Shripe

This past year: $0 (didn't golf :P) This year: $7 for 18 holes at a par 3, $20 for a chipping mat, $12.50 for Floppys (both I spent less than that on since I had a bit on Amazon gift cards)... and ASAP $10-15 on a new glove as I played without one my first time back to golf. Yeah, pretty minor... but I don't have a lot of money either.

Indeed. I'm going through the same issue from playing slow pitch softball as well :P

Wow, getting kind of defensive in here...

Your info states it just fine ;P and I know that area somewhat well as a relative of mine is from Walworth.

Welcome, scanned the welcome forum and saw a couple more Wisconsinites hanging around here. I'm also from SE WI. :)

23, looks like I'm in the majority... Err, that would be a plurality, right? :P

I've got several around here, at least one that's considered to be one of the best designed (by Jack Nicklaus) and best maintained par 3's in the area. The other I've played at (since I'm still pretty new) wasn't as well maintained, but I'm basically limiting myself to those courses until I improve.

I manage single digits on most holes... lol I think single digits in hdcp would be a dream.

Yeah Greg, the indoor range is even open during the winter... However, the other range is also, just with heaters and such in the range stalls. :shrug:

As far as I can remember, that's how it worked at the range I was at (indoor, but associated with a course). You were assigned a stall and had to report back at the end to pay. Not sure if you could prepay or not. However, it seems like I need to find a cheaper range in general to go to, considering both of those look to be above the amount of $ others are paying.

Don't feel the need to. In the short time I caddied, I just got used to carrying a bag. Plus, it's a good way to get exercise. :)

Well, I figured I should post in here just because, even though I've made a few other posts and one topic already. ;) I'm a new golfer who recently got the interest to pull out his old clubs and take a few swings again. I played only for a brief time in high school when I was trying to join -some- athletic team. I caddied for a short time before HS, and even though I didn't stick too long with that, I still wanted to try to play. Don't even think you can get on even a semi-competitive team with little to no experience in the sport you're playing, especially something as specialized as golf. I learned that lesson with a couple bad experiences in the first few weeks of practicing with the golf team as a freshman. I basically decided it wasn't for me, and was going to remove myself from the team at the same moment the coach was going to cut me. At least we had some agreement there LOL... but since then, I hadn't swung at all. Now, a bit older and wiser, I'm just trying to learn once again. My first experience with golf since way back when was Memorial Day, when I went to probably one of the worst not-quite-goat-track par 3's in the Milw. Co. Parks system to have a little fun. Granted it wasn't anything special, but I managed to put together 7 bogeys (5 on back 9 as I was figuring things out gradually), 10 doubles, and only one triple, even if I did hit an 84 for the par 54 course. Here's to hoping I can learn things without a whole lot of cash to do it with (i.e. lessons). ;)

Thanks, everyone, and I figured the bucket rate would be the general consensus. I'm just trying to get the lay of the land as far as ranges around here are concerned, without having to drive too far. I know some of the mid-and-up difficulty courses in the area have ranges, but as they're managed by Milwaukee Co. Parks (including the range with the minute rate), they only list greens fees online rather than range fees as well. I'll keep looking around. Those were the first two I knew of though, since I once hit balls at both back in HS.

As I'm just starting to play golf again (my only exploit in the last few years being a par 3 18-hole course on Memorial Day 2010), I've been wondering about what people tend to think about driving range costs. I've been to two ranges in the area, one a heated golf dome that charges by time, another charging the usual by-bucket rates. Given how I'm still a very early beginner, I would think that the extra time to focus on form and whatnot by going with the bucket rate would suit me better, though I'm not really sure yet how many balls I'd hit in a given time to decide whether I'd get more use out of my money going one way or the other. If it helps, here are the prices (Sorry, no estimates as far as the number of balls per bucket, as it's been a long time since I've been to either range): Minute-based at Range #1: Weekdays $10/30 min (goes up $1.25 per every 5 minutes after, until a discount at $17/1 hour, then +$1.25/5 mins once again) Weekends $11/30 min ($1.50 per every 5 mins after) Bucket-based at Range #2: Small bucket: $5 Medium bucket: $7 Large bucket: $9 I've seen other averages around 30-65-100 for buckets from other ranges, and I know I'll probably get a few answers of "Just try and see for yourself," though I just wanted to know how fast other golfers tend to go through buckets.

This thread seems to have the most active conversation on the topic, so I wanted to ask something a bit related: What is everyone's opinion on the golf GPS apps for the Blackberry? I'm currently running Virgin Mobile, and may pick up the new Blackberry Curve they've released since a couple weeks ago. Would be easier to get a phone I'm already going to use, and use a golf GPS app on there rather than buying myself a standalone unit as well.

I carry, but then again that's because I'm working off my Northwestern clubs from years ago (that honestly didn't get too much use... I wasn't good enough for the golf team in HS, stupid ambition, never having played before, and soon lost the bug thereafter). Not a ton included.. 1W, 3W, 3I, 5I, 7I, 9I, 55* Shotsaver wedge, putter. 8 clubs. Not that I'll be hitting the long courses anytime soon, as I've got enough right now with the Oak courses around here at par 3. I need to learn once again before I attempt anything more.

Currently looking, unfortunately. Gives a new meaning to I'd Rather Be Golfing. :P

Haha, I'm just starting out again, so this's sad... but I managed to actually get a GIR maybe 20 feet from the pin on #13, a par 3 65 yarder. Yes, they're all short, so it's great to build up my short game. We won't talk about how poor my putting was on that hole though... (Didn't par or better the whole round)

Wasn't today but rather Memorial Day, but I just joined, so... On a par 54 course, my first golfing of any kind in a few years, I had a 44 on the front nine and a 40 on the back. I improved gradually, with a lot more bogeys on the back nine rather than... worse stuff. :)