

Short Game

Make a DIY 9 hole hard-difficulty course. Every hole is PAR 2. Count the score.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for DIY Course  Hard
1

Place 9 balls in different spots around the chipping green, like sand, sloped rough, and deep rough, 20 to 40 yards from the green.

2

Treat each ball as its own hole with a Par 2 score. The aim is to get the ball on the green and into the hole in as few strokes as possible.

3

For each ball, hit one shot to the green, then putt until the ball is holed. Count how many strokes you used.

4

Do this for all 9 balls to finish 9 holes.

5

Repeat the course 2 more times, moving the balls a little each time, to finish 36 holes.

6

Add up all your strokes for 36 holes. Par is 72 strokes.

7

Enter your total score in the app out of 36 holes.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score2726252218141074
05

DIY Course Medium

Short Game

Up to 5 players play medium-difficulty 9 hole ‘PAR 2’ DIY course. Best final score wins.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for DIY Course  Medium
1

Set up 9 holes in the chipping area, each 20 to 40 yards away, using different lies like sand, sloped rough, and deep rough.

2

Place one ball for each player at each hole’s start.

3

Hit the ball toward the green and keep putting until it's in the hole.

4

Do this for all 9 holes. Each hole is PAR 2, so total PAR is

5

Repeat playing all 9 holes 4 times. That makes 36 shots total.

6

Count how many times the ball goes in with 2 or fewer shots.

7

Enter the number of successes out of 36 attempts in the app.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score151618202225283032
06

DIY Course Hard

Short Game

Up to 5 players play hard-difficulty 9 hole ‘PAR 2’ DIY course. Best final score wins.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for DIY Course  Hard
1

Make 9 hard spots around the chipping area, like sand, slopes, or thick grass.

2

Put 4 balls at each spot for a total of 36 shots.

3

Treat each ball as its own hole with par 2 scoring.

4

Hit the ball onto the green with a wedge, then finish with a putter.

5

Finish all 4 balls at one spot before going to the next.

6

Do all 9 holes a second time to try for a lower score.

7

Count strokes for each ball and keep a total score out of

8

Passing means making par (2 or better) on enough holes for your handicap group.

9

At the end, count number of pars or better out of 36 tries and enter score in the app.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score3129272318141074
07

DIY Course Easy

Short Game

Up to 5 players play easy-difficulty 9 hole ‘PAR 2’ DIY course. Best final score wins.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for DIY Course  Easy
1

Set up 9 holes in different places around the chipping area, like sand, sloped ground, rough, or deep rough.

2

Put 4 balls at each hole, one for each player.

3

Each ball spot is a PAR 2 hole. Chip or pitch the ball onto the green, then putt until the ball goes in.

4

Play all 9 holes, hitting one shot to the green and putting until you finish the hole.

5

Repeat the 9-hole course 4 times for a total of 36 shots.

6

Count how many shots were used for each hole, compare to PAR 2, and keep score (lower score is better).

7

When finished, enter how many times you completed holes at or below the expected score out of 36 attempts in the app.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score3028262218141064
08

DIY Course Easy

Short Game

Make a DIY 9 hole easy-difficulty course. Every hole is PAR 2. Count the score.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for DIY Course  Easy
1

Place 9 balls in different spots around the chipping green like light rough, sand, or short grass 20 to 40 yards from the hole.

2

Treat each ball as a PAR 2 hole. Hit one wedge shot to the green, then try to putt the ball into the hole.

3

Finish each ball before starting the next one.

4

Repeat this process 4 times for a total of 36 shots.

5

Count how many strokes it takes for each hole.

6

Count how many holes you finish in 2 strokes or fewer. After finishing, enter your total successful holes out of 36.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score2624221916131074
09

DIY Course Hard

Short Game

Up to 5 players play hard-difficulty 9 hole ‘PAR 2’ DIY course. Best final score wins.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for DIY Course  Hard
1

Set up 9 hitting spots around the green with balls 20-40 yards away in hard places like sand or rough.

2

At each spot, hit 4 shots to the green using wedges or putters.

3

Finish all 4 shots at one spot, then go to the next. Each spot is like a PAR 2 hole.

4

After all 9 spots, you will have hit 36 shots.

5

Every shot that lands and stays in the target area on the green, or goes in the hole, counts as a success.

6

Add up successful shots out of 36 and enter your score in the app.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score3129262318141064

Next Step

Ready to start this program?

Start the drills at your own pace or work with a coach to inside drills.golf.