This spring, the Cordillera Ranch Golf Club integrated the Operation 36 development model and coaching platform into our junior instructional programs to enhance our students’ experiences. At Cordillera Ranch, we believe that every golf program should be centered on playing golf and making it fun to track progress.
We aim to give our junior golfers the best introduction and long-term development plan to become skilled golfers.
By Katie Dillard :: Photography by Kelsey Grudle
Operation 36 is the fastest growing golfer development model and technology being incorporated into coaching programs around the world, and the program gives our staff a way to organize a golfer’s development and measure improvement over time. The junior program allows students to learn and play in a group setting with multiple coaches twice a week throughout the school year. The Golf Club plans to expand the use of Operation 36 to adult golfers in the near future. Our end goal is for all of our golfers to shoot par (36) from a full tee-box!
The Operation 36 development model is made up of 3 steps:
STEP ONE: Play Their First 9 Holes
Juniors participate in regular 9-hole playing experiences in order to apply the curriculum and progress through the 10 divisions.
How STEP ONE (the on-course model) works:
1. Play 9 holes from Division 1 (25 Yards) – Instead of starting at the full tee-box, all golfers begin in Division 1 and play 9 holes starting 25 yards from each green.
2. Shoot par (36) or better to pass Division – If they shoot par (36) or better, the golfer progresses to Division 2, where they start 50 yards from each green.
3. Complete the Division 10 challenge – This challenge continues until the golfer can shoot par (36) from all 10 divisions!
STEP TWO: Learn Skills in Fun Classes
We make learning the game feel like a game! Juniors make friends and learn skills in fun and engaging classes. Students also progress through 6 ranks made up of 12 areas of golf curriculum, which they are tested on regularly.
The 12 areas of golf curriculum are:
- Posture
- Power
- Grip
- Ball Flight
- Alignment
- Putting
- Green Reading
- Work Ethic
- Mastery
- Honor
- Fitness & Nutrition
- Performance
STEP THREE: Train and Track Progress
The Operation 36 Mobile App provides a guide to practicing and playing golf outside of classes. Each junior golfer in our program gets a profile in the app. After each event, our staff records the scores on students’ profiles and tracks their progress over time. The app also allows our staff to organize programs and schedules digitally to improve communication with our families.
The Operation 36 program not only helps build golfers for life, but it also teaches life lessons, holds students accountable and allows them and their parents to develop relationships with other families. So far, we have seen great success and we are excited to continue to grow the program and our next generation of golfers here at the Club. Members can learn more about Operation 36 at: www.operation36.golf or through the Player Development page on the Clubs website.
Katie Dillard is the Player Development Coordinator at Cordillera Ranch. She can be reached at kdillard@cordilleraranch.com or 830.336.4653.
