How a suburban lawn, a judgmental German Shepherd, and a few foam balls turned me into a short game scrapper
I don’t actually have a backyard. I live in an apartment. But I do have my parents’ backyard—and honestly, it’s better than any practice facility I’ve paid for.
It’s the same yard where I spent summers launching softballs into the neighbor’s shrubs, juggling soccer balls, and almost definitely breaking something with a whiffle bat. Now, 20 years later, I’m back. This time, it’s wedges, foam golf balls, and an ever-watchful German Shepherd named Leia.
She loves backyard practice, mostly because it means she gets to sunbathe and judge me in equal measure. She watches every shot intently—especially the ones that land near her tennis ball. Sometimes she even lets me practice uninterrupted before tossing hers at my feet. It’s a delicate balance.
The Setup: Welcome to Leia Links
This backyard is lush Michigan suburbia in spring: thick grass, pine trees lining the neighbor’s yard, flower beds, and at least seven bird feeders my dad insists are “strategically placed.” There’s also patio clutter (the remains of whatever my dad’s working on), scattered dog toys, and yes—occasional dog poop. It’s an adventure.
Here’s what I bring:
- A chipping mat (I use something like a Dura-Pro Premium Turf Mat when I want to work from consistent fringe-likelies)
- My 54° wedge and 60° wedge—my short game ride-or-dies (sometimes my pitching wedge for amusement)
- Foam balls, tennis balls, and sometimes real balls for low chips
- A Par Pro Pop-Up Chipping Net for funneling practice shots
- A few leftover colored lawn flags for improvised targets
- Alignment sticks
- Phone tripod (occasionally)
I’ve been meaning to ask my dad to overmow little patches of grass to create different lies. He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s about to become the official grounds crew at Leia Links. Leia has him well trained on the snack front, so he should be amenable.
Typical Backyard Session (30–90 Minutes, Depending on Dog Interruptions)
Warm-Up (10 minutes)
- Toss a few balls around, work on tempo with light chips
- Land-the-ball-on-the-bucket challenge
Drill Block (25 minutes)
- Ladder Drill: Land balls at progressively longer distances (see this YouTube drill demonstration for a similar setup)
- One-Club Challenge: Use just a 9-iron or wedge for all shot types
- Flop vs. Bump: Alternate trajectory and spin intentionally (check out My 5 Best Chipping Drills for ideas)
Game Simulation (20 minutes)
- Up-and-Down Contest: Pick a random spot and try to get up and down with 2 balls
- Par-18 Challenge: Score 9 simulated holes around yard targets
Wrap-Up (5 minutes)
- Reflect on what went well, what felt off, and follow my post-shot routine to keep your game grounded.”
- Record a quick voice memo or note in my phone to track trends
- Throw the ball for Leia 10 times to say thanks
When I Mix It Up: The Neighborhood Course
Sometimes I head to a public course about a mile away. It has a great little short game area with a real chipping green and practice hole.
I buy a small bucket (about 30 balls), but I stretch it—chipping them all out to one zone, collecting, repeating. A single bucket lasts an hour if I’m working on feel, distance control, and spin. I usually start farther out and work my way in. I’ve even holed a few from distance, which always feels like a minor miracle.
If I’ve got energy left, I move to the range and do two hits per club just to keep the full swing fresh (sometimes following tips from this Golf Digest article on short-game fixes). If I’m tired, I just call it. One time, I gave the rest of my bucket to a couple of kids out there practicing. They lit up. That was even better than a made chip.
Why It Works
Practicing in my parents’ backyard—or on the public chipping green—isn’t about having ideal conditions. It’s about variety, feel, and adaptability. The lies are imperfect. The obstacles are real. There’s no perfect mat or repeatable bounce. And that’s the point.
As Jon Sherman explains in Golf Digest, smart practice focuses on feel over fancy and exposes you to real-world variability. Backyard practice does exactly that.
Also, watching this video on a go-to DIY chipping net drill reminds me there’s something energizing about creating your own challenges rather than relying on a range.
It’s low-stress and high-rep. I can experiment. I can focus on one thing at a time. I can screw up and laugh about it. That transfers to league play way more than you’d think.
Backyard chips don’t always translate—but sometimes they really do. I felt it big time in my last round at Fellows Creek.
And the squirrels, by the way, are deeply unimpressed.
Gear & Setup Links
TL;DR
You don’t need a backyard to practice your short game. But if you can find one—your parents’, a friend’s, or a local park—you’ll discover how creative, focused, and fun short game work can be. Especially if you’ve got a dog who’s ready to be your audience.
