Course Program

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

Stop on a dime, for a 17-handicap player, ~15 minutes at Challenge/Prestige

Short GameAll teesProgram HCP 17.35 drills

Program Snapshot

Handicap range

8 to 45

Average HCP

17.3

Duration (single session)

2 hr 10 min

or

1 drill/day: 5 days · 26 min/day

Ideal tee

All

Skill Distribution

Scoring47%
Distance Control31%
Visualization22%

Overview

Program Structure

Can you stop the ball on a dime? Distance control test. Stop on a dime and feel the green. Focus on Scoring, Distance Control, Visualization. For a 17-handicap player, in ~15 minutes.

Skill

Distance Control

Shot

Mixed

What you will improve

  • Scoring
  • Distance Control
  • Visualization

Program details

Sessions
5 focused drills
Recommended
2–3 sessions / week
Total duration
2 hr 10 min
or
1 drill per day
5 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 Medium

Short Game

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

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for DIY Course  Medium
1

Place 9 balls in tricky spots around the short game area, like sand, sloped rough, and deep rough, 20-40 yards from the green.

2

Each ball is a mini hole with par 2 shots (chip plus putt).

3

For each ball, chip onto the green and then putt until it goes in, counting strokes (max 2).

4

Move to the next ball and do the same until all 9 balls are played.

5

Play the 9 balls again two more times from different spots for a total of 36 attempts.

6

After 36 tries, add up all the strokes.

7

Compare your total strokes to the par (72) to see how you did. Lower scores are better.

8

Enter the number of holes finished in 2 shots out of 36 tries in the app.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score161718212427303335
02

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 9 balls around the green, each 20–40 yards from the green in easy spots.

2

Each ball is a separate hole. The goal is 2 shots (par) per hole.

3

Hit one wedge shot to get the ball on the green.

4

Putt the ball until it is in the hole, trying to use 2 shots or fewer.

5

Write down the number of shots for each hole.

6

Finish all 9 holes in order.

7

Do the 9 holes 3 times with new ball spots each round, for 27 total tries.

8

Set up 9 more balls in easy spots and play those, so you have 36 tries total.

9

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

0

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

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score181818192123252832
03

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
04

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
05

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 hard spots around the green like bunkers, rough, or tight lies.

2

Each ball is like a hole on a 9-hole course. Par for each hole is 2 shots.

3

For each ball, hit onto the green with a wedge or chip.

4

Once on the green, putt until finished.

5

Count shots for each hole and track your total score for all 9 holes.

6

Do the 9-hole course 4 times, moving balls to new tough spots each round.

7

You will hit 36 shots (4 rounds × 9 holes). At the end, add up how many holes you finished in 2 or fewer shots (par or better). Enter your score out of 36 tries in the app.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score262421181411853

Next Step

Ready to start this program?

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