Converted - Now actually enjoy practising

[Robobum]

Could never be arsed with practice, would much rather play without exception. The range at my old club didn't exactly encourage good practice, threadbare mats in a range hitting into a 30* slope. Chipping green which was fringe height at best. This made me head straight for the 1st tee immediately.

New club - grass range, right next to clubhouse, use your own balls and off you go. It is only 220 to the back, but it's usually into the wind so can hit upto rescue and the odd 3wood.

Also a cracking 3pun pitching green with green height grass that rolls and plays the same as the course and a decent sized bunker right at the side too.

Stood there for 3hrs today, an hour going through the bag, an hour and a half on the pitching green and a half hour putting. Loved it!!

Watch out Homer, I'll be coming after your range junkie tag!!

Anyone else think they'd practice more if the facilities were good??

 

[G1BB0]

this is another reason I am tempted to change club as would love some proper practice facilities

Make the most of them, I know I would :thup:

 

[chris661]

There is talk of a new chipping/putting green going in at my place with a bunker. I know if it was broadly similar to the greens on the course I would use it fairly often.

Whether or not I would get the tag of range rat is debatable

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Watch out Homer, I'll be coming after your range junkie tag!!

Anyone else think they'd practice more if the facilities were good??

WIth everything going on with my mum lately playing and practicing has dropped off and I've played more than I've practiced. No honestly!!! A few mediocre range sessions this week but had a lesson last night. Some huge changes, which should have been part of the winter project but as I'm playing well he wants to really see how far we can go this season. It might result in a dip but having won once this year (one of my goals) and got close to 10 (the other) I'm prepared to give it a go.

We've talked about what we need to do longer term to destroy 30+ years of old school golf swings (leg action reverse C etc) and get something solid, technically sound and which has the potential to get me lower and stay there.

As a result I'll be hitting the range hard to try and find a way to make it happen. The short game area at my club is the practice putting green so it is realistic. The bunker is fine but there is no green to aim at but for me, the aim is to get out more often and first time so it isn't a huge issue

Glad you are putting the work in at the new club and I think it will have longer terms benefit for your games. Practice well, constructively and vary it and it can be rewarding.

 

[pokerjoke]

Nice to here your a convert mate.
Im aways up our range doing something.
We also can use our own balls,200 yards to the trees,then a big field
behind so you can use driver if you want.
I prefer the short game area,bunker,and a 60ft green with 3 different
holes.
I would just like to see it kept a bit better,people seem to abuse it a little,not replacing divots etc.
Finally this week a sign went up saying keep it as you found it.
The only down side with the range is its downhill,so you cant actually see where the ball lands.
Keep it up mate,and enjoy.

 

[Imurg]

Apart from a putting green we have a neat 9-hole par 3 course. Longest hole is 97 yards, shortest about 54 I think.
Great for short game work.
They've recently introduced a chipping green next to the putting green - no chipping onto the putting green - but it's really jsut a temporary green cut in the rough - a complete waste of time.
No range, just a couple of nets - might even be one now.....
I have to go back to my old club to hit anything more than a wedge. The mats are not too bad but the balls are horrific - I've taken to putting a couple of dozen from the hundreds of old balls I have stashed in the bag and using them....

 

[richart]

We have a practice ground that must be two hundred yards wide, and 500 yards long. Also have a practice chipping green with a couple of bunkers. I have obviously only seen them from a distance whilst playing the course, but I believe some members use them.

 

[Region3]

We have a proper range which is ok and I use it from time to time.
We have a practice green which is pretty much the same as the course but you can't find a flat putt on it, so only use it for warming up before a comp.

What I would love is a proper green to hit shots up to 40-50yds to, as well as chipping onto.
Easy to say when we don't have one, but I could see me spending a couple of hours on that each week if we had one.

 

[Crow]

We've got a putting green that has as many slopes as the greens on the course and a small practice area, about 150 yards long by about 20 yards wide.

There's been talk of a driving range being built for years but it never seems to happen

 

[Ian_S]

I tend to try to go out for a midweek 9 holes as a practice session. Being fairly new to golf I think just spending as much time out on course as possible is best, then I can work out what specifics I need to work on to improve. Another part is learning to feel like I belong on the course. Not that I've ever been made to feel unwelcome, but when I first started after joining up I was so nervous going around that I couldn't hit a ball properly at all.

I do enjoy playing behind a 2 or 3 ball though. Means I can play a hole through, then if there's time get some putting and/or chipping practice in whist waiting for them to move down the next hole.

 

[fundy]

We have a range where you can hit off grass, a decent putting green that you are allowed to chip to and finally recently they have introduced a pitching green, surface isnt perfect but is quite good and for 30-80 yards pretty much tells you what you need to know, as well as having a greenside bunker.

Not woburn or brocket hall standard practise facilites but not to blame for the bad scores either!

 

[ScottishDave]

We have a small driving range in the middle of the course which is about 220 yards long up a small incline and can fit about 3 golfers in it hitting their own balls.

I wish there was a proper area for short game practice though with a green to chip to.

Much like Ian_S above I much prefer playing 9 holes by myself, hopefully behind a 3 or 4 ball and just taking my time, hitting 4 or 5 balls around the greens while waiting.

 

[jammydodger]

I would only ever join somewhere that had a grass practice range for using your own balls. Cant stand astroturf ranges and only use them for warm up purposes as last resort.

I could while away an afternoon around the chipping/pitching range no probs. Working on different shots for different distances was great fun and not at all boring for me. Many times I couldnt be bothered playing the course but would spend a couple of hours on the short game. It all helped out on the course when the time was right to show off those hard earned skills.

I've never been one for putting practice though. Now that really does bore me rigid.

 

[JustOne]

I'd live on the practice ground if I had some company.... hate standing there alone.

 

[Robobum]

Agree JO. Thats also another reason why practice is good at my new club. The chipping green, putting green and range teeing area are all within 20yds of the clubhouse - there is always people round & about.

Beating balls can be a lonely boring chore otherwise

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I like the solitude on the practice ground. We use our own balls and so can wander out and pick mine up without holding anyone out and I can work on the technique and honing the shanks without anyone looking and passing comment

 

[Junior]

We have a grass range, chipping and pitching green, and a practice putting green. I rarely use them as i prefer to play.

I find I get bored after 20 minutes. Probably one of the reasons i'm stuck on 12 !!

 

[leaney]

I hit the range 3-4 times a week. It's actually become quite embarrassing for me, as the staff probably think I should be better than I am.

Luckily for me, the wife has just taken up golf, so she always wants to go down there too.

 

[leaney]

I'd live on the practice ground if I had some company.... hate standing there alone.

Stick the earphones in and listen to some favourite tracks. That's what I do anyway.
I find it quite relaxing and you can 'zone out' and swing easy.