[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

The practice facility at Briggs Ranch in San Antinio and also Dallas National are very good indeed.
Lots of target greens and a variety of hitting areas.

My favourite though...have to agree with Jamie..Pine Valley

[Andrew Hastie]

I to agree that Friars Head is very impressive, one of the worst is Baltusrol.

Andrew

[Sean_A]

Prestwick(or nearly anywhere else in the UK)- a quick stretch , a bit of kummel and off you go.


Seriously, does anyone need 6 different varieties of grass and sand?
target greens
and 2 different putting greens ,one each to match the 2 courses?
 

The whole world (golf included) got so high maintenance over the past 20 years.

I'm with Jeff.  I would have no problem with the practice area being cut of either of my clubs.  That said, if there has to be a practice area that would interest me at all it must be right next to the first tee.  In this regard it doesn't get better than Pennard.  The range is is separated from the 1st tee by a putting green.  Indeed, what else does one need if you aren't making money doing it?

Ciao

[Stephen Britton]

Robert Trent Jones Golf Club Gainesville, VA.

Awesome 2 acre pure bent tee, great target greens, private rear tee, uneven lies area, great practice fairway bunker, chipping and putting greens right beside the tee all designed by Kyle Phillips.

They also have a cottage with accommodation, bar and under cover heated hitting bays.. What more could you need?

[PCCraig]

.

[Joel Zuckerman]

I'm amazed it took nearly 50 posts (Tony Nysse chiming in at #48) for someome to mention Berkeley Hall.

This practice facility is so hi-tech, so comprehensive amd so well concieved that when it first opened up about 7-8 years ago, Tour pros like Sergio, Faxon and Calc trekked over from Harbour Town (no easy commute in springtime high season--maybe 30 minutes minimum) to see what all the fuss was about.

[Jim Thornton]

Andrew-

I couldn't agree more about Baltusrol...horrendous!

In an otherwise world-class facility - 2 great golf courses, a beautiful clubhouse - the practice range sticks out like a sore thumb.  

It's not just that it's small and awkward hitting into the hill, but it's just so ugly with those mats and nets.

Jim

[Matt_Ward]

Not being a fan of Florida but it would be hard to bear what you find at Orange County National.

Can handle all types of wind and it clearly can accomodate large crowds (witness the annual demo day event / re: PGA Show).

Makes Metedeconk's practice facilities look like Tiny Archibald against Shaq.

On the worst side -- include the following ...

Bethpage from its original days - could actuall film the beach scenes from "Saving Private Ryan." Ditto the balls -- I can throw a ball further than one can hit many of them.

Baltusrol -- simply horrific for such a big time club / Winged Foot is not that far behind either -- ditto Quaker Ridge.

To play out the Tillie emphasis -- high marks to Ridgewood CC.

One other course to quickly mention -- Broad Run Golfer's Club (the former Tattersall). You could get vertigo with the range they have.

I love the practice facilities that are heavily sloped from back-to-front to serve as a convenient backstop -- e.g. the original Tattersall and you could throw into the mix the practice range at Berkshire Valley in Morris County, NJ as another example.

[Doug Sobieski]

I'm amazed it took nearly 50 posts (Tony Nysse chiming in at #48) for someome to mention Berkeley Hall.

This practice facility is so hi-tech, so comprehensive amd so well concieved that when it first opened up about 7-8 years ago, Tour pros like Sergio, Faxon and Calc trekked over from Harbour Town (no easy commute in springtime high season--maybe 30 minutes minimum) to see what all the fuss was about.

Ditto. I scrolled through the whole thread to see when it got mentioned. Surprised it took that long. Anyone have any pictures of it?

[Jim Thornton]

Matt-

I think you're onto something with regard to great courses with horrible practice facilities.

Here's another one for your list....Oakland Hills.

Embarrassingly bad...rubber matts on top of concrete slabs and if my memory serves me correctly it's irons only.  I've seen nicer practice facilities in Tijuana.

Both Baltusrol and Oakland Hills use the other course to create a suitable practice range when the pros are in town.

Jim

[Sean Leary]

to me there is a difference between a range and a practice area. A range I want close to the clubhouse, and near the first tee. I want to warm up there.

A practice area is where I would want to spend time working on my game. It doesn't need to be close (a la PV and Bandon Dunes)

A 360 range can be good depending on where the sun is and which way the wind is blowing.

[Kalen Braley]

If we're handing out awards for purely scenery and visuals, then the Resort at Couer D' Alene has gotta be up there.

Your hitting floater range balls into the lake and the view/setting is awesome at the very least.

[Chuck Brown]

Matt-

I think you're onto something with regard to great courses with horrible practice facilities.

Here's another one for your list....Oakland Hills.

Embarrassingly bad...rubber matts on top of concrete slabs and if my memory serves me correctly it's irons only.  I've seen nicer practice facilities in Tijuana.

Both Baltusrol and Oakland Hills use the other course to create a suitable practice range when the pros are in town.

Jim

A minor correction.  Oakland Hills does have a horrible driving range, as you suggest.  But one of the more sublime putting greens west of Oakmont.  (I often secretly wished they'd sod and merge the 9th green with the putting green ;-)...)
And they have a nice new shortgame practice area on the North Course, in the northwest corner of the property along Gilbert Lake Road.
And yes, for majors, OHCC converts the conjoined 1st and 10th tees of the North Course into a pretty sweet practice tee, and they convert the North 18th green into a practice bunker/chipping area.  That alternative works wonderfully for majors; for the U.S. Amateur, when they needed two course, they were badly stuck, and enlisted other clubs to provide practice tees.  ( I saw Derek Berg of Washington at Carl's Golfland one evening...)

[J_ Crisham]

Shoreacres.

Unless something's changed in the last 10 years (I don't think it has), I've often wondered why they even bother.

Nothing has changed...that is why it is the best range in America. Cleared out of a forest, 30 yards wide, 200 yards long and right next to the drive into the clubhouse. Just enough room for a 4-some, nice balls, no frills. Take 20-30 swings and get to the first tee.

That is a good range, not these 360* "practice facilities." I understand the standalone practice spots, but if there is a course onsite... you shouldn't need "shot value" on the range beforehand.

I absolutely love Shoreacres, but I really thought you were joking, Pat, when you mentioned it in this thread.  The "range" is the only mistake on the property.  They had a chance to buy some adjoining land from a member who was willing to give the club a good price, but the club somehow managed to goof it up, so they're stuck with the small chute that is squeezed in between a forest and the club driveway.  I recognize that a lot of the old courses are stuck with inadequate practice facilities, but this is right up there with the worst in Chicago, right alongside Ridge and LaGrange.

The best in Chicago that I've seen is Conway Farms.  Cog Hill has an excellent facility and among the older private clubs, North Shore and Knollwood have solid facilities.

Terry,   I agree with Conway and Knollwood- I would also add BobOLink, Rich Harvest, and OFCC . The changes that you have made at OFCC have made things a hell of a lot better than the old often flooded area. As an aside, congrats on the nuptials. Hopefully you got to play some of Hawaii's best.   
                    Wish you well,  Jack

[JWL]

I'll nominate Boot Ranch and The May River Club.   Both have everything you could want in a range.

[Joe Bausch]

I'll second or third or whatever World Woods in Florida.  They have a 360° practice range, along with a few short game areas.  Not to mention a practice 3 hole layout.  Then they have a full 18 hole practice putting green near the full practice area, together with putting greens right next to the first tees at both courses (Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks).

[C. Squier]

St. Louis CC

[PCCraig]

How about the seaside range at The Ocean Course at Kiawah??? Now that is firm and fast!

[Ronald Montesano]

There is a joint in Chipawa, Ontario, Canada, called Legends on the Niagara.  It is home to a Doug Carrick course, a Thomas McBroom course, a 9-hole executive course, an 18 hole putting course, and a 360-degree "Firing Range."  Located just south of Niagara Falls, the Range is a marvel.  The Canadian Women's Open was held there about four years ago and the women had little to question.  360 degrees certainly eliminates Hogan's complain about a specific wind, right?  Go to Latitude  43° 2'37.04"N and Longitude  79° 2'33.09"W on Google Earth and you'll find my spot.

[Chuck Brown]

I'll nominate Boot Ranch and The May River Club.   Both have everything you could want in a range.

May River is indeed really nice; it made me wonder if Nicklaus Design designed the practice area for them as well, in addition to the course.

[David_Madison]

Kinloch and Berkeley Hall are superior in that they have wonderful long game, short game, and putting areas, and both have incredible indoor teaching/training/monitoring facilities as well. Shadow Creek hasn't been mentioned here yet. While not a huge facility, I found the practice range to offer some of the most realistic shot-making practice I've enjoyed anywhere.   

[mike_beene]

Gullane,Royal Oaks and Pinehurst.

[Bill Gayne]

This thread highlights one of the big differences in the game between America and GBI. One would wonder how GBI would ever produce a champion without proper practice facilities.

[Jon Heise]

hmm, interesting.  Never thought too, too much about TOP practice facilities.  I sure do notice ones that suck though.

Pinehurst, Forest Dunes are real good.  Ocean Course has a great view.  Kingsley and Arcadia Bluffs too.

[Ronald Montesano]

This thread highlights one of the big differences in the game between America and GBI. One would wonder how GBI would ever produce a champion without proper practice facilities.

Really?  Which one would wonder such a thing?  Nowhere in this thread does it suggest that facilities of this nature produce champions.  What it does suggest is that many folks enjoy inspiration as much when they practice as when they play at golf.

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