Your Local Range

[GolfSpy Dave]

Many of us use the range to practice, but driving range has a very broad definition.

A few other topics have mentioned the specific ranges that members practice on.

What does your range look like? Mats? Grass? Indoor/outdoor? Cost? Hours?

 

Some of you are still snowed in, so just imagine the range in summer.

[NGage]

My range is the one from my club, and it just so happens to be behind the houses that are across the street from me. Even better....the back end of the range is what's specifically across from me, so I can go out late afternoon and have the place pretty much to myself.

 

Our range has two fairways cut into it, and about 10 greens set up in it at various angles and distances. It also has two putting greens and one dedicated short game green with two sand bunkers. There is also one dedicated tee areas to practice shots from 80yds-120yds.

[Funkyfedora]

Um... A big field about 350 yards long and 50-75 yards wide with just signs down the middle. We have a small practice green with 5 holes cut into it. We have stadium lights for the late night range sessions in the summer.

[mudfish]

WOW... most of the ones around here are open fields next to the courses with 2-3 flags at 50/100/150/200/250/300 yards... most are grass, but a few are half mats, half grass...

 

On has a car at about 180 yards for people to shoot at and if you hit it through the window, there is a light on top that flashes, and you win a free small bucket...

[jamo]

The one I usually use is 2 sided, with the back side being the member area. Both sides have putting greens and the members area also has a pretty nice chipping green.

[Matt Saternus]

In the winter, I'm in a dome that's 100 yards long, hitting off mats.

 

In the summer I bounce around a bit, but I spend most of my time hitting off mats into a water retention basin that has flags at 50, 100, 150, 200.

[jamo]

In the winter, I'm in a dome that's 100 yards long, hitting off mats.

 

I've got one of these too, it's an indoor soccer field that is a driving range during the weekdays.

[MmmmmmBuddy]

I work at my range. 30 mats, 5 grass tees. all covered. 2 short game areas. Back of the range is 255 with a 40 ft net.

[GolfSpy Dave]

Just back from my range and it is all tore up. They are putting in automatic tee machines. Cutting into the concrete and everything. Plus the manager said that they are getting new mats. Supposedly there will be rough like grass too. This is a huge 2-ended range with about 40+ stalls at each end. Roughly 320 deep. Marked greens at various distances. If you search Haggin Oaks golf expo, you can see it.

[Moecat]

The range I use has grass and mats. The putting green is in somewhat poor shape, but the practice bunker and small chipping area make up for it.

[jamo]

Just back from my range and it is all tore up. They are putting in automatic tee machines. Cutting into the concrete and everything. Plus the manager said that they are getting new mats. Supposedly there will be rough like grass too.

 

Grass-like mats are the best, I've been practicing on them all winter.

[JohnBarry]

My range has both, and I use both. Mat for tee shots and the grass for all the irons. Mat when it's raining though, that can't be helped.

[Funkyfedora]

My range is all grass...

[GolfSpy Dave]

My range is all grass...

Just FYI, to keep all the ranges sorted out, can you go to your OP and add this in as an edit rather than an additional post. That makes it easier for readers to see which range is all grass.

[Funkyfedora]

Its 10 posts apart and my avatar should help make the connection...

[jamo]

We have stadium lights for the late night range sessions in the summer.

 

How late is it open? I wish my range had lights.

[DanHRPh]

there are a few I use. The one close to my house is about 300 yards deep and i'd say 150 yards wide. there's a row of 12-15 mats on a pressure treated, covered deck then there's a grass tee area beyond that. There's a decent size putting green with several holes. Chipping/pitching allowed. They also have a practice bunker and another area specifically for pitching. Grass mowed short but it isn't a green, just a flag

 

$5 for 40 balls or $8 for 80

 

The range at my home course is sweet. 375 yards, only grass tees. the tee line is as nice as the tee boxes for the most part. there's a HUGE putting green with a billion cups, another green with 5 or so cups that is used mostly for chipping, pitching and bunker shots, and yet another green next to the first tee. Flags at i think 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250. somthing like that.

 

3 size buckets. I think 30ish, 80ish and 110ish. can't remember prices. 5, 8, 12? You can load money onto a key reader to get a discount on balls.

[Tony Covey MGS]

I'm actually considering joining the only private club in town without a range. That said, there are a few nearby. Most are in the $7-$9 range for a bucket of 100 balls. Most hit off mats, some offer grass at an up charge. There's also a big open field that charges $6 for a bucket (unattended - on the honor system). It's in piss poor shape, but if you just want to swing the driver it's alright I suppose.

 

Mostly I hit balls indoors at Tark's Indoor Golf.

[GolfSpy Dave]

 

Mostly I hit balls indoors at Tark's Indoor Golf.

Now that is a range! How do you putt in it though?

[GolfSpy Dave]

So I have to add perhaps the best component that I have witnessed at a range. Saw it today.

 

Women's College Golf Teams

 

sorry no pictures

[Matt Saternus]

So I have to add perhaps the best component that I have witnessed at a range. Saw it today.

 

Women's College Golf Teams

 

sorry no pictures

 

When I lived downstate, I went to a course where a couple of college teams held practices. It was very impressive to watch them hit balls and putt. As a coach, I appreciated that they actually practiced the things they were supposed to - I wonder if that's why they were good?

[GolfSpy Dave]

When I lived downstate, I went to a course where a couple of college teams held practices. It was very impressive to watch them hit balls and putt. As a coach, I appreciated that they actually practiced the things they were supposed to - I wonder if that's why they were good?

Yes it was an impressive sight. Didn't help my range concentration though...

[Tony Covey MGS]

Now that is a range! How do you putt in it though?

Putting is a little strange at first (as are all aspects of the short game). You putt, pitch, chip directly into the screen like any other shot. Obviously the perspective is strange, so it really forces you to think in terms of distances rather than eyeballing everything from inside 50 yards or so. I expect when I get out on the course I'll show improvement as a result.

[cmsaternus]

After chopping it up today on grass, I'm beginning to wonder how productive it was hitting off mats all winter in the dome.

[Addicted2Golf]

Yes it was an impressive sight. Didn't help my range concentration though...

 

Yeah, I think Matt missed the point about why you were excited that they were there. It wasn't to watch their practice regimen. LOL.

[Addicted2Golf]

I actually rotate between three ranges depending on the time of the year.

 

If its cold and the ground is frozen, then I will usually go to the dome (which is the same one MSaternus goes to):

 

White Pines Golf Dome

 

If the weather is warmer but courses are closed or even still hitting off matts, then I will go to an indoor facility where you hit into an outdoor landing area. This is my favorite one:

 

Golf Center Des Plaines

 

But, if the courses are open and they allow me to hit off grass then I use the driving range at the course.

[jamo]

After chopping it up today on grass, I'm beginning to wonder how productive it was hitting off mats all winter in the dome.

 

I had the same experience today. Mats are not as realistic as I would like.

[GolfSpy Dave]

I had the same experience today. Mats are not as realistic as I would like.

This was something that I had no idea about initially. The mat is way too forgiving.

I can't wait until the ranges get the grass going again.

[jamo]

This was something that I had no idea about initially. The mat is way too forgiving.

I can't wait until the ranges get the grass going again.

 

If you hit it fat enough on a mat it will either skip up and you'll thin it, or it'll bounce and you can hit it flush. If you know the feel through experience you can feel it, but most people don't know it. Grass isn't bouncy, the club just digs in.

[GolfSpy Dave]

If you hit it fat enough on a mat it will either skip up and you'll thin it, or it'll bounce and you can hit it flush. If you know the feel through experience you can feel it, but most people don't know it. Grass isn't bouncy, the club just digs in.

Exactly. it was very eye opening as a new player to try the first time hitting balls at a grass range...