Intentional practice for the mildly competitive, chronically curious, non-professional golfer.

Why I Built a Framework

At first, my “practice” looked a lot like loitering at the range with a bucket of balls and a few too many YouTube tabs open.

I’d just decided—after binge-watching a few PGA Tour rounds—that I was going to give golf another shot. Twenty years after walking away from the game, I stumbled across a deal on Facebook Marketplace: a full set of high-end beginner-friendly clubs for $350, originally worth over two grand. Obviously, I took it as a sign.

Before my first lesson, I didn’t want to show up completely cold. So I hit the range on my own. To my surprise, my swing came back faster than expected. Not perfect—more like a backswing powered by good intentions and mild panic—but it was something. Encouraged, I kept going. More solo range sessions. More notes on what felt off. More social media tips promising to fix everything.

And that’s when the confusion started.

Some days felt amazing. Others felt like I’d never swung a club in my life. The more I tried to “fix” my swing with reels and quick tips, the more scrambled it all got. I didn’t have a plan. I had fragments of other people’s plans, all fighting for attention in my brain.

Eventually, I realized: I didn’t need more advice. I needed structure. Something flexible but focused. Something that fit my life and made space for real progress—not just random reps and rabbit holes.

So I built a weekly framework that keeps my practice sessions intentional, my progress trackable, and my golf swing… now featuring fewer crisis twitches and more actual checkpoints.

⛳ How My Range Sessions Are Structured

Each range session is 90 minutes, broken into:

This mix helps me stay sharp across all areas and keeps each session purposeful. No “zombie range mode.”

Starting with finesse work forces me to slow down. It gets me in tune with my feel, my tempo, and how the ball is reacting that day. I’m not just warming up—I’m sharpening the parts of my game that fall apart fastest under pressure.

Putting early might seem backwards, but it works for me. I’m fresher, I focus better, and I don’t rush through it (or skip it entirely) like I do when I’m tired at the end. It also helps me carry feel and rhythm into the rest of the session.

Saving full swing for last keeps me from jumping straight into “let’s fix the driver” mode. By the time I get to that 50-minute block, I’m more connected to my tempo, warmed up for power, and thinking more clearly. It’s where I build consistency—but only after I’ve built awareness.

This structure doesn’t just help me stay focused. It helps me leave the range knowing what I accomplished, what still needs work, and what’s actually improving.

🏠 My Daily Putting Routine

I putt in my living room every day—usually for about 10 to 15 minutes. It’s rarely glamorous, but it’s consistent, and it fits easily into my mornings while I wait for the coffee to finish brewing.

Sometimes it’s alignment drills. Sometimes it’s pace control or short-pressure putts. But no matter what, I roll a few every day—even when it’s raining, freezing, or I’ve got five minutes and a floor that isn’t level.

It’s not fancy, but it’s foundational. And it means I’m practicing one of the most important parts of my game, even when the rest of the day doesn’t cooperate.

➡️ Here’s the putting mat and routine I use most often.

The Practice Plan Framework

Step 1: Set a Primary Focus

This is the theme of the week—the skill I most want to improve or reinforce right now.

Sometimes it’s technical (like center contact).
Sometimes it’s strategic (like gapping wedges).
Sometimes it’s mental (like trusting my swing under pressure).

I pick one, then build everything else around it.

Step 2: Add 1–2 Support Skills

Once I’ve got my main focus, I layer in a few supporting goals. Usually these are things that naturally pair well with the main theme—or that I’ve been neglecting.

If my primary focus is swing path, I might add setup and alignment checks.
If it’s chipping, I might pair that with feel-based putting.

These aren’t the stars of the show, but they help build context and momentum.

Step 3: Schedule Play + Reflection

I don’t just practice—I play. And I reflect.

That means:

• At least one 9-hole round (league or solo).
  I always play in my Fellows Creek league on Monday nights. Most weeks, I also play on Thursday mornings at the University of Michigan Golf Course with the University Women’s Golf Club League.
• One lesson or clinic most weeks.
  I usually work this into a Thursday evening, depending on what’s available. Sometimes it’s a group session, sometimes a private check-in—either way, it’s a dedicated hour to learn and recalibrate.
• 15–20 minutes post-round to review stats + jot notes.
  (What worked, what didn’t, what needs work.)
• A quick end-of-week check-in to assess progress and reset for next week.

It’s not just about how many balls I hit.
It’s about what I learn when I do.

Monthly Themes + Weekly Focus Plan

I don’t just wing it week to week — I plan in four-week cycles with a central monthly theme that aligns with my goals for the season.

Each month is broken into focused weeks, so I’m always building one layer at a time. Here’s how it looks:

🟣 Month 1: Contact + Clean Strikes

• Week 1: Getting Into the Swing
  Re-establishing routines, swing feel, and consistent contact.
• Week 2: Pre-Shot Routine + Tempo
  Locking in sequencing and calming my setup.
• Week 3: Contact + Club Path
  Center-face strikes and club delivery drills.
• Week 4: Visual Focus + Intermediate Targets
  Improving consistency through better aim and alignment.

🟢 Month 2: Distance Control + Scoring

• Week 5: Wedge Gapping + Scoring Zones
  Dialing in distances inside 100 yards.
• Week 6: Uphill, Downhill, and Uneven Lies
  Handling real-world terrain and controlling trajectory.
• Week 7: First Chip Success + Sand Practice
  Limiting mistakes around the green.
• Week 8: Par-Saver Practice + Recovery Shots
  Making smarter second shots after mistakes.

🔵 Month 3: Pressure Practice + Performance

• Week 9: Pressure Putting + Pre-Shot Routine
  Reinforcing trust under stress.
• Week 10: Simulated Rounds + Target Play
  Creating competitive practice environments.
• Week 11: Mid-Round Reset + Mental Tags
  Improving focus hole by hole.
• Week 12: Club Confidence Challenge
  Tracking and improving performance by club.

🟡 Month 4: Strategy + Scoring Efficiency

• Week 13: Scoring Strategy + Strengths Map
  Using what works — smarter decisions, fewer mistakes.
• Week 14: Avoiding Hero Shots + Playing Smart
  Taking the high-percentage play every time.
• Week 15: Lag Putting + Second-Chance Drills
  Fewer three-putts, better recovery focus.
• Week 16: Tournament Prep + Calm Execution
  Locking it all in and trusting the plan.

Sample Practice Week

Make It Yours

Your game might need different ingredients. Your week might look totally different.

That’s the point.

This framework isn’t about fitting my schedule—it’s about fitting your priorities. One primary focus. A couple supporting skills. Some time to play and reflect. Rinse. Repeat. Revise.

It won’t always be perfect. But it’ll always be progress.