Practice Facility Preference

[TheWookie]

If you were designing an ideal facility....If you had to choose on whats more important a great full driving range facility and a somewhat serviceable short game area or a somewhat serviceable driving range and great short game area?  Don't say both because that's obvious.

[Golfingdad]

Hi Chewy! This is easy because I subscribe to the 65/25/10 theory and spend waaaay more time on the full swing, so I'd MUCH rather a really nice range and don't worry so much about the short game area or putting green.

[dsc123]

If I owned the facility, I'd probably favor the driving range. Fits more people and it's likely less expensive. As a consumer, I'd probably favor the short game area. If for no other reason than that they are harder to find. I wish it was easier to find a range with a track man for public use.

[TheWookie]

Here is my reason for asking....great course in my area has amazing short game area with 3 putting greens and 60 yard and in w bunker short game area. They may build a full range in the future but now it is just a cage. I am not a range rat but since I have dedicated my self to putting and chipping mainly it has made a huge difference. Could you live with essentially a warm up cage if you felt the short game area and course were worth it?

[Hammer 4]

Hi Chewy!

This is easy because I subscribe to the 65/25/10 theory and spend waaaay more time on the full swing, so I'd MUCH rather a really nice range and don't worry so much about the short game area or putting green.

I agree. With regards to the short game area, I'd for sure have a bunker or 2 . Around my home, there are very few places that have bunkers in the chipping area.

[David in FL]

Driving range. Hands down.

[Shindig]

Driving range, and it isn't even close. Besides the obvious argument of 65 vs 35 (and how much of the 35 can be done at any decent facility), my favorite practice facility (Saddleback College in Orange County) has a gorgeous amazing double ended large driving range and a pretty decent putting area, with some chipping spots thrown in.

[inthehole]

There are plenty of driving ranges, but very few with decent chipping or sand bunkers to practice from.    My preference would be the later ...

[dsc123]

There are plenty of driving ranges, but very few with decent chipping or sand bunkers to practice from.    My preference would be the later ...

This is what I am thinking.  I spend more time at the driving range, but they're a dime a dozen.  I'm also not sure what sets a "good" range apart from an "average" range.  A cage, as OP suggested sounds terrible, but I'd take an unkept field with yardage markers anda nice short game facility over a nice driving range and only one putting green.

But I do think the driving range is more likely to make money.

[Robi1026]

For the masses ... Its most definitely a driving range

For me: serviceable range with short game area