The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch Junior Golf – Powered by Operation 36®

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.

You Might Also Enjoy....
Wellness

Living Longer or Living Healthier: Your Lifespan vs. Health Span

At Cordillera Ranch, we often talk about achieving new fitness goals and enjoying a round of golf, tennis or pickleball. These activities and so many others we do are central to a vibrant life here at the Clubs. But how do we measure the success of our health? Do we want to live longer and “survive” our life, or do we want to thrive? Some say we would like quality over quantity; I believe we can have quality in the quantity of years in our lives.

Read More »
Welcome Letter

It’s Been a Year of Progress and Connection

As the days grow shorter and our community begins to sparkle with holiday lights, I wanted to share a quick note of gratitude and a few friendly reminders as we head into the season. This time of year always seems to bring out the best in people — more get-togethers, more shared meals and more neighborly help when it’s needed most. That spirit is what makes Cordillera Ranch such a special place to call home and, frankly, it’s not solely unique to this time of year.

Read More »