Driving Range Neanderthals

BomberSRL

BomberSRL

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No matter where in the country I am, If I go to a driving range. There is always one..

That one guy that sacrifices all to show you how far he can hit the ball.

Yesterday whilst at one of my local driving ranges. I was hitting my new irons - looking for average distances. The guy to my right I could feel staring whilst I was hitting. I wasn't particularly smashing it just smooth swinging to find my range. And I could hear him hitting the ball harder and harder. Not particularly caring where it ended up.

In the end he actually stopped looking at the ball and was looking up at me - Caught the edge of the basket the balls were in, club went flying along with around 30 golf balls and he just walked off rather embarrassed.

This brought me to thinking - have any of you had similar experiences or funny driving range experiences?
 
Driving ranges always bring the non-golfers who have different motivations than the average poster in here who will have a set goal/routine.

They may make noises and not abide by the usual etiquette but never really bothers me, I just hit the shot I went there for.
 
The only ones that bother me are those who have no awareness of themselves or the little ones they bring with them. No issue at all with kids on the range, its great to see them take an interest at a young age. I stopped a guy from smacking his kid in the face with his club and the thanks I got was a dirty look.

He was completely engrossed in his thrashing and wasn't looking up or around between shots. He was swinging back faster than through, like his backswing was faster than many others follow through, and the kid (about 4 or 5 years of age) had walked over to get a ball from the basket. Luckily I was standing behind my lining up so caught this out of the corner of my eye and yelled "STOP". The kid was so oblivious that he didn't even hear or pay any attention to me and continued right across the corner of the mat (well inside the "swing" plane) and picked a ball out of the bucket. The guy just looked at me like I had 10 heads, I said "that was close, keep an eye on him please" and I got the kind of distain that only a wounded parent can bestow on someone telling them how to raise their kids.

Had I not been exactly where I was, they were off to A&E, it would have been very very nasty.

That's what I can't stand at ranges, bring the kids but please Lord be aware that they don't realise the danger like you do and if they get hurt it is ENTIRELY your fault.
 
It's a place on recreation, fun and socialisation. Too many people get annoyed that they are being distracted whilst honing in their pre shot routine.

Ultimately, it's a wee space in which you swing clubs at crappy balls, into a big field. Half the fun is trying to smash it as hard as you can.

I've seen a few club slips, resulting in drivers being collected 50 yards away.

I've also seen my driver head snap and go further down the range than the ball I was trying to hit.
 
Coming to a driving range as a woman can be quite amusing. One of these days I gonna get myself one of them really slinky golf dresses, just to wear it on the range and see the men go all primate :D.
 
When I go to the range I know what to expect and try to find a bay away from any obvious suspects. Yes people constantly talking irk me but try to ignore as much as possible. Generally I'm not watching where other people are sending there balls unless I'm in danger from the ones that can't even get it out the bay's!
People that like trying to hit the moving target of the tractor collecting the balls I also ignore.
I do change bays if I'm downwind of someone smoking whilst hitting balls , but that is just personal to me as I avoid smoke in general life, but I don't pass comment.
 
What annoys me more is the wannabe Coaches who are actually clueless but happy to loudly instruct their mates with utterly inane suggestions of what's going wrong. Really need to start taking headphones to the range.
 
Ross61 said:
When I go to the range I know what to expect and try to find a bay away from any obvious suspects. Yes people constantly talking irk me but try to ignore as much as possible. Generally I'm not watching where other people are sending there balls unless I'm in danger from the ones that can't even get it out the bay's!
People that like trying to hit the moving target of the tractor collecting the balls I also ignore.
I do change bays if I'm downwind of someone smoking whilst hitting balls , but that is just personal to me as I avoid smoke in general life, but I don't pass comment.
Click to expand...

Literally the most fun thing you can do at the range as highlighted by Padraig Harrington's video last year...

Our ball collector doesn't mind it either. When he comes out the shed he'll go down the line and tell everyone that inside 50 yards is his safe zone, after that he is fair game.
 
Last edited:
The problem is that just hitting balls at the range can get very boring - but smashing drivers as hard and far as you can is at least a bit entertaining. As is hitting at the ball collector.
These are the reasons why I either don't go to the range very often, or if I do I don't take my driver.
Yours,
James the Neanderthal
 
Capella said:
Coming to a driving range as a woman can be quite amusing. One of these days I gonna get myself one of them really slinky golf dresses, just to wear it on the range and see the men go all primate :D.
Click to expand...

Don't forget to post a pic on here too :thup:
 
MendieGK said:
Its horrible not being able to hear the strike. Such an important thing for any half decent golfer
Click to expand...

I like to test my awareness of strike by removing each sense one by one. I do get some weird looks when doing the blind fold test. :rofl: removing taste is vital to improving strike.
 
BomberSRL said:
No matter where in the country I am, If I go to a driving range. There is always one..

That one guy that sacrifices all to show you how far he can hit the ball.

Yesterday whilst at one of my local driving ranges. I was hitting my new irons - looking for average distances. The guy to my right I could feel staring whilst I was hitting. I wasn't particularly smashing it just smooth swinging to find my range. And I could hear him hitting the ball harder and harder. Not particularly caring where it ended up.

In the end he actually stopped looking at the ball and was looking up at me - Caught the edge of the basket the balls were in, club went flying along with around 30 golf balls and he just walked off rather embarrassed.

This brought me to thinking - have any of you had similar experiences or funny driving range experiences?
Click to expand...

Interesting.

How were you actually getting your average distances?

At a local range using range balls hardly ideal for getting your iron yardages.
 
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