My driving range is out of control!

[srjorion]

I've been shocked lately at some of the things going on at my local course's range where I practice. It started with small things but every day I see something new that simply amazes me. First off, I see a lot of people who are too cheap to buy a small bucket of balls to warm up before a round so they go pick some off the range to hit. It's $3, and I know some people may be a little strapped for cash, but it happens at least once every time I go to the range, often times two or three times. It's amazing how people will run out on the range to grab balls with others still hitting.

Then, the other day, the caged tractor that they use to pick the range was broken and they were out of balls so they had to use a normal golf cart to pick the range. Of course, there were guys who simply went to the range and picked some up instead of getting some from the pro shop and they didn't stop hitting while this poor kid was out there driving around unprotected. One dude was hitting driver with the kid less than 40 yards in front of him! I mentioned it to the pro and he ran out there and got the kid off the range before he got hurt.

Today, I'm out practicing and there is only one other guy on the range. He is on the complete opposite end of the tee area from me. Out of nowhere a ball lands about 30 yards from me, heading perpendicular to the range. At first I though the other guy hit a bad shot, but when I looked he was in the middle of hitting one and wouldn't have been able to hit a second one so fast. That's when I noticed a guy on the tee box of #1 lining up his second practice shot towards the range with a driver, which also landed about 30 yards from me.

Sorry for the rant, but I really expect people to have a little more courtesy and common sense than this. A lot of this isn't just rude, but unsafe! Do any of you see things like this on a frequent basis?

SRJ

[right handed phil mickelson]

Not this bad... goodness....

I think you should mention all of this to the pro and try and get this straightened out somehow....

When I think of a way you can straighten this out I'll get back to you...

[groovezilla79]

I agree with Righty Phil... the pro or manager needs to be more involved in what is going on out on the course and range. If not, I'd find somewhere else to go.

However, I'm pretty sure that if someone was on the 1st tee hitting driver in my direction, I'd go off on his ass before ever making it to the pro/mangement to make a complaint.

[kilbyman]

Talk to the pro/management. What was the starter doing on the first hole. Watching him hit balls at you? Wow.

[Titleist_ProV1x]

Damn, that's pretty bad .......... if that kinda went on at my range, heads would roll!

[Chief Broom]

I was at the course range once and there were a couple of ladies hitting balls with me. Down range I see someone driving up in a cart and stop on the side of the range about 100yds out. He gets out of his cart and proceeds to hit balls laying around, no doubt to warm up. I stopped hitting but the ladies kept going and their shots were getting out to where he was standing. Neither seemed to notice? I finally called the pro shop on my cell to tell the manager he needed to step outside and tell the idiot in the range to clear out before he got beaned. About then though the guy finished and left, but I was amazed at all parties concerned! It'd be my luck to hit him and then his family would sue me and I'd be paying for his kids to go to college, no thanks!

[enis750]

I too have noticed some sh*t that pisses me off...not so much on the range, but on the course
like dudes leaving garbage (mostly beer cans) everywhere
on my 2nd round of the year, i picked up 9 beer cans on the front nine (and i walk)
when i rolled into the turn, I saw the dudes responsible (as they were buying more of the same brand) and dumped them on the seat of their cart
they looked at me like i was friggen crazy and were ready to pound the crap outta me

i put my bag down, looked at them both and simply said "what!?"........there were no more cans on the back

and guys not wearing shirt on hot days.....i mean, cmon you friggen clowns

yeah, its a city course and not a CC, but man that sh*t pisses me off
this is a game of integrity & honor...show some friggen pride already

im a new member and now Captain of the mens league
I will change some sh*t around if it kills me
I wanted the more expensive (to the tune of $3000) for the CC memby, but i grew up on a muni, so figured WTF? and the price was 1/2 and i had no limitations on tee times

ah well.......do what i can

[Meddle]

A couple months ago my Dad and I were splitting a bucket and this kid who worked at the course drove out into the middle of the range in a cart. He stopped around the 150 marker and got out, waving at everyone at the range to stop hitting so he could do something. So he's standing there, and some guy decides he doesn't want to stop hitting, and launches a drive that goes over the kid's head. So of course we all tell him to stop. He pretends not to hear us, and launches another out there! So at this point 2 guys near him get in his face and start yelling at him. He yells back, and tells them he'll fight both of them right here. This went on for a good 10 minutes, until the kid drove off the range.

[Bullitt5339]

Wow, I'm glad I don't go to the ranges you guys do. I've never had a problem here, but the range is kind of secluded from the course where I play, you're hitting balls away from the course.

[srjorion]

The pro at my course is new and is making a lot of good changes. If he hadn't been there I don't think anyone would have pulled the kid off the range as quickly as he did. As for the moron hitting from the tee to the range, there are three nines and this one was away from the starting nine. Having said that, it's not a CC and the starter isn't always at the first hole. I don't think he was out there that day anyway.

Even thought his isn't a CC, I'm still amazed at the stupidity of a select few. Now it is New Orleans where everything is "laid back". A few take the laid back approach a little too far and become lazy and have no respect for others.

I did mention all of this to the pro and he was very thankful that I did. He's going to keep an eye out or more people like this and try to either educate them or get them to not come back.

[KD Epic]

Hey if I go to the range, and there's no one around... No clubs no people no nothing... And there's a half empty bucket of balls lying there... Can I hit those? I mean on 2 or 3 separate occasions in the last 2 weeks I've noticed this. The balls are there when I get there and they're there when I leave. I really want to hit those damn balls.

Guess I'm just so worried about upsetting someone (even though I'd buy a full bucket if someone came up to me as a form of apology, in addition to an actual apology) that I waste a perfectly good half-bucket of balls. Clearly, by hearing some stories from y'all, I'm WAY to sensitive to others' happiness on the range.

[saevel25]

Thats amazing... the only thing i might do is if i play the inside at this one course (36 hole course), one of the holes runs along side the driving range. So will take some wedge shots from the fairway to the driving range, but never do i come close to entering the driving range area or hitting towards anyone. I am just trying to help out the guy who picks up the balls from those who hit those monster slices right.

[wildcorndog]

The range I go to doesn't have balls alot of the time so I have to go pick up my own! I was thinking about it the other day and I kinda enjoy walking around picking up balls. It makes me appreciate each practice shot!

[Bullitt5339]

Hey if I go to the range, and there's no one around... No clubs no people no nothing... And there's a half empty bucket of balls lying there... Can I hit those? I mean on 2 or 3 separate occasions in the last 2 weeks I've noticed this. The balls are there when I get there and they're there when I leave. I really want to hit those damn balls.

When I'm warming up before a round, I typically leave a bunch of balls on the range after I've hit a few and feel good and then go play a round. I leave them there with the intent that other people will get to hit them on my dime. I've went out and stopped on the range to hit a couple scarred up or balls I've found on the course before I tee off, and I see I'm not the only one who leaves balls behind. There's typically 10-15 balls laying in a couple stalls from people doing the same thing.

[deronsizemore]

Today, I'm out practicing and there is only one other guy on the range. He is on the complete opposite end of the tee area from me. Out of nowhere a ball lands about 30 yards from me, heading perpendicular to the range. At first I though the other guy hit a bad shot, but when I looked he was in the middle of hitting one and wouldn't have been able to hit a second one so fast. That's when I noticed a guy on the tee box of #1 lining up his second practice shot towards the range with a driver, which also landed about 30 yards from me.

I think I would have had to have a little talk with that idiot.

There are stupid people everywhere... just seems like you have more than the average.

[BonoVox]

Hey if I go to the range, and there's no one around... No clubs no people no nothing... And there's a half empty bucket of balls lying there... Can I hit those? I mean on 2 or 3 separate occasions in the last 2 weeks I've noticed this. The balls are there when I get there and they're there when I leave. I really want to hit those damn balls.

Did that today. I was the only one at the range except for two guys on the end. They were warming up for a round as they had a cart. They bailed with 2 half buckets. I waited about 10 minutes then went down and grabbed them. Nothing wrong with it IMHO.

[Greg]

ive left range balls behind before as a few times ive showed up late and didnt have time to hit them all, i fully expect someone else to hit them if i dont come back or if there is someone else there, ill just dump them in their basket and leave.

[macatak911]

The pro at my course is new and is making a lot of good changes. If he hadn't been there I don't think anyone would have pulled the kid off the range as quickly as he did. As for the moron hitting from the tee to the range, there are three nines and this one was away from the starting nine. Having said that, it's not a CC and the starter isn't always at the first hole. I don't think he was out there that day anyway.

You must be talking about Bayou Barriere. I see that all the time when people are going out on the Gold course.