The Advent and Evolution of the Driving Range

[TEPaul]

Wayne:

I'm 65 and when I was a kid at Piping Rock we took lessons from a particular pro (one might have even called him the "kid's pro"). We never had individual lessons back then at that club. There were some group lessons on the practice range but usually he would take a group of ten or so of us out on the course and teach us stuff there. If a group came along we would all just be politely herded aside until the passed.

[Steve Okula]

Speaking to te availability of range balls, as a kid in the '60's, I used to go every year to the old Insurance City Open, at Wethersfield CC in Connecticut. There was a practice range, but I clearly remember each pro had his caddy out there shagging his balls. I don't know if the balls were supplied, but probably they had to bring their own. At this time, the local public driving range had a ball collecting machine, so one could have been made available if a sponsor were putting out the balls.

[Bruce Wellmon]

CC of Spartanburg (SC), 1908, has a 220, or so, yard warm up range. We now have a separate "big" range.
Haven't played Palmetto in Aiken, SC (1892) in years but I remember quite a small (170 yard?) range. Perhaps someone who played in the Dixie Cup can update.
Does Caledonia (Mike Strantz design near Pawleys Island SC) still have that net you hit into and no range in truth?

[Joshua Pettit]

Of the MacKenzie courses I am familiar with in the US - Valley Club, Pasatiempo, Cypress Point, Valley Club, Crystal Downs one visit, Meadow Club - only the Meadow Club seems to have had a driving range or practice area in the original layout.  Several of those have one or two par 5 openers to allow for a bit of warm up.

Bill,

Meadow Club actually did not originally have a practice hitting area.  Holes No. 10, 12, and 18 all had much more fairway on their left sides, forming more of a triangle, and thus using most of the land that is currently occupied by the driving range.  Also there used to be a creek that ran through 9 and 10 fairway, the current driving range area, and continued through 18 fairway.  

As this thread indicates, "driving ranges" were very uncommon in those days.  As you point out, MacKenzie commonly used an easy Par 5 (or 4.5 if you like) to greet cold golfers, which would then be played as a Par 4 for the 19th hole if needed.  Also, I don't think the par 5 second hole at Valley Club is very accommodating to a golfer who isn't yet warmed up after the first hole.  

[Joshua Pettit]

I forgot to mention that of those courses Bill mentioned, The Valley Club is the only one that DID originally have a practice hitting area, which is interesting considering it has back to back opening par 5s.  Mackenzie's preliminary routing was also slightly different than what was actually built.  It called for a "practice fairway" in the location where the 18th fairway is today, and 18 was to be more of a direct par 4 in the area where the driving range sits.  I'm still not sure who's idea it was to swap the locations of the proposed 18th hole and practice fairway (perhaps Robert Hunter), but it seems like the logical choice, otherwise you would have had a driving range surrounded by golf holes on three sides in a tight area -- much like The Meadow Club's (less than ideal).

[JNC Lyon]

Does anyone think the demand for a proper practice range arose with the success of Ben Hogan?  Hogan was the first world-class player to famously become great through hours and hours of practice.  Before the 1950s, practice areas were an afterthought at best.  Now they are seen as just as important as the golf course.  Was Hogan in part responsible for that?

[Mike Cirba]

The retrospective need for a practice range has possibly compromised and damaged more classic-era courses than any other factor than highway expansion, and/or tree planting.

[Tim Gavrich]

Does Caledonia (Mike Strantz design near Pawleys Island SC) still have that net you hit into and no range in truth?

Bruce--

Indeed, there is no range on-site at Caledonia.  Those who are scheduled to play at Caledonia are encouraged to go over to True Blue before their tee times and avail themselves of the range there, as the two courses are closely affiliated.  All that exists at Caledonia is that charming little pitching range-type deal with big mossy oaks.  Another unique feature of one of my favorite places to play golf.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Wayne

Perhaps that’s the reason why the new players seem to miss out on correct course etiquette. They might be able to hold a club and hit a ball a long way but some have not learnt the rules of course behaviour,  So do you think we should rip out all practice ranges on golf courses or have proper lessons including basic course courtesy.


Don’t dismiss the Hickory/Gutty combination as Young Tommy was down in 3 at the 1st at Prestwick in 1870 – a Hole of some 578yards.

Melvyn

[Bill_McBride]

Of the MacKenzie courses I am familiar with in the US - Valley Club, Pasatiempo, Cypress Point, Valley Club, Crystal Downs one visit, Meadow Club - only the Meadow Club seems to have had a driving range or practice area in the original layout.  Several of those have one or two par 5 openers to allow for a bit of warm up.

Bill,

Meadow Club actually did not originally have a practice hitting area.  Holes No. 10, 12, and 18 all had much more fairway on their left sides, forming more of a triangle, and thus using most of the land that is currently occupied by the driving range.  Also there used to be a creek that ran through 9 and 10 fairway, the current driving range area, and continued through 18 fairway.  

As this thread indicates, "driving ranges" were very uncommon in those days.  As you point out, MacKenzie commonly used an easy Par 5 (or 4.5 if you like) to greet cold golfers, which would then be played as a Par 4 for the 19th hole if needed.  Also, I don't think the par 5 second hole at Valley Club is very accommodating to a golfer who isn't yet warmed up after the first hole.  

Boy is that the truth!  That has to be the smallest and steepest green on the course.  The first two shots aren't that demanding, although trying to reach in 2 would be a scary shot with the OB hedge left and that tiny green tucked tightly into the corner.   The tee shot has a lotmore room than it appears from the tee.

I'm confused about your comment that the original 18th played left of the practice ground.  Can you post that original course plan?  That would be the one, I think, that shows the fairway bunker on #12.

[Joshua Pettit]

Boy is that the truth!  That has to be the smallest and steepest green on the course.  The first two shots aren't that demanding, although trying to reach in 2 would be a scary shot with the OB hedge left and that tiny green tucked tightly into the corner.   The tee shot has a lotmore room than it appears from the tee.

I'm confused about your comment that the original 18th played left of the practice ground.  Can you post that original course plan?  That would be the one, I think, that shows the fairway bunker on #12.

Bill,

I am HAPPY to report that No. 2 green at Valley Club has been restored to its original size and shape, and is now twice the size it was the last time you saw it (2,200 --> 4,400 sq. ft.).  Of course the original contours remain intact, which provide for a fairly severe transition from back to front as you're coming down that slope, but certainly not the steepest on the course (think about the 3rd green).  The new (restored) green has a big tongue out in front and is slightly wider and deeper, which affords the greenkeeper a few more badly needed pin placements.  Also, you mentioned the hedges that line the left sides of the first and second fairways (which separate The VC from Birnam Wood) -- instead, imagine orange groves as far as the eye can see, then you would be living in a dream world circa 1929!

Picture standing on the 18th tee looking up toward the club house.  Mackenzie's preliminary (1928) routing called for the 18th to play up through where the driving range is, and the "practice fairway" would have been where the current 18th fairway is.  Essentially the two would have been swapped, however this configuration never came to fruition.  The current arrangement that you are familiar with IS the way the course was originally constructed.  The routing map that you are referring to does not show the difference that I am talking about because it was drawn by surveyors just 2 months prior to the course opening for play, and in effect serves as a considerably accurate as-built (Just ask Mr. Urbina!).  And yes, it does show the fairway bunker on 12 (sort of), which was also put back during the restoration project. 

[Mike Cirba]

Gulph Mills comes immediately to mind as a course that had to have been better before RTJ Sr. made changes (like the awkward 10th) to accommodate a driving range.

I understand the need but sometimes you just have limited property for 18 good holes and it's a bit tough to swallow seeing the range get some priority land, usually on good golf land near the clubhouse.