driving range blues

[pokerjoke]

I live in taunton and there are 4 driving ranges that i can use,however none of them have proper yardage markers where i can safely say how far i hit each club,obviously it is so important to know how far i hit each club.of course there is the odd marker saying 150 or 250 but as it is a ground level range you can only really guess,also the balls are crap and inconsistent.fortunately i do know how far each club goes,but a new player wont so wouldnt it be nice to have a well presented range in the taunton area.also can anyone whos used one of those nice looking ranges tell me what there like just 2 cheer me up,thx

 

[RichE]

Oulton Hall, Leeds. Even got heat lamps to keep you warm on a cold summer's day. Has Nike iron heads as coat hangers and enough room to swing 2 cats, plus autofeed for the golf balls which are all Nike - £5 a pop for a large basket - bit far for you to travel to use the range mind! but just to let you know it's not all grim up north!

 

[sasquatch]

Nice course is oulton hall rich,i play there now and then with work,i allways seem to play well round there too!!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I use a very good range in Maidenhead with decent mats, good quality Srixon range balls and heated bays. Its location means its tucked away so there are never any kids just there to smash balls or muck about and those there are working on their games. It has a couple of decent pros who'll often give you a quick fix as they walk around. It has a small clubhouse where you can get a hot drink and sit in the warm. The yardages are pretty well laid out and I've been out (when it was closed) with the owner and my SC so they are now pretty accurate. However that was from the central bay so there will be +/- a few yards on the outer bays but at the end of the day its as good as its going to be

You'd think that range owners would be able to see the potential and realise that if they offer a decent facility then regular traffic will bring in the money. Sadly a lot are like the place golf forgot and are desolate and poorly kept with bad mats, broken or old balls and usually windswept. How are you suppose to get excited about working on your game with those facilities

 

[didsbury_duffer]

I wouldn't bother with trying to judge your distances at any range because the balls are cr_p, and the distance markers (if any) are probably not calibrated correctly anyway. I would suggest you concentrate on rhythm and tempo at the range, and then measure distances yourself at another location (club practice ground, local field, etc).

 

[Imurg]

Too right. My local range is full of old spuds as well as newer Srixon range balls. But they don't react like a real ball, they don't spin as much, go as far or feel the same.

 

[CliveW]

I wouldn't bother with trying to judge your distances at any range because the balls are cr_p, and the distance markers (if any) are probably not calibrated correctly anyway. I would suggest you concentrate on rhythm and tempo at the range, and then measure distances yourself at another location (club practice ground, local field, etc).

Don't tar all ranges with the same brush. The yardages at our range were measured by laser before they were set out and we use top quality range balls which are regularly replaced.
As for your argument about measuring your distances at another location, unless you are using the same brand and type of ball for all your shots you won't get a consistant distance.

 

[JustOne]

Don't tar all ranges with the same brush. The yardages at our range were measured by laser before they were set out and we use top quality range balls which are regularly replaced.

No matter which ball you use it won't be the same distance as the ball you'll be playing on the course, even the ball flight might be different.. unless you play with range balls during regulation play.... some people should probably try it as they seem to hit range balls nicely but can't hit any other ball straight... (me included)

 

[Smiffy]

No matter which ball you use it won't be the same distance as the ball you'll be playing on the course, even the ball flight might be different.. unless you play with range balls during regulation play.... some people should probably try it as they seem to hit range balls nicely but can't hit any other ball straight... (me included)

Spot on.
When I was going through my course of lessons at Sedlescombe earlier this year, I was hitting the ball off mats. I hate the bloody things.
Two mates of mine (Khalid & Neil) came down with me and we'd all be bashing balls in three adjacent bays.
Neil was using his driver and was carrying the fence at the far end, I couldn't even reach the bloody thing with roll!! Khalid was practicing his irons and was hitting an 8 iron further than I could hit my 6.
Yet out on the golf course, my drives are nearly always up with Neals, maybe 5 or 10 yards short, and Khalid and I will almost certainly be hitting the same club on approach shots. They can hit the ball off mats, I can't. So for me, ranges are not the place to gauge how far I hit the ball. If they were, I'd be hitting a Driver at a 170 yard par 3 and I'd give it all up tomorrow.

 

[RichE]

Nice course is oulton hall rich,i play there now and then with work,i allways seem to play well round there too!!

Agreed, it's not a bad track. They've spent quite a few million on the course and a new clubhouse both of which were needed and the greens are a lot better. Has everything you need, range, 27 holes and if you can get a deal it's worth a knock - but not worth the full asking price! Not my home course but will look to have another round there soon.
Cheers
Rich

 

[Billysboots]

Its location means its tucked away so there are never any kids just there to smash balls or muck about and those there are working on their games.

Careful!! I got absolutely ripped to shreds on another forum for daring to suggest that the range is a place to go to try and improve your game - most contributors thought it was a place for social gatherings!

In answer to the OP, I wouldn't get too hung up on distances at the range. It's the ideal place to groove your swing, work on bad habits and gain some muscle memory so that on the course things become second nature. Worry about distances elsewhere.

I used to hate the range, but after a dreadful year on the course I have become a bit of a slave to ours, and I can say without a doubt that the long hours of practice are worth it in the long run. My game has come on in leaps and bounds to the point where I equalled my personal best of 5 over gross this morning in conditions which were far from ideal.

Roll on spring!

 

[RGDave]

I use a very good range in Maidenhead with decent mats, good quality Srixon range balls and heated bays. Its location means its tucked away so there are never any kids just there to smash balls or muck about and those there are working on their games.

It sounds good down south......

My range was full of muppets on Thursday night. I finished my balls 30 mins before closing and thought about another quick 45, but decided against it.

So I had a chat with my co-W/S friend, nice guy, serious about getting better and we both seem to be keeping UST and W/S in business.
I found out he's a member at one of our clubs regular opponents (you know what I mean). I forgave him for that and *hope* that we might arrange a swap visit from one course to t'other.

Both of us were pretty dumbstruck by the only other guy there that was not green and called Kermit. He was hitting his drives 50-60 yards short of the back fence....which is 350 (apparently). Awesome.....

 

[mjsw13]

Basic range about 4 miles from me. £3.80 for 100 balls, floodlights but not heated, and the balls are those old yellow things.

Doesn't really bother me, as I only go once / twice a week in winter to 'keep my eye in'. Not bothered how far the balls go, as long as I'm hitting them out of the centre of the club I'm happy.