How do I make my golf practice better with what I have to work with?

[Trader Will]

My home course has what I believe is a very nice practice facility. There's a grass driving range with no mats, a chipping green, another smaller chipping green with a sand trap, and a putting green. The driving range also has a sand trap you can hit from onto the range.

I don't play the course because it costs extra. I have a membership which gives me unlimited use of the practice facility and range balls. I do plan on playing the course at some point, but haven't because it's $14 for 18 holes and I don't feel like my skill level is up to snuff yet.

I've been doing more chipping than anything else. When I'm on the putting green I practice 5ft putts because when I'm close I want to put it in the hole. When I'm on the range I hit my 8 iron more than anything else because I feel like it's a good all around club, and I want to have a go to club that I'm very confident with when I'm in the shit. I practice every day for about 2-4 hours. The last two days I've incorporated hitting out of the sand traps into my practice, which was something I wasn't doing previously.

I would like more ideas on deliberate, specific, practice/drills that will make my game better. TNX.

[LeftyTrevor]

I would play virtual round on the range. Get a scorecard and use the yardages. This is my normal routine. I play the first 5 holes on the range using the distances I hit out there to determine what approach 2 days a week. The other two I hit a bit on the range then spend most of my session chipping and putting. I would also suggest going out for a round. There is a difference from the range and the course. Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

[Johnnyooze]

+1 on the virtual course. It will get you used to playing different clubs in sequence, like in a real round. Its fustrating at first and i still have trouble with it. But its benificial. I cant remember what issue, but a while back i read an article in golf digest where they had 2 groups of high handicappers practice at a driving range for month or 2. Group A just did the normal driving range thing. Group B did the virtual course and never hit the same club twice in a row. Well by the end of it, group B was hitting more consistantly with all their clubs. Also, i like to pick different targets and not just hit at the same, say, 200 yd marker every time. Thing like this helps keep practice sessions fun. Otherwise id never go!

[jamo]

First, a shameless plug. I wrote that article almost two months ago so it was mostly stuff that can be done indoors as well as out, which means that it doesn't include short game stuff. It's a good starting point though if you want to be a little more focused and use your time a little more wisely.

[weavej2]

funny...$14  .......One thing is you have to have the mindset that you like to practice, that you are the best practicer in the entire world....you have to want to be the best short game guy ever, you are a short game guru..you love to play the game around and on the greens...if someone had to pick between tiger woods or you around the greens they would pick you every time and twice at the member member.   You need to keep a written record of what you are doing, almost like when you are weight lifting .  Have to know where you are to get where you are going.  You will need some games to compete against yourself " I cant quit until I can get 5 shots within 3 ft"   " I need this sand shot to be within 4 ft to win the masters"  " the fate of the free world rests on if I can get this 7 footer in"   DOnt practice the stuff that dosent matter like 10-30 footers.  DO practice stuff from differnt lies, back handed, awkward stances against trees.