bad driving ranges

[rkim291968]

but all the driving ranges around me have artificial turf.

Even some of them don't provide the rubber tees.   Once, I had to buy the dang thing for $1 at the shop.

[Gator Hazard]

Even some of them don't provide the rubber tees.   Once, I had to buy the dang thing for $1 at the shop.

Now thats just taking it too far.  Did you get a discount on the second one if you wanted two different height rubber tees?  As an aside, I always insist on paying full price for my rubbers.

[Patch]

There are some very portable hitting mats that resemble hitting off of real grass. I have seen folks using them at mat only ranges. They just lay there portable mat on top of the ranges mat.

I made this one for my own use. http://www.divothit.com/

[WUTiger]

I have seen some really fine driving ranges in our region, even those open to the general public.

Near the town of Maryville, MO (home of NW Mo state) you have the Mozingo Lake Recreational Area. https://mozingolake.com/

It has 27 holes of golf and a dreamland driving range. The range has a teeing area that you hit from that is the size of a football field. More than 100 yards wide and 50 yards deep. IF they move the practice zone ropes every couple of days, you get fresh turf to hit off of all the time. And, the other areas can regrow* from the iron strikes.

The teeing area is elevated slightly (maybe 5 yards), and then the landing area flattens out to fairly level. You get good drainage, but you're not getting unrealistic view of your trajectory from hitting off a hill, so to speak. (That's a real problem at my home course, a semi-private club.)

-----------------------

As far as practice areas go, I certainly prefer to hit off of turf. But, decent springy modern teeing mats are good enough if I'm warming up before a round. I have played in scambles at upscale private clubs on Mondays, and we are requested to use the mats rather than the turf. (But, if you want to tee up a few driver shots or hit a some wedge shots out of the adjacent rough, no one says anything).

Bottom line: If I'm working on my swing in a straight-up practice session, I want turf.

* Things which make a driving range physically dumpy: Too small a teeing area, with little room to move hitting ropes to allow turf to heal. Poor drainage, so that rain puddles on teeing area and creates fungus, leading to dead grass spots and water grass. Used-up hitting mats. If you can see the old rubber base showing through the battered plastic turf, it's time to replace. Places that fail to see that grass mowing and grass growing require different skill sets.

[rkim291968]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkim291968

Even some of them don't provide the rubber tees.   Once, I had to buy the dang thing for $1 at the shop.

Now thats just taking it too far.  Did you get a discount on the second one if you wanted two different height rubber tees?  As an aside, I always insist on paying full price for my rubbers.

No, but the next day, I forgot to bring a rubber tee again (well, left it on the mat on a previous day) and the guy recognized me and loan one for free.

[amoline]

My local driving range has real grass that they alternate ropes on to help the grass heal. It's a pretty nice range, all things considered, especially simply because it's a city owned course. Not sure if anyone else knows what they're officially called, but when they aren't using the actual grass there, they have mats that have about a 4x4 inch square of real grass up through a hole in the mat to put the ball on, so it's close to hitting from grass, even though it's still "just" a mat.

[SavvySwede]

My local driving range has real grass that they alternate ropes on to help the grass heal. It's a pretty nice range, all things considered, especially simply because it's a city owned course. Not sure if anyone else knows what they're officially called, but when they aren't using the actual grass there, they have mats that have about a 4x4 inch square of real grass up through a hole in the mat to put the ball on, so it's close to hitting from grass, even though it's still "just" a mat.

Any pictures? I'm having trouble grasping this concept.

[flopster]

My local driving range has real grass that they alternate ropes on to help the grass heal. It's a pretty nice range, all things considered, especially simply because it's a city owned course. Not sure if anyone else knows what they're officially called, but when they aren't using the actual grass there, they have mats that have about a 4x4 inch square of real grass up through a hole in the mat to put the ball on, so it's close to hitting from grass, even though it's still "just" a mat.

That would never work because the club would hit the other end of this 4" square hole.

[amoline]

That would never work because the club would hit the other end of this 4" square hole.

Sorry, that probably wasn't a very good description. And on second thought, the grass isn't that large, probably. I'll snap a photo next time I'm out at that particular range, but it seems to work all right as the range hasn't used anything different in years.

[BubblesUSMC]

Hey I've actually had people WALK out on to the golf school's range, with about 20 or so people on the line, GO OUT, and pick up golf balls.

When I stopped them they told me well I didnt think we would have to pay if we went out and picked up our own.

and yes...  I dont know why...  But I cant tell you how many people asked for free tees... and I only charged $1 / 25 of them.