Less is More

Operation 36 is bringing thousands of players into the sport, by working backward from the pin

Family time at Amy Godiwalla’s home looks totally different, now that she and her sons have become obsessed with golf through Operation 36. “It’s a great way to learn the sport,” the busy mom says. “For someone like me, who was not exposed to the game that much growing up, it can be intimidating. But I love it, and when my boys saw me having so much fun, practicing like crazy, and getting motivated, they got engaged too.” In just one year’s time, all three are heading to the course on a regular basis, with newfound confidence and lower scores.

Born in the Carolinas, Operation 36 is the brainchild of Ryan Daily and Matt Reagan. In 2010, the duo designed a long-term golf development program in Buies Creek, North Carolina, after recognizing some 12 million people were interested in learning the sport, but far too many tried it and left frustrated. In a nutshell, Operation 36 instructors start golfers 25 yards from the pin. Players don’t tee off further back on the fairway until they can shoot 36 across nine holes. “We met with Ryan and Matt about a decade ago and liked the concept,” says McConnell Vice President of Golf Operations Brian Kittler. “It’s a game-changer. It’s the first program where there’s a really good transition from golf instruction to getting on the golf course. We now run Operation 36 at 10 of our 14 facilities.”

“It’s bonkers!” exclaims Fergal O’Shea, Head Golf Professional at Providence Country Club. “Since last August, we’ve had almost 200 juniors and 168 ladies join the program. It makes the game manageable and removes all the intimidation when you’re first learning. You’re in a clinic-type setting, you learn visually from your peers, verbally with the pros.” Players move another 25 yards out with each new “division,” picking up new clubs, new swings, and new techniques along the way. O’Shea was steadfast that men would not want to start just off the green, with only a putter. Was he wrong? “The wives kept talking about it, so I set up a small class for 12 men,” the pro says. “I ended up with 30! We’ve even had intermediate players enroll in the program to improve their game, especially their short game.”

At The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation, Teaching Golf Professional Erica Britt has been recognized as an Operation 36 “Top 50 Golf Coach” for the past three years running. “I think the big difference the program offers is the ability to see your growth,” she says. “A lot of times students have tremendous growth, but not in a way that they realize it, so they struggle with confidence and believing in themselves. Op 36 builds confidence and motivates you to continue to work on your game so you don’t feel defeated.”

The program features weekly instruction and the use of an app to track progress. McConnell instructors have found golfers frequently visit the range and course to play on off days, even providing updates to them through the app. “They text me what they’ve practiced and the results they see,” says Britt. “The app shows them how their number of putts-per-round has improved, or the number of greens they hit. Students are so hard on themselves and don’t give themselves credit for their accomplishments. They can’t ignore what the app shows them.”

Wakefield Plantation is so serious about Operation 36, crews have installed permanent markers on the fairways, noting each division. “They’re color coded cement circles,” explains Britt. “Twenty-five yards out is orange, 100 is green, 150 is blue. We wanted the students to be on the course to play and practice, not just on the days we test.” 

O’Shea says Providence’s short-game practice area was underutilized. He now regularly sees up to 15 people squeezing into it to work on their strokes. Operation 36 founders have a goal of introducing one million new golfers to the game and get them to shoot even par (36) for nine holes by 2025. “Proof is in the pudding,” says O’Shea. “The rapid movement from class to class is fantastic to watch. It’s great to see so many people coming out and sticking with the sport we all love.”

After only two sessions, Godiwalla is now playing in division four, teeing off 150 yards from the hole. Her oldest, Landon, is playing in division three, after a session and summer camp, while Armin plays in division one after four days at camp. “The way the program is set up, your goal is totally attainable. You can see it,” she says. “I’ve found myself totally addicted and very passionate about it. Every day, I can’t wait to play.” And that’s what we like to see.