How do people practice if they are not a member of a club?

[Used2PlayALot]

Driving range is one small slice of golf.

When I played 5x a week, I would use my club's course to practice.

• I'd hit 5-10 balls out of the trap (even if I didn't go into the trap)
• I'd putt on each green for 10 mins. after my hole was done.  
• I'd chip out of the rough onto the green.
• I'd practice bump and run with 7 iron.
• I'd practice flop shots.\
  
  
  Any shot under 20 yards, I'd play 5 times since the course was empty.
  I did this for a few years ago got to 13.  (Never was able to hit 90s drivers)

 

How do people practice if they are not a member of a club?

 

[dennyjones]

We have many public courses around my area that have practice facilities.   I guess I was wrong to assume that that option was available almost anywhere.   

I've played many practice rounds just as you described when the course was close to empty.  

[Grizvok]

Lol?

The driving range section of my local course has a putting green, chipping area, and bunker. I can do anything you just mentioned.

[JonMA1]

2 hours ago, Used2PlayALot said:

How do people practice if they are not a member of a club?

As others have mentioned, many of the local courses in my area have a grass driving range as well as a putting and chipping area. My home course no longer has a driving range but does have a short game area.

The majority of my practicing is done at home. I have a large yard and a field next to my property. Unfortunately, I tend to lose golf balls when I practice with my fairway wood and driver.

I'll practice my putting indoors in the evenings.

[Shindig]

Public courses near me have plenty of practice facilities.  So I use those.

What I can't do is practice uneven lies.  I'd love to also measure the grade of the greens at my home course, but I don't think there's even a time I can go out to do this.  Maybe I could go out after the last twilight group and measure the first few.  The greens I really want to measure though at my home course... no idea how I'd get to measure the grades on holes 7 or 13.

[Grizvok]

8 minutes ago, Shindig said:

Public courses near me have plenty of practice facilities.  So I use those.

What I can't do is practice uneven lies.  I'd love to also measure the grade of the greens at my home course, but I don't think there's even a time I can go out to do this.  Maybe I could go out after the last twilight group and measure the first few.  The greens I really want to measure though at my home course... no idea how I'd get to measure the grades on holes 7 or 13.

Absolutely. There are so many combinations too. Balls on up slopes, down slopes, the ball above you, and below you then mix and match some of these and there are so many lies and positions we just don’t get to practice all that much.

[Moxley]

I am a club member these days, but I didn't used to be , and I understand your problem . Other than getting a membership or investing in a house with a big garden, it won't be easy. 

When I wasn't a member, I used to play a lot of twilight rounds on various courses, so that I could experiment. Shorter (full) courses tend to attract more older men, and that means they'll be busier earlier in the day, so if you play on these types of courses at twilight, you should get a chance to practice. Obviously some courses will exclude this, but most in practice wouldn't be too concerned once the course has emptied. 

Also, look for a simulator with a launch monitor - you can get a lot from that in several parts of the game. 

[MarvChamp]

I guess we are very fortunate to have a large privately-owned practice facility/fitting center with equipment sales and instruction. All aspects are highly rated and the practice areas give you plenty of variety year-round. All courses my little group plays have the usual warm-up practice and putting areas, save two that have putting greens only. I no longer belong to a club, and I'm happy with what we have. Best, -Marv

[Patch]

I have yet to see a course that did not have a practice area of some sort. Maybe a Mom & Pop course some where, but even then, there was grassy area that could be used for some sort of practice. Even the high dollar course's I sometime play at have areas to practice at.

The two local course's I have access to have practice areas. One, they even provide a ride to, since it's aways from the club house. 

I have also utilized non golf properties for practice areas. The dry lake area down the road is one. I have used vacant school play grounds, during non school hours. Of course in "PUBLIC AREAS" it would be wise to check on posted rules, and regulations on how they can be used. Sometimes hitting golf balls is not allowed. 

I have used a club, balls, and a piece of synthetic turf on cross country hikes. Had a putting, chipping area in my back yard for a number of years. Even a ball returning, full swing, netting contraption I built from scratch.. Carpet putting gets some of my time on occasions. Other times I will take a club and make several full motion, dry swings with it, with out using a ball. I have chipped foam balls indoors. I have hit into a net in my garage. (check your cieling height)

I know s guy who throws a medicine ball, in a golf swinging manner, in his back yard, once a week. He doesn't throw it very far, but it his golf swing exercise. 

When it comes to any kind of practice, or training, one's imagination can be a big help. 

[MarvChamp]

8 hours ago, Patch said:

I have yet to see a course that did not have a practice area of some sort. 

Yeah, now that I think of it, even the two courses I mentioned have practice areas of sorts. One, an area to pitch and chip with side hill lies. The other, a very nice older course with limited space, has a small area with mats and net. -Marv

[Thomasredstone]

Pitching practice is not available in my area...lots of chipping, putting, range use but nowhere to hit 10-30yd shots...

[Grizvok]

1 hour ago, Thomasredstone said:

Pitching practice is not available in my area...lots of chipping, putting, range use but nowhere to hit 10-30yd shots...

I mean if you are willing to “lose the range ball” so to speak you can absolutely just hit that shot at the range. 

[Thomasredstone]

You certainly are right...I would like to work on spin wedge shots that bounce once then stop...difficult on the range...maybe stick with my bump n runs...

[Zeph]

In Norway, you can use the range and practice areas on most courses without being a member. You need a membership somewhere to play on the courses, but not for ranges and practice areas. 

[amished]

On 7/3/2018 at 7:59 PM, Shindig said:

Public courses near me have plenty of practice facilities.  So I use those.

What I can't do is practice uneven lies.  I'd love to also measure the grade of the greens at my home course, but I don't think there's even a time I can go out to do this.  Maybe I could go out after the last twilight group and measure the first few.  The greens I really want to measure though at my home course... no idea how I'd get to measure the grades on holes 7 or 13.

You just have to take a day off and book one hours worth of tee times yourself.... 

[Piz]

All the inexpensive munis I play have practice areas of some sort.  One of the nearby driving ranges has a practice bunker.  I've not lived anywhere that has not been the case.

[DrMJG]

The range I use on almost a daily basis has a great "very short game" area where on can work out of traps, practice chipping and read the green for putts you try .  Green has some good slope to it as well.  (for this area, you use your own balls so great to get a great feel for what you use) Tend to hit it first thing after warm ups now that it is near 100 by mid/late AM here in Phoenix. THEN I go to the range (covered with good shaddow and overhead fans with a built in mister when the temps rise.) They have slightly shorter to the green tees where you can just practice wedges.

 

Edited July 5, 2018 by DrMJG

[RussUK]

Same as most others. Course i play (which is closing in 2022 to make way for 2000 houses ) has a large putting green, area to practice pitching and a par 3 course you can play for £4.

Other than that i practice putting at home and chipping in the garden with airflow balls. I also take them to the football pitch behind my street.