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

[Craig Sweet]

When maintenance is mowing the range we wait to put the balls out on the tee. However, I have had members come down to the tee, pull some balls form their bag, and hit while I am mowing right in front of them. RUDE!!!!!!

I have no problem with a rule that prevents me form hitting my own balls on the range for all the reasons Keith mentioned.

[John Kavanaugh]

Congrats on the promotion.

[Greg Tallman]

I highly doubt your presence will be missed. Your money perhaps, perhaps not but your attitude is a welcome loss I am certain.

Let me frame this for you...

1. You were asked not to do something
2. You chose to ignore the rules as they were presented to you... "Must not apply to me"
3. You disrespected the staff members with whom you engaged with
4. 1-3 not withstanding you felt the need to write a complaint letter when you and only you acted outside the norm.

So... You break rules, show your ass, disrespect your fellow man and then complain about it. Hope you are proud of yourself.

[Tim Gavrich]

Jerry--

I was hitting balls at the range at the muni course near me a few weeks ago when the ball machine jammed. An employee was summoned and sussed out the problem pretty quickly: a non range ball, which is slightly larger in diameter (by a couple hundredths of an inch) than the course's range balls, was stuck in the feeding mechanism because said mechanism was built to hold and process the range balls, not the larger balls.

Hopefully your selfishness at this other course doesn't cause a similar problem to the extent where the range ball machine gets jammed by one of your unwelcome golf balls to the extent that a repair needs to be made to it. But if it does, I'll bet the proprietors of the golf course from which you took your balls and went home are glad they know who to send the bill to!

[Tom Allen]

Like everyone else who has responded (I think) I'm on the side of the operator of the muni on this one.

My opinion:  It seems distasteful and rude to me to intentionally violate rules, just to benefit yourself.  It is like saying 'I'm justified in driving on the shoulder around this traffic because it is better than me arriving home later than usual.'  There are reasons for the rules, and they apply to everyone.

[Brent Hutto]

I've been playing at my new club for about 4-1/2 months now. About 40 rounds of golf. Haven't set foot on the driving range yet and I don't anticipate doing so any time soon.

Does anyone know the history of this modern driving range before the round thing? How far back in time do you have to go to find the time when the norm was for weekend golfers to just step onto the first tee and play away with no "warm up" or "practice" or "range balls" beforehand?

I do know a few people who, if pinched for time, would rather miss their tee time than even think about hitting their first ball of the day on the actual golf course instead of the driving range.

[Mark Smolens]

I've been playing at my new club for about 4-1/2 months now. About 40 rounds of golf. Haven't set foot on the driving range yet and I don't anticipate doing so any time soon.

Does anyone know the history of this modern driving range before the round thing? How far back in time do you have to go to find the time when the norm was for weekend golfers to just step onto the first tee and play away with no "warm up" or "practice" or "range balls" beforehand?

I do know a few people who, if pinched for time, would rather miss their tee time than even think about hitting their first ball of the day on the actual golf course instead of the driving range.

Lol. One of the guys in my old group at Dubsdread got so tired of hitting the ball so well on the range, but stinking it up on the course, that he brought one of those red striped gems out to the course for his round -- playing the new French ball, the "ran-j". And before anyone asks, he did return the ball to the range after the round!

[Jason Thurman]

Brent sums up my other thought. What the hell does Jerry do when he goes to a course without a range?

[Sam Morrow]

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

I have no issue with differing opinions.

By your actions I'd beg to differ.

[Brent Hutto]

Brent sums up my other thought. What the hell does Jerry do when he goes to a course without a range?

I saw a discussion once on another Internet forum about choosing what private club to join in some town or another. Several participants in that discussion stated that most of the clubs in town were completely out of the question as far as they were concerned.

You might think I'm going to say "because those club didn't have driving ranges" but it's not that. It's that those club's driving ranges WERE NOT LIGHTED. Basically, if they can't use the driving range at night then the club is not for them.

[Joe Bausch]

Having trouble siding with you on this one Jerry.

A 'solution' is perhaps buying a single plastic golf wiffle ball.  Knock that around a few times before heading to the first tee.

[Justin VanLanduit]

Unfortunately I see a lot of "that policy doesn't apply to me" being a Superintendent.  Whether it be fixing ballmarks, raking bunkers, cart use, etc...  Everything at a course cost money, whether it be labor or materials.  They have costs involved in those 4 balls; picking them from the range, picking them out of the baskets so they don't damage machines, someone to fill the divots, seed and soil to fill the divots.  So, in the end they are in the hole for the decision by someone to just come out and bang a few non range balls.  Why not with your group, allow a breakfast ball with each shot on the first hole if you are only looking to hit 4 balls.  
In the end there was complete disrespect given to the facility, the pro, the employee that told you it wasn't allowed, and the city golf director.  I'd assume everyone on this site loves what golf is about, that's why we are here.  So why not promote the game by following the rules of the facilities along with the etiquette of the game helping promote a better experience.

[BShannon]

I highly doubt your presence will be missed. Your money perhaps, perhaps not but your attitude is a welcome loss I am certain.

Let me frame this for you...

1. You were asked not to do something
2. You chose to ignore the rules as they were presented to you... "Must not apply to me"
3. You disrespected the staff members with whom you engaged with
4. 1-3 not withstanding you felt the need to write a complaint letter when you and only you acted outside the norm.

So... You break rules, show your ass, disrespect your fellow man and then complain about it. Hope you are proud of yourself.

Oh man. Well put.

[PThomas]

Like everyone else who has responded (I think) I'm on the side of the operator of the muni on this one.

My opinion:  It seems distasteful and rude to me to intentionally violate rules, just to benefit yourself.  It is like saying 'I'm justified in driving on the shoulder around this traffic because it is better than me arriving home later than usual.'  There are reasons for the rules, and they apply to everyone.

+1

good comparison....I loathe drivers like that

[Richard Hetzel]

I've been playing at my new club for about 4-1/2 months now.

Did you leave Columbia CC? Where did you land?

Rich

[Brent Hutto]

I've been playing at my new club for about 4-1/2 months now.

Did you leave Columbia CC? Where did you land?

Rich

Camden CC. Maybe you'll have a chance one of these days to visit!

[noonan]

Unfortunately I see a lot of "that policy doesn't apply to me" being a Superintendent.  Whether it be fixing ballmarks, raking bunkers, cart use, etc...  Everything at a course cost money, whether it be labor or materials.  They have costs involved in those 4 balls; picking them from the range, picking them out of the baskets so they don't damage machines, someone to fill the divots, seed and soil to fill the divots.  So, in the end they are in the hole for the decision by someone to just come out and bang a few non range balls.  Why not with your group, allow a breakfast ball with each shot on the first hole if you are only looking to hit 4 balls. 
In the end there was complete disrespect given to the facility, the pro, the employee that told you it wasn't allowed, and the city golf director.  I'd assume everyone on this site loves what golf is about, that's why we are here.  So why not promote the game by following the rules of the facilities along with the etiquette of the game helping promote a better experience.

I said I would follow the rule the next time. I am probably a range user 30% of the time. In the 90s when I played my most golf I never played without hitting the range and paying for balls. As I have gotten busier I am lucky to get to the course on time - especially on such short notice.

If someone walks into my joint with a beverage - I tell them please do not bring that in - and there is a sign on the door. In fact many times I tell them to finish it up quick.

This was a change of policy I respect - but after close to 40 years playing here it came abruptly. The employee menacing me was not welcome either. They could have said " I am sorry we have changed our policy - go ahead and hit those balls but next time please buy balls for the range" is a better way to handle it.

My employees would not confront any customer as such. My policy is to preface any change of customer behavior by "I'm sorry but"

[SteveOgulukian]

How about this scenario....

Playing a "practice round" on a 9 hole course at 6:30pm on a weekday, as a single, and being behind a SLOW 3 ball.  The guys couldn't hit the ball in the air. 

Since there was nowhere to go (there were slow groups ahead of them and I didn't want to get sandwiched in) I played multiple balls and hit a few extra pitches around the greens.  All divots and ball marks on the green were fixed and replaced and nobody was behind me.

A few holes in I was told that I couldn't hit that many balls and that I could only hit one ball.

Thoughts?

[Sam Morrow]

How about this scenario....

Playing a "practice round" on a 9 hole course at 6:30pm on a weekday, as a single, and being behind a SLOW 3 ball.  The guys couldn't hit the ball in the air. 

Since there was nowhere to go (there were slow groups ahead of them and I didn't want to get sandwiched in) I played multiple balls and hit a few extra pitches around the greens.  All divots and ball marks on the green were fixed and replaced and nobody was behind me.

A few holes in I was told that I couldn't hit that many balls and that I could only hit one ball.

Thoughts?

Did you pay 1 green fee?

[SteveOgulukian]

How about this scenario....

Playing a "practice round" on a 9 hole course at 6:30pm on a weekday, as a single, and being behind a SLOW 3 ball.  The guys couldn't hit the ball in the air. 

Since there was nowhere to go (there were slow groups ahead of them and I didn't want to get sandwiched in) I played multiple balls and hit a few extra pitches around the greens.  All divots and ball marks on the green were fixed and replaced and nobody was behind me.

A few holes in I was told that I couldn't hit that many balls and that I could only hit one ball.

Thoughts?

Did you pay 1 green fee?

Yes, 1 green fee.  I have a propensity to err on the side of hitting a provisional rather than not.  You never really know if the ball is going to be there when you get to it.  Especially putts. 

[Jim_Coleman]

    There are plenty of jerks (to use a nicer word) in the world, and pretty much everyone knows who they are.  Yet, not a single one of them thinks he's a jerk.  The fact that this post exists is all one needs to know.

[Frank Sekulic]

How about this scenario....

Playing a "practice round" on a 9 hole course at 6:30pm on a weekday, as a single, and being behind a SLOW 3 ball.  The guys couldn't hit the ball in the air. 

Since there was nowhere to go (there were slow groups ahead of them and I didn't want to get sandwiched in) I played multiple balls and hit a few extra pitches around the greens.  All divots and ball marks on the green were fixed and replaced and nobody was behind me.

A few holes in I was told that I couldn't hit that many balls and that I could only hit one ball.

Thoughts?



I do not have a problem with someone playing two balls on a hole provided they are not holding anyone up but, rules are rules and if you were asked to only play one ball, you should pick up the other and play on

[Steve Lang]

  Steve O.
 When i hear operators talk about tee times as "inventory" or forcing use of carts, i would be more inclined to hit those extra balls in your hypothetical situation... I would think that the "Client Satisfaction" type business model mgr. would be smart enough to realize its an unusual event and a small allowance, and not make a big deal over it.

[PCCraig]

Next time you play golf and don't want to pay for a bucket of range balls, just pull over on the way to a course into a public park and hit away! No one care how big your divots are, and sometimes you're lucky to find the park empty with no kids playing. Even better, make sure to carry all of your old balls into the park in a plastic shopping bag, that way you'll really look like you know what you're doing.   

[Joe Bausch]

Next time you play golf and don't want to pay for a bucket of range balls, just pull over on the way to a course into a public park and hit away! No one care how big your divots are, and sometimes you're lucky to find the park empty with no kids playing. Even better, make sure to carry all of your old balls into the park in a plastic shopping bag, that way you'll really look like you know what you're doing.   

Near my house is a township range where you bring your own range balls (old hole corridor for the previous St. Davids GC site).  You'd be amazed how often when you go pick the bunch you hit, you'll find 3 or 4 slightly used or new balls, sometimes even ProV's.  I always figure some golfer that just couldn't get out of work can't resist the temptation to whack a few but then doesn't pick them up.