Courses with no driving range

[Careyst]

Do you all avoid these courses? I am planning on playing a course without a driving range, but I have never done that. I like to get those warm up shots in before tee time. How would you warm up without the range? I was thinking about not playing the course just because of them not having a range. What do you guys do?

[goblue107501]

They suck! I don't think I would avoid a course without a range, but I sure wouldn't plan on playing there often.

I play without hitting balls every once in a while. I don't like doing so, but I will. It's not the end of the world. Could you maybe stop at a different course or driving range to hit balls before you get to the course? It might be out of the way, or take extra time, but if it is that important, it might be an option. I have done it in the past. It is weird to get warmed up then get in the car and drive, but it is better than nothing.

[kfowler]

I certainly don't avoid them but much prefer that they have one. It's just not feasible for some courses. I have one I play nine holes once per week early in the morning. They have no range. We basically step out of the car, pay the shop, and hit the first tee at 7:00 am. That can be tough. We usually take two off the first.

[clubchamp]

I wouldn't go as far as not playing there because of no range. It actually doesn't bother me since I'm not the type to hit a bucket before I play. I have a stretching routine I do every morning so that keeps me pretty loose throughout the day. Practice green is a must!!

[Scott_K]

I use to hit the range and warm up before a round. These days I just stretch before the round and if I'm lucky, hit the practice green for a few minutes. I try to hit the range 2 days before my round if I can just to get my groove. Give my body a day of rest in between and just stretch before my tee time. My last 2 rounds, I went out there with no range time during the week and it took me about 5 holes to loosen up.

[Andy_Mac]

Even if there is a range (only 1 of the courses I regularly play has one) I hardly warm up on it. Stretch a little, hit a few putts if there is time, a few swings to loosen up and off to the first tee.

[jaymills13]

I believe that the quality of practice facilities are a fair indication of the quality of the course. That being said, I enjoy playing a larger variance of courses so you will definitely catch me at some without a driving range. I don't like to set a line there because it is like saying I won't play at xx course because it doesn't cost enough money to get on. Seems a bit ridiculous but to each there own.

Regarding warming up, if you are just going to swing at the ball and not really work to get better when your at the range, it will do you no better than to just stand on the tee box and take 50 swings before teeing it up.

[DavidFehertysBike]

The course the NJ state publinx qaulifer was held on this year didnt have a range. Soo many people were pissed off..lol. Its really tough, i like to hit at least a few wedges before i play, just to get into the rythm of swinging a club.

[shades9323]

The courses I play have them, but I have never stepped foot on them. I do a little stretching and a few putts to get a feel for the greens.

[denver_nuggs_15]

I rarely warm up by hitting balls. I prefer stretching, chipping, then putting. I obviously loosen up some by swinging golf clubs (usually two at a time) checking planes and getting into a groove. So, if a course doesn't have a practice range, it's not a problem for me. If it will be a problem for you, find a driving range near the course and hit balls there. If it's too much of a hassle, don't play there. Or suck it up and take 4 or 5 holes to warm up (usually takes me 4 holes if I go straight to the tee w/o warmup).

[enis750]

i RARELY hit balls before a round..tires me out
i will putt/chip and hit a few wedges before every round though (usually for 45 to an hour)

you only have 14 drives and usually more wedge shots and putts
i would rather score there

i stretch good before and take some practice swings w the 3 and 4i and im good to go
in fact, i only hit balls on the range once a week - and a small bucket and the driver only hits about 8 of them
total balls hit - maybe 30

my practice sessions usually consist of about 150+ balls on the practice green, anywhere from 15-75yds
putting - till im confident im making 95% 3 footers & 75% 6 footers

[Chief Broom]

Sometimes you can leave all your best shots out on the range. Personally I like to be warmed up prior to playing and for me that means some form of physical activity prior to playing. That way my heart rate has been elevated and my joints and muscles are loose and ready to move. I do like to spend a few minutes on the putting green just to get some feel for putting, but even that isn't absolutely necessary. To many people I've played with over the years look at warming up on the driving range as a way to set their swing for the round ahead, and that to me is a bad way of thinking. Your swing is already set and trying to tweak it prior to playing doesn't work. Golf is a game of trust and it seems to me that better players just seem to trust their swings more than the rest of us duffers.

[Careyst]

Hmmmm, seems like most people don't use the range. I guess I will try to find out if there is a range somewhere really nearby. I don't really want to change anything with my swing prior to playing, I think I just want to hit a few balls so I can be warmed up and loose so it wont take 5 holes to get to that point. Golf is too expensive for that.. lol

[TN94z]

I actually just joined a course that does not have a driving range. (I had to...my old course got new mgt. and their member fees were ridiculous.) As far as warmup, I just stretch and hit some chips. Chipping the ball really get me muscles warm and then I take some good swings to free up the full swing muscles. I would hardly ever hit the range before a round anyway (unless it was a tournament). I seem to get sucked into trying to fix an issue instead of warming up.

[mirv]

the course i'm a member of doesn't have a driving range, though i wish they did. i almost asked once why they didn't have one, but then i looked around and realized that they simply don't have the land available to put in a driving range. there is some empty adjascent land to the course, but to get to it you'd have to make like a 3-4 minute cart drive from the clubhouse to get to it, not to mention the driving range would be directly behind the ninth tee box, which would probably make for a distracting tee shot.

[TN94z]

the course i'm a member of doesn't have a driving range, though i wish they did. i almost asked once why they didn't have one, but then i looked around and realized that they simply don't have the land available to put in a driving range. there is some empty adjascent land to the course, but to get to it you'd have to make like a 3-4 minute cart drive from the clubhouse to get to it, not to mention the driving range would be directly behind the ninth tee box, which would probably make for a distracting tee shot.

I asked before I joined the new course and they said they used to have one. Unfortunately, she said they had over 3k balls stolen or lost in a month's time and the closed it down.

[Careyst]

I changed my mind.... I guess I will try to play the course without the driving range. Who knows, maybe I dont need it. Never know until I try.

I guess for warm up, I will hit the chipping/putting green, stretch and take some full swings. Thanks for the advice everyone.

[meenman]

There is only one course I play without a range and the only reason I ever play it is to play with my father in law. The course is absolutely horrible with no hazards on the back 9 (other than standing water whenever it rains).

They have a little net to hit into but its not the same to me.

I like to hit 20-30 balls before teeing off just to losen up - 10 with a 6 iron, 10 with my driver and then 10 with an 8 iron, then its off to the putting green.