Issue at the Range today

[macatak911]

So I've recently started playing golf this past four weeks or so. I started out with a few range sessions, (mat) then a few lessons from the pro, then a round last Sunday. (125) Ever since my lessons I've been playing off the grass part of the range. (as my pro suggested and so I've read here that grass>mat)

So I go the range today between exams. I got my large bucket and go out to the grass part. I haven't had time to play/practice since Sunday so I start out a little slow and mishit the first 25 or so. The grass part of the range is right next to where they park the ball pickeruper thingy and the driver/maintenance guy comes over and starts giving me @#$% that instead of sitting there hacking away and "just tearing up grass" He then said I should be hitting from the mats because the grass area was for people "working on hitting the ball". I was like whatever dude and kept hitting on grass.

I finally got in my groove and kept making consistent contact with my irons and it was sort of an ego boost.

[cougar978]

So I've recently started playing golf this past four weeks or so. I started out with a few range sessions, (mat) then a few lessons from the pro, then a round last Sunday. (125) Ever since my lessons I've been playing off the grass part of the range. (as my pro suggested and so I've read here that grass>mat)

Tell him to suck it.

[Dub]

First off....you are at a driving range.....at a learning facility.

You are to be commended for taking this approach....range....lessons....range time. More golfers would be soooo much happier this way.

Did I start this way....heck no....started with a few buddies....two golf carts and a couple of cases of beer..............this happened twice....until I realized how fun it was.........then I took your approach.

You are so very much taking the right approach vs. running out to a course and slowing up play....losing a bunch of balls.....paying green fees.....etc.

Yes....the mats are a great place to start.....but....you've gotta take the game to the grass at some point.

Good luck with the game. Hitting balls sounds like an awesome thing to do between exams. I only wish I played when I was in college.....man oh man...the free greens fees I could have had at some great courses.....not to mention a much better golf game. Heck...golf was a PE elective....free instruction.....free balls.....wow....what a missed opportunity.

[Dub]

Tell him to suck it.

Yeah....well stated and to the point.

[MI Rob]

Dont listen to other people. Especially when your just starting out. Do your own thing unless you are taking lessons from a pro.

[macatak911]

First off....you are at a driving range.....at a

Yeah, the first time I went out to the range it was pretty hilarious. So I decided to save myself from the agony and found it a better deal to just pay a pro and see immediate improvement rather then spend $10 over and over again trying to critique myself.

Good luck with the game. Hitting balls sounds like an awesome thing to do between exams. I only wish I played when I was in college.....man oh man...the free greens fees I could have had at some great courses.....not to mention a much better golf game. Heck...golf was a PE elective....free instruction.....free balls.....wow....what a missed opportunity.

Yeah I wish I could take golf as an elective. My university (University of New Orleans) is in the midst of major budget cuts and is cutting programs and classes left and right. A couple of my buddies are taking golf at LSU in the fall and I am truly jealous lol.

[perfectsim]

I was hitting off mats with my irons for about a year. I couldn't figure out why my ball striking on the course wasn't the same as off the mats. Then I realized that I was hitting them fat in the grass because I could get away with that on the mats, so that is how my swing was adjusted.

I ended up sweeping my irons from the grass for a few weeks as I gradually got my swing grooved into playing properly from the grass.


So you are doing the right thing by avoiding the mats. You will learn a lot faster.

[JawjaDawg]

I wouldn't worry about it. If it happens again go talk to some of the management and tell them that you don't have to spend money there ever again...and neither does your large group of friends...

[cougar978]

Or...wait until he gets his range cart about 100 yds out, and then start hitting slapshot 4-irons at him (assuming the cart has a protective cage - if not, then just tell him to suck it).

Not only is it fun, it's educational as well - it teaches you how to hit a low shot out of trees!

[Shindig]

He's no better than the jerks who told me that I'd never break 100, seeing as how I'm only 5'8 and, accordingly, could never be a long hitter. Or the guys who want to help you achieve that "perfect Jim Furyk swing."

Anyway, I agree. He has no business telling you where to hit. You paid for the range bucket, it's your call to hit the range bucket. You could hit 100 wedges from the grass, it's none of his business.