Driving ranges-why are they so boring?

[barrybridges]

Please...no...not the burnt out car!

Seriously though, one thing I'd like to see which I am amazed hasn't been done before - and it's so easy to do - is some lines sprayed on the grass for distances. A bit like an American Football pitch, so you can see reasonably accurately how far you've hit each ball.

You could even have proper gridlines to measure your accuracy.

On the subject of targets, I have an appalling confession to make.

Where I play there are often huge gaggles of geese on the range. I don't *deliberately* aim at them, but I've heard rumours from other players that you get 5 points for each one.

 

[Durango]

I live right next to the local driving range. Hardly ever go as the balls, mats and practically everything else are sheeeeet. It has got an indoor putting green modeled on Augusta which was good but is now looking quite tatty. Still, I did go a couple of times this winter which helped abit after my 3 year break from golf.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I like the range I go to. It is tucked away a bit and so doesn't attract a load of idiots and is pretty well marshalled. They have Srixon range balls which a decent condition and good quality mats. There are the usual issues with boring targets which aren't accurately measured but at least there is something to aim at. Blue Mountain down the road from me is a soulless big field with very few targets except for a raised green at about 120 yards.

 

[HickoryShaft]

Rant over I still go 3 times a month.

I am hitting the range 3 times a week at the moment and loving it - 100 balls = £4 when you use a membership card and if you load it up you get £50 of credit for £40.

50 balls is a little more costly but a quick visit at lunch once a week and a couple on the way home after work (if I am not playing) when picking HID up as she finishes about 45 mins after I do so can hit 50 balls and still get there before she is done. Everyones a winner

However I do like the suggestion of more targets - it may stop me slicing when the ball guy is walking down to his tractor (nearly hit him the other day)

 

[RGDave]

No boredom for me at the range.

I guess it depends how you practise.

 

[viscount17]

we have a car target - plastic mini with a hole in the top. first weekend it was there they had a comp to win £2K of equipment if you holed out. No one did. after a year or so hardly anyone goes for it

there is nothing except idleness stopping them using a laser to get accurate distances to each target from each bay and posting the result in each bay. how long would it take?

that said what's the point - a bucket of beat up 80% range balls aren't going to tell you much about distance.

the best target is the 'armoured' ball buggy

 

[RGDave]

there is nothing except idleness stopping them using a laser to get accurate distances to each target from each bay and posting the result in each bay. how long would it take?

I like ranges that do this. Blue flag 166 or whatever.

 

[grumpyjock]

i just go to grove the swing and sort out the grip.
not realy interested where it goes or how far.

 

[0]

i just go to grove the swing and sort out the grip.
not realy interested where it goes or how far.

why even go to a range then? save your £6.50 buy 2 Prov1's and swing in the garden- result