satisfied with your practice facility?

**out_in_30** · May 25, 2010

ive recently lost some very nice privileges that allowed me to pretty much have a great driving range, chipping area/bunker, putting green (all grass) to practice on whenever I wanted. I am now faced with the reality that hardly anywhere around where I live has grass driving ranges. I am curious as to why anyone would work on the swing by hitting shots off of astroturf? i am aware of the cost of grass vs astroturf but my point here is that golf is not played on astroturf and the club behaves completely different off of each surface. and it is my opinion that it in fact hinders the improvement process. does anyone else share this opinion? Also, does anyone know of a practice area that has grass ranges in the LA area and a decent chipping/pitching area?

**Shankapotomus** · May 25, 2010

What about Griffith Park? Last I knew there was a golf shop at the park that had about four putting greens, two pitching and chipping greens and one practice bunker. It's been awhile since I lived in the LA basin though.

Edit: Found the shop I was thinking of: Barber Shop @ Griffith Park

**enis750** · May 26, 2010

not at all
we have a decent putting green and range but thats it (best range in town IMO)
i have to drive accross town to another course for chipping practice
they have a wicked practice green for this, but their range is crap

wish i could have it all in one place

12_Over · May 26, 2010

My practice facility is top notch. Lush grass to hit from, Nike balls that look brand new, a huge bent grass green with undulation, lit up for night practive, and two chipping greens. Oh yeah, it's right next door to the Nike Oven. I need to take some pics and post for you guys.

**IcemanYVR** · May 26, 2010

My course has a world class facility... double ended 350 yard driving range with numerous targets, covered stalls and over an acre of grass tees, practice and fairway bunker, chipping green, and 2 huge practice putting greens.

As former home to the PGA Tour's Air Canada Championship, it has served well as a practice facility and is also home to a Regional Titleist Advanced Fitting Center.

**BritBoy** · May 26, 2010

My course has a world class facility... double ended 350 yard driving range with numerous targets, covered stalls and over an acre of grass tees, practice and fairway bunker, chipping green, and 2 huge practice putting greens.

you make me sick!!!!! talk about lucky lol

I split my practice between 3 courses all within 30 miles of each other. 1 for short game, 1 for the range and the other for the range and playing... just depends what Im working on really.... But you could put all three together and they dont compare to that ^ lol

**BonoVox** · May 26, 2010

you make me sick!!!!! talk about lucky lol

Sounds like me. The course 2 minutes from me has mat hitting range. (not terrible) Nice putting green. No chipping area unless you wait until almost dark on any given day.

I have a course about 20 to 30 minutes from me that has a nice facility but not convenient for running over to it. Typically I head over there when I can spend 2 or 3 hours there minimum. Otherwise it is a facility 15 minutes from me with mats but does have a chipping area with a bunker.

**senorchipotle** · May 26, 2010

My course has a world class facility... double ended 350 yard driving range with numerous targets, covered stalls and over an acre of grass tees, practice and fairway bunker, chipping green, and 2 huge practice putting greens.

beautiful facility, only drawback is you only get to use it half the year. plus i'm sure you pay world class money as well, right?

there are a few good facilities within 10-15 miles of me. problem is, the one where i like to practice with an all grass range offers large buckets for 8 dollars and doesn't offer a bulk special. the one with grass mats however, offers 25$ cards which gives me enough balls to hit for two weeks. i'm torn.

**IcemanYVR** · May 26, 2010

beautiful facility, only drawback is you only get to use it half the year. plus i'm sure you pay world class money as well, right?

how do you figure... once again shows how little American's actually know about Canada

I live in Vancouver, where golf courses are generally open year round. We get snow once a year, usually sticks around for less than a week, and temperatures in the Winter are cold, but not freezing. World class money, not sure but I don't think so... it costs $6 for 50 balls, $10/100. They're brand new Srixon's, seldom see an old ball and if I'm going to spend 2-3 hours there, I usually don't even hit the full 50 balls on the range.

**Titleist_ProV1x** · May 26, 2010

ive recently lost some very nice privileges that allowed me to pretty much have a great driving range, chipping area/bunker, putting green (all grass) to practice on whenever I wanted. I am now faced with the reality that hardly anywhere around where I live has grass driving ranges. I am curious as to why anyone would work on the swing by hitting shots off of astroturf? i am aware of the cost of grass vs astroturf but my point here is that golf is not played on astroturf and the club behaves completely different off of each surface. and it is my opinion that it in fact hinders the improvement process. does anyone else share this opinion? Also, does anyone know of a practice area that has grass ranges in the LA area and a decent chipping/pitching area?

http://www.trumpnationallosangeles.com/ I practice here when I'm up in the LA area, I've seen Tiger and AK here along with countless celebrities, try it out, even if your range session goes wrong at least the view is nice

**chef35ca** · May 26, 2010

I use the range at the course i work at probably 4-5 days a week. The short game area is alright. It would be better if the green had a level opening where you could run balls in from a ways out. As is it's an elevated practice green.
The range is passable. The balls are limited flight & suck hard. It's mats almost all year around, although there's some wiggle room for grass usage as well.
I usually just go out after work & play 3 holes, #10, 11 & 18. A par 3, 4, & 5. 20minutes & then i'm on my way home. I haven't set up a mat out back of the clubhouse yet & went for #10. I figure it's around 250 from our back door across the road & over the trees. My last day there will be very amusing.

**out_in_30** · May 26, 2010

question: am i able to walk onto that property and practice? cuz that looks amazing and i can pretty much see trump national from my house granted its still far... i live on the other side of the bay but is that a public facility? looks amazing...

**nevets88** · May 26, 2010

question: am i able to walk onto that property and practice? cuz that looks amazing and i can pretty much see trump national from my house granted its still far... i live on the other side of the bay but is that a public facility? looks amazing...

With a view like that and Trump, I'm guessing it's very expensive. The unlimited deal is expensive.

http://www.trumpnationallosangeles.c...d=178147&vnf;=1 The Vancouver facility looks nice. You can play year round, but it does tend to rain alot during the winter. I don't mind rain so much but you have to watch out for drainage there. I would guess Florida has the most quality practice areas that aren't too overpriced.

**Titleist_ProV1x** · May 26, 2010

question: am i able to walk onto that property and practice? cuz that looks amazing and i can pretty much see trump national from my house granted its still far... i live on the other side of the bay but is that a public facility? looks amazing...

Yep, 100% public

**Leftygolfer** · May 26, 2010

Not really. It is ok but not great. I practice at the course usually and just practice putting and chipping.

**WUTiger** · May 26, 2010

Several good practice facilities in my area. Only three are complete, however: one is a dedicated driving range, a second at an upscale semi-private course, and the third is at a country club.

Drawbacks at other facilities:

* Site A. Could be great with better mowing. Grass tee areas shaggy half the week, putting green has a Stimpmeter reading of -1.
* Site B. Super set-up, except you hit off a high hill to target greens below. Not a place to go if you want to establish your club-to-club distance yardstick.
* Site C. This upscale course sold off adjacent land to housing developers, and 80-year-old widow now has lawsuit to close driving range as a danger - can only hit irons to warm up. She watches range with binoculars, so some players will swing drivers without hitting balls so the old widow calls the sheriff, then she ends up looking like idiot.
* Site D. Grass-tee area a little short on space. Basically, can't hit woods and drivers off the grass, only off the mats which won't take a wooden tee. Causes similar problems to site C. for working on tee shots.

**golfro** · May 26, 2010

not happy at all. I frequent two differenet ranges depending on time of day.

1. Interbay which is just a bit up the street from my work. Nice two-story driving range but quite a bit short. I hit the back net with a driver and am asked not to hit a driver on the 2nd floor. My problem is that this place is crowded like nobody's business. After 5 PM, you can forget about it. there's lines of people waiting.

2. Puetz on Aurora. Balls suck. period. They're limited flight balls so they feel like crap and just overall sucky to hit. No putting green or anything either.

Anybody in the Seattle area know of any grass ranges?

**kafka01** · May 26, 2010

Sorry to hear about your loss - great practice facilities are hard to find indeed. My local club has great practice factilites (if you know how to use them) - you can practice pretty much everything and all from grass. The only letdown is our range cuz its not flat, but i can live with that.
But get that - our clubmanagement doesnt seem to realize what a great practice facility they have either - they sell a year long practice membership with all inclusive rangeballs for 100 €!!!!!! And there as hardly ever anybody practicing besides the teenagers or the pro´s with their students.

The only tip i can give you - try to check out less known clubs in your area and have a look at their facilities upclose and personal and if you like one, try to negotiate with the management for a "practice membership".

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