Ideas wanted

[Garland Bayley]

Does anyone know of any club that made changes in holes to accommodate a range/bigger range where the course itself improved?

Anyone?

[David_Elvins]

Does anyone know of any club that made changes in holes to accommodate a range/bigger range where the course itself improved?

Anyone?

Morack got rid of a shitty short dogleg par 4 and replaced it with a par 3.

[Garland Bayley]

Limited distance golf balls is the only thing that comes to mind, Garland.

Looking at everything I think Mike is right.  Link to product 30% less distance, about $75/12 dozen. https://www.golfworks.com/top-flite-super-range-restricted-flight-golf-balls/p/rfrbv/




 I can't see any land east of the road which is not already golf or a public park. Jiggering holes would mean at least a  200 yard transition. The range is expandable toward the south and Hole 1 but moving the net would likely be costlier than the limited distance balls.


Kavanaugh's suggestion has a lot of merit, especially in the winter, too muddy, or east wind periods.

The two reviews of the range balls say the balls fly as far as normal range balls.

We don't have "too muddy" periods.

[Ben Hollerbach]

Oak Hills in Ada, Oklahoma has an elevated driving range that is shared with the first fairway. They use yellow range balls to differentiate and the members will pause hitting balls as players play their shots from the fairway. It's a bit awkward, but still works.

[Thomas Dai]

I tend to think that indoor simulators are more the future than traditional driving ranges so I'd favour several of these and a huge outdoor short-game practice area and a himalayas putting green.
atb

[Angela Moser]

Oak Hills in Ada, Oklahoma has an elevated driving range that is shared with the first fairway. They use yellow range balls to differentiate and the members will pause hitting balls as players play their shots from the fairway. It's a bit awkward, but still works.

Quaker Ridge is using the 17th Fairway as a teaching/practice range.


Do you get a lot of revenues from the Range? Is there a teaching facility etc? What do you need the range for?
I am absolutely on the cold start front golfing wise. The range though is where I would practice and try to make shots work, if that make sense... But I could do that from a mat just as good. Its all about the feel in the swing... not seeing the ball fly

[V. Kmetz]

Apawamis uses the 1st fairway as well...WF's range is fit for Roy McEvoy...Baltusrol has that ugly hill beyond the lot...so many of the classic courses did not have the culture or foresight to think such (so much) space would be necessary...


Speaking on the "keeping sustainable/economically competitive/viable" tip I think the clubs that can offer good versions of both indoor and outdoor practice facilities get a nod or feather for their caps...


The club with which I'm most associated, drastically improved their range (tee and field) in recent years and just opened an indoor facility last winter with a two bay door out/1 indoor simulator and lounge area, which had a steady handful of regular and college-junior every winter weekend... the pro did like 200 lessons and made a couple of score of fittings, while folks lounged and watched football and Golf Channel. It proved every bit as popular and useful for these purposes IN-season as well... an absolute HR of an investment for this group.


For the particulars of the original post, I say that I would turn the current "field acreage" into the best short game area I could summon and eschew hitting full shots at all (unless an indoor/netted facility could be tolerated next to the grand short game area)

[Garland Bayley]

Oak Hills in Ada, Oklahoma has an elevated driving range that is shared with the first fairway. They use yellow range balls to differentiate and the members will pause hitting balls as players play their shots from the fairway. It's a bit awkward, but still works.

They don't mention it on their website, but I can see the layout from the satellite view.

We would have to reroute our course to make something like that work on our small property.

[Garland Bayley]

Quaker Ridge is using the 17th Fairway as a teaching/practice range.


Do you get a lot of revenues from the Range?

None. It is free to members and guests for whom a green fee has been paid. When they went to having it free, they said outsiders could pay for balls and use it. I have never heard of that happening. Outsiders would go to real ranges to pay for balls and practice. I even do that sometimes.

Is there a teaching facility etc?

The pros use the existing facility, and don't like its shortcomings.

What do you need the range for?

For me primarily warm up. Others practice fairly regularly on it.

I am absolutely on the cold start front golfing wise. The range though is where I would practice and try to make shots work, if that make sense... But I could do that from a mat just as good. Its all about the feel in the swing... not seeing the ball fly

My swing is so erratic that seeing the ball fly is necessary feedback. I can make what feels like a good swing and see the ball land 20 yards short of where I expected it to, and then figure out things like restricted hip turn, inefficient arm swing, etc. In essence, after a week away from the game I get on the range and try to find a swing again.

[Garland Bayley]

I tend to think that indoor simulators are more the future than traditional driving ranges so I'd favour several of these and a huge outdoor short-game practice area and a himalayas putting green.
atb

A himalayas putting green would be a little over the top for us. Our members will just have to motor down to Bandon if they want that experience.