2025 Summer Academy - Intermediate, Thursday 6:30-7:30pm

The Meridian Sun Junior Academy is our premier, structured long-term learning program designed for juniors looking to move beyond traditional golf clinics.  Our academy is part of the national Operation 36 Platform, which focuses on coaching juniors to shoot par or better for nine holes from progressively longer yardages. 

We are excited to announce that starting this season, the Operation 36 program will transition to a skill based model rather than an age based model.  Classes are structured for the skill level and/or the Operation 36 level of each student.  The new structure will provide ongoing development and practices will follow a proven template for improvement based on the Operation 36 yardages ensuring participants develop their skills methodically and effifiently.  The classes will be structured in the following manner:

• Beginner Class: Beginner is defined as a student that has either never played golf prior to the academy, or is in OP 36 program at Level 1 (25 yards).
• Intermediate Class: Intermediate is defined as a student that has previously been in the the OP 36 program and is at Level 2-3 (50-100 yards), or has previous playing experience at similiar or longer yardage.
• Advanced Class:  Advanced is defined as a student that has previously been in the the OP 36 program and is at Level 4 or higher (150+ yards), or has previous playing experience at similiar or longer yardage
• Supervised Practices:  Supervised practices are optional and open to all partipants at each skill level.  The practices are designed to train and develop the skills learned in each class.  Juniors will be challenged to use their skills with drills and fun and lightly competitive games.
• Operation 36 Tournaments:  The nine hole Operation 36 tournaments are now included with all classes.  These tournaments are essential to the player's development and to the measurement of their progress toward shooting par or better.  If a student cannot attend one or more of the tournaments, they are encouraged to play their Operation 36 round at another time of their choosing as long as a parent or guardian is with them.

Key updates to the program include:

We are introducing a new class structure where juniors will no longer separated strictly by age.  Instead:

• Each student will receive personalized performance goals based on their current progress through the Operation 36 yardages.
• Practice sessions will be designed to help each student connect their practice habits to their on course performance, focusing on preparing for their next Operation 36 tournament.
• This individualized approach emphasizes measureable progress and helps player understand how to improve and succeed at their current stage while advancing toward the next level.
• Families and students will be entered into the Operation 36 App and can track their progress during each month and throughout the year.

Key Features of the Program

• Players start playing nine holes from 25 yards from the center of green and progress back to the regulation tees by passing the Operation 36 performance goal at each yardage.
• Juniors must also learn the Operation 36 curriculum objectives at each level before advancing.  
• Weekly classes and supervised practices include structured activities, drills, games and Operation 36 tournaments to track progress.

2025 Academy Schedule

• Winter Session:  January 13-March 8 (Workshop classes on Monday and Tuesday evenings, (5:20-7:30pm)
• Spring Semester:  April 7-June 7
• Summer Semester:  June 9-August 2
• Fall Semester: August 11-October 4

Weekly Class Schedule - Classes will be open to all juniors enrolled in the program, regardless of skill level.  Ages 7+  Coaches will provide instruction and standards of performance tailored to each students specific needs and current Operation 365 yardage.

• Class Days and Time
• Monday:  5:30-6:30 and 6:35-7:35pm
• Wednesday:  5:30-6:30 and 6:35-7:35pm
• Thursday:  5:30-6:30 and 6:35-7:35pm
• Supervised Practices:  Saturdays, 10am-12pm
• Operation 36 Tournaments:  Sundays, 5:00pm Shotgun Start

• For general information about the Operation 36 platform please click here!
  
• The Coach for the Golf Academy Program will be Derek Choma.
• Each session includes  classes and two Operation 36 tournaments per month.  The supervised practices are encouraged, but optional.
• If you have any questions, please give Derek Choma a call at 517-339-8281 or email him at derekchoma@aol.com