[Sean Leary]

Too bad they don't have the old range at Bandon open, just west of the ninth hole...Been closed a long time.

I have heard that Kinloch's is unreal...

[BVince]

Great -
Kinloch (VA) - I second this nomination.  The best practice range/course combination I have seen.  It is a wonderful practice area with actual greensites and bunkers, great variety of distances, large space, up to date technology areas for lessons and indoor hitting areas.  Hard to beat and the course is world class.

Good -
Augusta Pines (TX) - another large range with multiple targets.  Visually interesting.  The course is fun.
MPCC - good site with lots of room.  
Tacoma C&GC - large space, multiple teeing areas, fairway bunker, two different visual tee options, multiple targets, close proximity to tee boxes, putting green, and chipping area

Bad -
Baltusrol - 2 good courses but practice area hits into the side of a hill.  
Winged Foot - 2 great courses but the driving range is lacking.
SFGC - place to loosen the muscles, but lacks interest
CPC - place to loosen the muscles, tight area, but it has a great view and you feel so special to be on the property.
Chambers Bay - close in proximity to the tee boxes but a truly booring facility.
Fircrest (WA) - special balls to restrict the carry.  There is a net at about 250 yards off the practice tee protecting houses in the rear of the range.  Hard to get a feel for your game.

[John Kirk]

Kinloch's practice facility is outstanding, and logically presented.  Couple hundred yard walk from the clubhouse to the practice range, 50-75 yard walk to the practice green, then another 50-75 to the 1st tee.  There are also practice bays with state of the art teaching equipment.

The golf course is also excellent.  Previous discussions here identify Kinloch as having widely varying opinions, from great to nothing special.  Playing conditions are excellent in terms of short, well maintained grass with very fast greens.  The course is strictly an aerial test for much of the year, though it does test the player's ability on uneven lies and lines of attack.  The aesthetic appeal is high, golf on rolling mixed forestland with a large lake and no houses.  The club is superbly managed.  

[John Kirk]

One quick nomination for Stone Eagle, which has the ditsinction of the finest bunkering ever seen on a practice range and green.  The most beautifully sculpted bunkers that ever graced a driving range ever.  But Kinloch is the real deal for practicing golf.

[Buck Wolter]

Manele Bay has to have the best view from any range -- I've seen a whale while hitting balls.

[Wade Whitehead]

Kinloch, plain and simple.  It really must be seen to be believed.

WW

[Mike McGuire]

Our pro shop, range, putting green, halfway house and #1 tee are very close.

Since we don't have tee times this layout works well as you can easily monitor who is around.

[Dan Herrmann]

New Jersey's metedeconk.

Best practice area I've ever seen, and a really great 27-holes of RTJ golf.

[J_ Crisham]

Dave , How about the range distance at Merion from the 1st tee? Don't think I would have a problem accepting this to be a member here. At Beverly you have to traverse  the tunnel to get from range to 1st tee.
                                                Jack

[Tom Huckaby]

David:

At a private club with zero tee times but that is also crowded, I'd agree that it might be beneficial to be able to monitor the first tee as you warm up.

In all other situations I don't see the point, and don't care that much where the range is; far more important to me is the quality of it.

I tend to like putting as the last thing I do before a round anyway... so more important to me is a putting green near the first tee.  Most courses have those, thankfully.

[Brian Cenci]

How about the Dunes Club?  Great course....driving range is a net off the 1st tee.

[Willie_Dow]

All clubs should look to this avenue for increased participation.  If there is not enough time for a round of golf, practice - practice - practice - then dinner, and an explanation of how I've improved from my use of time away.

[Mark Pritchett]

I would go with the Honors Course on this one.  Everything you need, nothing you don't.

[Matt OBrien]

The range at PV is very far from the 1st tee. If you have to go to the far end of the range thats ever further. Thier practice facilites there are second to none. I didnt notice the short game area across the street on the far end until the third time there. If i was a member I would live at the short game area there.
Also another facility with a ride to the range is Philadelphia Cricket Club. It sits between the two courses and they allow members to drive thier cars to it. It's quite annoying when hitting your approach on 2 or your tee shot on 11 and you have to wait for the cars to cross the road.

[John Mayhugh]

I thought of a challenger to Bandon:

Monterey Peninsula CC

In fact, I think that's my new submission.  No par three course... but good god does it have everything else in spades.

TH

I liked it as much as any practice area I've ever seen.  I really enjoyed the large green that permits you to transition to the first tee on the Shore.  Right alongside the clubhouse as well so it's perfect to keep tabs on the guys you're meeting to play or grab a game. 

Overall, to me the range only matters if I'm a member (and hence want to practice) or I'm playing something that's a Doak 6 or less.  The range can be a complete piece of crap but it won't make a Doak 10 into a 9, etc.

[Kalen Braley]

John,

Are you sure that Pebble really isn't a 10 because of its offsite range.  Are you sure?  Are you sure?   

[Rob Rigg]

I'll second Tetherow. And the practice facility turns into a really cool pitch and putt.

Only drawback, super elevated teeing area. I prefer a flat to slightly elevated range because it is easier to get a feel for distance.

[Matt_Ward]

I'll mention two (2) practice facilities / driving ranges that have to rate among the worst -- both are at public courses ...

Tattersall in Pennsy -- you could have vertigo when warming-up there as the lay of the land rises ABRUPTLY. Comparable to the debacle you see at Baltusrol - which may have the worst practice facility among courses that are rated by most magazines within the top 50 in the USA.

Ditto w Berkshire Valley in Morris County Parks System (NJ).

Any range / facility that features uphill type shots gets a big "X" in my book.

As much as I like Wolf Creek in Mesquite, NV -- the range there only allows for iron shots -- and it's ALSO uphill as well. A double "X" in my book.

[Matt_Ward]

Dave:

Please add as many others as you wish.

You should see what was done at Tetherow -- I've not seen a facility that can have a "range" (no pun intended) of uses. The short course folded into the driving range is truly unique and it's another feather in the cap for David Kidd.

[Buck Wolter]

St louis Country Club's range is a polo field -- I have to believe there are other set-ups like that but to me it is much more impressive than faux greens and fairways though it is occasionally out of commission during a chukka.

Added benefit is that is about 10 yards from the first tee.

[Tim Bert]

John,

Are you sure that Pebble really isn't a 10 because of its offsite range.  Are you sure?  Are you sure?   

I thought it was because "the par-3 12th is a real mutt."

[Doug Wright]

Talking Stick. Great range and putting green and the first tees for both courses are right next to it.

[Ed Oden]

You should see what was done at Tetherow -- I've not seen a facility that can have a "range" (no pun intended) of uses. The short course folded into the driving range is truly unique and it's another feather in the cap for David Kidd.

Matt, this was also done at The Club at Irish Creek.

[Rob Rigg]

Well Tetherow did it first - nah nah nah boo boo 

[Sean_A]

A disclaimer, I could care less about practicing and I am not a range rat, but for me, the place to practice must be within a few minutes to the 1st tee - preferably with a view to the tee.  If its a cart ride or 10 minutes away, forget it, I am not bothered.  With this in mind, Pennard's set-up is fantastic.  There is a driving range which flows into a practice green which flows to the first tee.  It must be all of 30 yards between the range and the tee with a practice green squeezed in.  None of the practice facilities are great, but they are adequate.  If you really want to practice seriously, there is a practice hole just the other side of the 10th tee.  I wouldn't want the club to spend anymore money than that to practice. 

I must say Burnham's is quite good as well.  1 minute walk to the 1st tee with two putting greens and a putting/chipping green on the way - in sight of the 1st tee.  There is also a terrific 9 holer which will give you all the practice you could want.  Indeed, I think a few of the holes on that course are good enough to be on the proper course. 

Ciao 

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