Is practicing on your course allowed?

[KenL]

Just wondering if practicing on your course is allowed?

I'm thinking about playing 2 balls or dropping balls around greens to practice chipping?

I don't think it is at my place.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not at my place although it doesn't seem to stop a lot of our members playing two balls.

 

[Jason.H]

If your on your own and there’s no one behind ie no one to witness you. I am guilty of doing this by the way. I dont see any harm in having a few puts chips ect. I suspect at some clubs this would be a no no.

 

[Foxholer]

Not condoned, but tolerated if by a single waiting behind another group.

 

[sweaty sock]

If youre on your own at ours you can play 2 balls as long as pace of play unaffected. Never seen anyone do it with a group behind them, but late at night early morning its probably as common as a one ball.

Chipping around greens etc is pretty unpolicable if its part of your round, if you wander out to the 5th with a bag of practice balls, the flying squad will be hot on your tail ..

 

[Oddsocks]

If practicing your chipping, please repair the pitch marks. It’s clear when certain greens are used for practice as you play into what can only be described as a bomb site

 

[Deleted member 1147]

It's not at our place. But I often play a couple of balls if having an evening knock. Also, I do a bit of extra chipping and putting.
What I don't do, which I've seen cause damage, is hit a load of balls from the same spot in the fairway.

When I hit a couple of balls into the green there's a good chance they won't be close together. As such I end up repairing more pitch marks as I end up seeing more of the green surface.

 

[clubchamp98]

We can hit two balls off the tee except par 3s.
Only one ball into the green.
Chipping and putting around greens no problem from fringes but no divots.
We have a very good chipping area 100+ yds so no need to use greens.
It’s the ones who take the pee who spoil it for others, hitting 10 balls into greens is just not on.

 

[Pathetic Shark]

We had a guy at Sunbury years back who went over to the 2nd on the Academy 9-hole course with his kid and unloaded a bag of about 60 balls. Both hit about 30 at the green from 90 yards. The kid could not reach the green but the adult landed every one on the green. The club GM and one of the pros went out to have a word especially with all the pitch marks all over the green and the guy went ballistic claiming the kid had hit them. Then they showed him the video one of the greenkeepers had taken. He was escorted from the course but about three days later, the same green was vandalised over night.

 

[HeftyHacker]

Not sure what the official ruling is at our place but I've played a couple of balls before and spent some time practicing my chipping etc in an evening if its quiet.

I remember I'd once had a bad driving round so I went back on the first tee after I'd finish and fired about 10 down the first to try and work out what was happening. This was at 8.30 at night though so nobody else waiting to tee off or on course.

 

[G1z1]

Don’t think it’s been allowed at any clubs I’ve been a member at , is that not the whole point of a practice area ?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I have no idea if the club has a policy and have never really thought about it, but I very regularly practice on the course when it is quiet - indeed when by myself I will almost always play two balls off the 1st tee in full view of others and nobody has ever pulled me up for doing so. But only if the tee is empty behind me.

And sometimes if it’s quiet I will hit 2 or 3 balls if I have a shot that is normally problematic for me - playing them well apart to ensure I don‘t damage any one spot on a fairway. Hacking up one small area by playing multiple balls from the same spot on a fairway is a no-no - as would hitting say half dozen or more to a par 3. Two or three ok.

At all times I remain aware of others playing and catching up behind me - when I immediately revert to a single ball, pick up any others I may have played, and get out of the way. And I always sand any divots I have taken and fix pitch marks…I do that all the time in any case for those made by others and not sorted.

 

[greenone]

Don’t think it’s been allowed at any clubs I’ve been a member at , is that not the whole point of a practice area ?

Plenty of courses that don't have a practice area.

 

[Slab]

Practice (as I think of it) wouldn’t be allowed. As mentioned that’s what the practice areas are for. Most I’ve done on course is to retake a missed putt

 

[Orikoru]

Not sure, but if it was one evening when the course is quiet, then I don't see why you shouldn't be allowed. If you're trying to do on Saturday mid-morning then probably not!

 

[KenL]

If practicing your chipping, please repair the pitch marks. It’s clear when certain greens are used for practice as you play into what can only be described as a bomb site

That's not good!

 

[John Evans 9]

Not allowed at my club. When I was a new member I was amazed one evening playing alone to find the fourth green absolutely littered with balls - must have been about thirty. The guy practising his chipping stood back and waved me through. Not acceptable. It dawned on him that he ought to clear the balls off the green to let me play and when we met on the green he seemed not the slightest embarrassed. I found out later he was the club captain ! !

 

[Old Colner]

Practicing on the course not allowed at our's but as above it doesn't stop people playing two balls or the odd mulligan while playing alone, sure the rule breaking police will be along soon.

 

[Fabia999]

Not encouraged but I've never been warned for it. Although, I will only do this when nobody is behind me, usually late afternoon

 

[Slab]

Practicing on the course not allowed at our's but as above it doesn't stop people playing two balls or the odd mulligan while playing alone, sure the rule breaking police will be along soon.

Here's something I'm confused about... (Open Q to all)

If a single playing two balls is practicing, isn't a single playing one ball also practicing