Lag ladder
Putting · 15 min · Course
Putts from 15, 25, 35 feet. A club laid 3 feet past the hole as the backstop.
It has to finish in the 3-foot box. Three in a row at each station.
If the stroke gets short and stabby, go back to 15.
Already scoring · 03
Local loop
About 7–10 · states, regionals, UA — the floor
U.S. Kids states and regionals. Under Armour on the calendar. That is the minimum on this map at 7, 8, 9, 10 — not a flex.
A week on this rung
Nights after the other sport. Family on the weekend.
2–3 weeknights
2 nights when you’re home. Lag putting + one up-and-down game after the other sport. Travel week: nights are sleep.
The weekend
State, regional, or UA is the weekend — that’s the floor at 7–10. The other weekend this month: family 9 plus a local.
- Home Tue night. 20 min lag ladder or 3–6–9 after the other practice.
- Home Thu night. Clock around the green, 4 balls, then dinner.
- Event Saturday. U.S. Kids state / regional or UA. You caddie. They play.
- Home Sunday. Family 9. Not a make-up event.
You, this week
- Calendar and snacks. Not a second coach.
- One question after the round. Then quiet.
- Budget the state before you budget a national.
Clubs that fit
UL7-48 through UL7-54 for most. Re-measure every season. Tour Series only if the ultralight feels like a pool noodle.
Where they compete
- U.S. Kids Golf state and regional events — age groups, Longleaf yardages
- The Junior Tour powered by Under Armour — 6–18; by 7–10 this is on the sheet
- U.S. Kids local still, so they have a home tour between the bigger weeks
- Drive, Chip & Putt local qualifier (ages 7–15, free)
- eClub / district GHIN when they can finish 9 from a rated tee
How We Practice this week
9 holes from the right tee beats 80 range balls. Lag putts from 20–40 feet. A 50-yard wedge ladder.
3–6–9
Putting · 12 min · Course
Three tees: 3 feet, 6 feet, 9 feet. Same hole. Same putter.
Make three at 3, three at 6, three at 9. A miss at a station restarts that station only. They keep the card.
One trip through. The 9-footer is allowed to stay a 9-footer.
Clock around the green
Up & down · 20 min · Course
Four lies: fringe, light rough, tight lie, a little downhill. One ball at each. Putter stays away until the chip is done.
Chip, then one putt. Score out of 4. Beat last week. They pick the next lie.
Four. Not eight because ‘the last one was a flyer.’
Land it, then putt it
Up & down · 15 min · Course
A towel two paces onto the green. Wedge. Then the putter they already have.
The chip has to hit the towel. Whatever they have left, they putt once. That’s an up-and-down. Play 8.
Eight chances. Keep the score. Leave.
50-yard ladder
The rest · 20 min · Range
Flags or towels at 30, 40, 50 yards. One wedge.
Three balls each. The miss you care about is short/long, not left/right.
Eighteen balls. Then water.
Nine from the right tee
The rest · 90 min · Course
Longleaf / a forward tee they can reach with a 5 they actually hit. One ball.
Keep a card. No second shots. You caddie. They decide.
If pace of play is a problem, pick up at double par and walk.
Your job
You are caddie and logistics, not swing coach. After a hole: one question — “what would you do again?” Then quiet. Budget states before you budget a national.
Do not jump to HJGT majors because a neighbor’s kid did. UA + U.S. Kids regionals first. Skip AJGA until they have a number worth the membership.