Range nets

[mike_malone]

 We have one of the few originally designed practice areas from the mid 1920’s. It’s downhill (220/30 yards I think) and  has the maintenance facility behind the net.
Try as we might there remains a safety hazard for green employees from balls flying over the nets.


One member suggested to me a low net that would cover the maintenance area.


I find the idea intriguing but wanted to bring it together this crazy group.




You can google Rolling Green Golf Club to see the nets then space before the shed and finally the parking lot where I think the main risk exists.




What are your safety suggestions?

[Ben Stephens]

We have one of the few originally designed practice areas from the mid 1920’s. It’s downhill (220/30 yards I think) and  has the maintenance facility behind the net.
Try as we might there remains a safety hazard for green employees from balls flying over the nets.


One member suggested to me a low net that would cover the maintenance area.


I find the idea intriguing but wanted to bring it together this crazy group.




You can google Rolling Green Golf Club to see the nets then space before the shed and finally the parking lot where I think the main risk exists.




What are your safety suggestions?

One question - are you using range balls which go 70-80% of the distance?

[PCCraig]

Perhaps just don't allow anyone to hit a ball longer than 200 yards?

[John Emerson]

Just mandate nobody can hit more than a 3I from the tee.  Either that or get range balls that are essentially play-do.

[Ben Stephens]

Having looked at Rolling Green on Google Earth. The maintenance facility layout is rather awkward and is there a drop to the east? if so why don't you build a new maintenance facility further to the east to allow the practice ground to be extended.


it looks quite steep based on google earth levels and could you bury the maintenance facility under the range which could be levelled with structural steel arches.


Nets can really be an eyesore and cheapen the appearance of a golf course/club if it is needed from a H&S standpoint then it will have to be used.

[mike_malone]

We have yellow standard practice balls, white flight restricted, signs with max distance that change based on conditions.


Moving the green department or reversing the range are interesting.


The land falls off sharply after the parking lot.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Not sure it is the same thing, but Sedgefield, site of the Wyndham Championship, has a short range as well. It installed a very high net that no one can hit over. 75 feet high maybe?

[mike_malone]

Not going to build high nets here, imo. When the range is downhill poles need to be enormous and unsightly.


The most important concern is safety. I find it interesting that baseball finally put nets over their seating.


I imagine that the space between the nets and the building is unlikely to have balls land which go over the net. There is no need to net the building. This suggests to me a movable net over the parking lot is worth investigating.