Beginning my 13th consecutive hour of coaching last month during the Longest Day of Golf Fundraiser I met with the Campagna’s and Cotter’s for a couples clinic. We decided to focus on the short game for no other reason than we were standing on the putting green and time was of the essence. After providing the couples with several accurate, substantiated and valid stats concerning the short game President Cotter spoke up with this zinger:
“Did you know that 93% of all statistics are made up on the spot?”
Well, that’s true….probably. But mine were actually accurate. 
Putting, we can all agree is a very important aspect of your overall golf performance (score). In fact, some would suggest that it accounts for, say, 42% of our total score…regardless of what score you shoot. I’ll assume it’s not the first time any of the reader(s) of this blog have seen this stat. So, why aren’t more of you practicing your putting? Why are we consumed with hitting the ball longer and straighter when even significant improvements in both won’t necessarily lead to lower scores? Maybe putting just isn’t that fun to do, maybe there is no gratification of practicing putting, or, maybe there’s just a lack of commitment in actually improving. Anyone know?
I drew a line in the sand this year when it came to our junior programs, specifically, our PEAK program. I wanted the kids to know just how important putting was and just exactly where their skill level was relative to where they aspired to be. You may have encountered the odd tee stuck in the ground on the practice green in the last couple of months (has anyone noticed that those new tees bend?). See if you are committed to improvement by playing the game that has taken our juniors by storm.
Pick a hole, any hole. Pace off 40 feet away from that hole and place a tee in the ground at that spot. In another direction from the hole, pace off another putt which will leave you 20 feet away and place a tee in the ground. In yet another direction from the hole pace off a 6 foot putt and place a tee in the ground. At this point you should have 3 tees in the ground and a 40, 20, and 6 foot putt. Here’s the challenge:
In sequence, you must 2 putt both the 40 and 20 foot putts and then 1 putt the 6 footer. Again, you must go 2 putt, 2 putt, 1 putt. If you 3 putt the 40 footer, you start over. 2 putt the 40 footer but 3 putt the 20 footer, start over. 2 putt the 40 and the 20 footer but miss the 6 footer, start over. You must only 2 putt (or less) the 40 and 20 and you must make the 6 footer. 40-20-6 in 2-2-1. The kids have loved it. Their challenge is they have to achieve success on the greens during any coaching session for us to move onto something else. And, they understand the relationship.
I’m giving you a 40 foot putt for birdie….just par it. I’m giving you a 20 foot putt for birdie…again, just par it. Then, I’m giving you an incredible short game shot from off the green that finishes just 6 feet from the hole, make it. If you do all three in succession, you just found out how difficult and challenging being even par can be. What the kids discovered is if (given their current ability as a putter) they hit all 18 greens in regulation (by hitting the ball further and straighter) with the ball finishing just 40 feet away from the hole….They would likely still shoot in the 80′s because they would 3 putt more than 50% of the time. It’s a game that gives you a challenge, it’s difficult to do, it keeps you focused AND it allows you to understand the relationship between what you’re practicing and what it can mean for your score on the course.
Give it a try.
