Rookie Practice Schedule

[GoBlue96]

Hello,

I have a question for you guys,  what is a practice schedule that is conducive to improvement in my golf game as a rookie, and also, as I'm only 14 easy on the wallet.  I have access to a driving range($5 a bucket) and a practice green(free), as well as a few good courses.  I was looking for a planner-like schedule that I could follow every week, so that I could be sure my meager funding would make it through, and, I know that short game is particularly important, but that is the best part of my game right now, and I would like to confidently hit my longer clubs, including my driver, any tips or drills for that area of my game?  Thank you for the replies!

[Shindig]

Well, if the putting green is free and reasonably well-maintained, try a 3-footer and 5-footer drill. Set up a circle around a cup, preferably without too much break (the goal here is to work on making putts). See how many 3-footers you can make in a row, not from the same spot. I move either clockwise or counter-clockwise. My personal best is 32. One of these days, I'll beat that. Do the same with 5- or 6-footers. This does two things: 1. Once you know the break, you'll know whether it was your stroke that caused a miss. This allows you to work on your stroke with an immediate consequence to a bad shot (having to start the count over). 2. Once you've made 10+ in a row a few times, you start to have more confidence standing over short putts. Imagine if you knew you'd be given every putt inside 3 feet, how much more relaxed and free you could be with long putts or chipping. Knowing you're almost certain to make a putt within 3' is almost the same thing. I don't have a good practice schedule, so I can't help you with the rest. As it happens, when I was getting started, I just went to the range after work every day for a few months.

[LankyLefty]

I never go a day without taking it least a few swings and few putts. Even if the swings are in my back yard and the putts on my living room rug.

If your just starting out I really recommend you learn to putt. Putting is the sort of thing where the only decent way to get really good at it is by doing it a lot so start early.

Id also recommend a net or some sort of device that allows you to take full swings without going to the driving range. They are no substitute for seeing ball flight but they allow you to keep and build muscle memory.

Also while not really cheap, get some lessons for someone just starting 1 or 2 lessons can do A WHOLE LOT. Usually people who start young develop stupid habits then pay some lucky instructor thousands to correct them. So don't start them in the first place.

Also this is a bit off topic but  when I was your age my goal was the hit the ball as far as a I possibly could on every swing. Don't do that It doesn't pay.