Practice Ranges Doubling as Park

[Todd_Eckenrode]

I'm thinking over a concept whereby an owner of proposed public GC would offer that his practice facility be opened up to public/townsfolk on Sunday afternoons to be used as a public park of sorts (big grassy area, basically) open to dogs, make-shift soccer games, whatever.  The course planned is in a proposed community of about 2000 homes, so the need would likely be there.  Right now, the proposed practice facility is typical to fairly large in size/shape (about 10 acres turfed).  The reason is political, basically, but I like the idea of it for public-good reasons.

Has anyone seen such a thing before, or ideas similar to it?  If so, was it effective, was it used and for what?  No need to mention TOC.  Others?

[Peter Galea]

Todd, I can't answer your question, so I guess this is off topic. The problem I see is with the idea is revenue.  If it is a busy range, they can't afford to close.  Count the number of stalls, average buckets hit per hour and cost per bucket.  Whoa!  Maybe in a private setting or a gated community, it might work.  I don't dislike the idea, but...the operator might.
Sorry, and I'm ever the optomist.

[George Pazin]

I understand what Pete's saying, but just to play devil's advocate a bit, wouldn't most golfers be playing on Sunday rather than practicing?

How feasible would it be to test it out a couple Sundays? Maybe you could offer anyone who showed up expecting to practice a free bucket of balls just so you don't piss anyone off.

If I did do something like this as a business move, I'd try to make sure I at least got maximum exposure out of it. Sorry to all the non-financially motivated do gooders out there, but at least send a press release to some local media outlets so people know what you're doing. The worst thing would be to close & have no one actually show up to use the free public park. It's gotta be win-win to really make it work on any kind of long term basis.

What if, rather than a free common use park, you opened it up as a parent/child day on Sunday? Free balls to any combos, maybe some free lessons. You'd get some positive rapport with the community & maybe even build the customer base for the future.

One things for sure - if it were my project I'd be giving away tee shirts.

[RJ_Daley]

Is this public facility a privately owned course, open to the public, or an open to the public leased from a municipality golf operator.  I think it matters what form of ownership is in place.   Then, the question is why is this a concept in the first place.  Is it strictly a good will gesture to the community where the operator can afford the lost income Pete speaks of.  If it is a charity gesture, I'd start it out once a month or once every couple of weeks.  But, I would not open it as a commons for the town folk.  I would follow Georges lead and offer free buckets to family combos, or youngsters 6-15 or some such thing and publicize it well, as George states.  That way, you are building good will and a future market.  I'd even contact the first tee program and see if there is any subsidy support for this.  Perhaps, they would get qualified instructors for kids to volunteer if the buckets and a practice putting green were available.  I would not open it up as a commons to non golf related activity such as pick-up soccer or touch football, because I think you'd have a risk liability there for injuries, particularly, if someone while running tripped over a feature of the driving range or stepped into a flag hole, etc.

[Todd_Eckenrode]

All good thoughts.  To clarify the specifics a bit, it will be a privately owned public course in a charming small town (5000 population).  The project is part of a large residential project, though, with 2000 homes planned.  The golf is core, though, with only perimeter homes.  

Reasons for the concept are political, as I said.  Thinking of providing something in the golf that gives back to the public.  When built out, certainly only a small percentage of the 7000 residents of this community will play golf.  Thus, though the free balls/first tee type of concepts are good, not quite what I was thinking.  Free junior lessons, etc. are common in such developments anyways in afternoons.

Also, need to develop concept now for political gain, so not really a chance to "test it out" in operations.

Don't know how much net income would be lost, really, as it's only losing 5-6 hours of such an operation. Certainly it's something, but I doubt those hours are a huge profit center. In addition, it's not in a big demographic, where ranges are fully packed at all times. Agreed that if public commons were "marketed", that this could make up for loss of net income in other ways (exposure to course as one).  Is possible, as well, that this could open up the grounds to be "rented" for special occasions/concerts/etc. if loss of $$$ was a real issue.

Agree re. the liability issue.  Thought of that, and not sure about it as it's not my field of expertise.  One of the reasons I'm looking for precedents.

If we do drop the "commons" concept, another thought is that we build the target greens as more realistic interpretation of gc greens than normally do, and maintain them at a decent level.  Then open up the "range" as a short course.  Whole different concept, really, though, and is back to "just golf".

[moth]

The only precendent I can think of is the old course and perhaps why that old lady is so loved by all in that town - regardless of their interest in golf.

And while it is kind of fun for all to walk around a golf course (which is a pretty cool landscape and interesting to look at and walk) I wouldn't think the same could be said of a driving range - which will be devoid of trees and other interest (and generally ends up being pretty poor turf to boot).

So if it is of no interest to most (lets face it picture yourself going for a picnic lunch on a driving range) - how could you derive political mileage from it??

[Todd_Joseph]

Is there room to build a chipping or short course on the property?  Something with nine holes all between 25-50 yards each?  It could be used as a practice area and also a open park.  

[Forrest Richardson]

Todd,

I wrote about a course where only the tees and greens are owned by the club — the entirety of the rest of the land is for public use: kite flying, jogging, picnics, etc. It's in England, of course. And, one more tid-bit, you have to drive 2 miles to get to the first tee from the clubhouse. Members park their car and then drive back after the 18th.

Imagine...only 7 acres for 18 holes.