Driving range wear? Do not hit your balls on our range!

[noonan]

I had an 8:37 at my favorite local muni on Sunday. I had to take care of a couple things at work and arrived at 8:20. I had just enough time to get my gear on and pay. I walked over to the range and attempted to hit 4 old balls I found 2 weeks ago playing another course. He told me I was not allowed to hit those balls on the range as they now have yellow balls. He glowered over me as I proceeded to hit them. I maintained it was better than hitting a ball OB on 1 through a neighbor's window.

As I thought about it I wrote an email to the city golf director that prompted a call from the pro today.

He said I could not hit old balls on their range for the following reasons:
1. Reseeding the range from wear
2. It was like bringing my own food/drink on my bag - I disagreed strongly but agree with a no cooler policy
3. It took too much time to sort out the white balls out of their yellow balls

There are 2 holes on this course bordering the range. Neither holes are that close and it would take a huge off line shot to hit one in there. I cannot ever being in there.

I find myself having less time than ever and I like the 3 or 4 balls onto a range and peg it when pushed for time. Many of the friends I play with do the same. They have been harassed by employees too. I told the pro I was signed up for an even in about 4 weeks. After that trip he did not have to worry about my business I would play elsewhere.

IMO he is making the problem worse than the cure.

[Mike Nuzzo]

If I were the pro I'd give you 4 yellow balls.
If I were you I'd bring 4 yellow balls.
Cheers

[Keith OHalloran]

I guess I am too much of a softy. When the guy told me it was gainst the rules to hit the balls, I would have stopped (I know shocker right). When the pro explained that by hitting my own balls, I was taking revenue out of his pocket, I would have apologized. Sometimes I wish I had a greater sense of entitlement, it would be great to live in a world where rules don't apply and stealing was acceptable.

[Kevin_Reilly]

I agree with the policy of the course.  If you haven't paid for a bucket (I assume this course charges for balls, not like some private clubs) then you shouldn't hit balls at the range.  The price of a bucket includes your use of the range, and you didn't pay anything.

[John Kavanaugh]

Golf balls you no longer want should be disposed of properly.  It is not at all uncommon to see golfers dispose of balls in a manner they would never consider for other unnatural materials. In this case the pro should have called the police and had you cited for littering.

[JC Jones]

Entitlement reaching a whole new level.

[Ron Csigo]

You still hit it OB on #1, huh?

[Jason Thurman]

Jerry, a game of bowling at your alley costs about as much as a warm-up bucket. If I come to rock n bowl next week, am I safe to assume that I can walk right in and roll a game without asking permission or paying as long as I bring in an old ball that I find somewhere?

[Cory Lewis]

This sounds a lot like the guy I had to kick off our range last week.  The range was closed for mowing yet this guy decided he could drive his car down to the range, drive it into the gravel turn-around that is only for golf carts and take his own balls out and hit them while the range was being mowed.  It never occurred to him to
a)check with the pro-shop
b)read the signs that said golf carts only
c)buy range balls instead of steal
d)stop hitting his own balls when he saw that workers were mowing it while he was hitting

[noonan]

I recognized long ago that everyone wanted to warm up in bowling. We sell 99% of bowling by time/person. This way people can warm up without keeping score. Also bowling leagues include 15 minutes of practice.

I guess at 52 trying to take 4 warm up swings is a crime. Especially when I am leaving balls on his range he could resell.

This range was open. This has been a customary practice at many places I have played for years. If you did not have time take out a couple balls and hit away.

Where do you draw the line? Should we declare to the starter on hole 1 if we are playing stroke play so no one takes a practice putt? Is that provisional ball on #6 with a thicket left theft if you find your original ball?

I am a rules guy since I operate a similar business. I would not take my own food/beverage because that would make me a hypocrite.

[BHoover]

I had a similar experience recently. My wife and I went to a local restaurant for dinner. I generally prefer to eat out, with one caveat--I prefer to bring my own food and use the restaurant kitchen to prepare my meal. That way I get to avoid paying for gas or electricity plus I get the added benefit of free bread and water. Imagine my outrage last weekend when the restaurant where we made reservations refused to cook the steaks we purchased at the Whole Foods next door.

I wrote a scathing email explaining how ridiculous their policy was and that I would take my business elsewhere.

Was the architectural intent of the course that you set your own rules?

[Keith OHalloran]

Jerry, how magnanimous of you to leave balls (that don't match and you didn't want) and not even send the pro a bill!

[Jud_T]

Moral of the story-  If warming up is important to you, get there in time to buy a small bucket otherwise suck it up and tee off cold.

[Jim_Kennedy]

There are several ways in which you could have followed the course's rules while satisfying your need to hit few warm up balls in the few minutes you had before your tee time.
 
You didn't, and your 'opinion' about what happened is wrong-headed. The next letters you should be writing are ones of apology to the Pro who had to put up with you, and to the city's Golf Director who had to waste part of his day dealing with you.

Sheesh.

[noonan]

I would honestly like to know how I could hit a few warm up balls and be within the rules.

I respect their right to do business this way. I will just choose to play elsewhere.

[Kevin_Reilly]

I would honestly like to know how I could hit a few warm up balls and be within the rules.

Pay for a small bucket and leave behind what you don't use.  I see that happen all the time at local courses.

[Pat Burke]

Buy or share a small bucket with someone

[Jim_Kennedy]

Buy a small bag/bucket - hit a few leave the rest.

Someone headed for the range when you arrive ? - share a small bucket, hit a few, leave.

Explain your time constraint in the shop and ask how much for a half dozen balls.

Buy a range pass if they sell them.  

Ask one of the guys you were meeting to buy a small bucket and wait for you at the range so you can hit a few.

Bring a half dozen donuts into the shop and trade them for a half dozen balls - works all the time.

 

[Randy Thompson]

Jerry,
If 50 balls cost five dollars then maybe the city should consider having a, "I´m in a hurry" or, "I am cheap Sob", special and sell eight balls for a buck! If that special exsisted, would that be favorable and something you would support or would you ask for four balls and want to pay fifty cents? I agree, one of the reasons we are losing golfers is the time element and we should be aware of that and do everything posible to counter act the time problem.

[noonan]

I would take 5 balls for a dollar. The money was not the issue. I had not planned on playing. I got a text driving back into town from a day trip. After being gone all day I had to check into the business in the morning. It was as quick as I could get across town after getting some rest and checking in.

[Sam Morrow]

When you started this thread I bet you didn't expect this response. Nice try.

[noonan]

When you started this thread I bet you didn't expect this response. Nice try.

I have no issue with differing opinions.

[David_Elvins]

"I have no issue with differing opinions."

Your OP says you wrote an email because you had an issue with a differing opinion.

[JJShanley]

Driving Range wear?  I clicked thinking I'd read a discussion about folks who wear non-golf attire while practicing.

[archie_struthers]

 


A real savvy employee may have offered to give you a half dozen balls rather than cause a scene. Often they aren't empowered or able to make these decisions . However you have to have some control over behavior or its anarchy.

This being said , perhaps you overreact by never returning .