Nowhere to practice your short game holding you back?

[John_Findlay]

I really miss having a decent area at my club where I can practice my short game.

When I was younger I was lucky enough to have this practice area at my club, Nairn Dunbar, and, needless to say I'd spend many an hour chipping and pitching away. My short game was quite decent back then. Look. Bunkers and everything.



Now that I live in Edinburgh I can't find a decent area for love nor money...and I've looked. Archerfield have a great short game practice area but sadly it's just a little exclusive. Members only...and rich ones at that. There is nowhere locally where you are allowed to chip or pitch on to a green and I'm getting a little hacked off.

In the grand scheme of things I don't think this can be good for the quality of British golf in general. Anyone else have similar problems?

Even a wee area surrounded by astroturf mats like the one in this video would be enough:-http://youtu.be/oNQ-bRuMQAw?list=PL-yMxw6TSwy53Fwl0t2jPCsFDeZeqVKya

 

[Andy]

Blessed with the facilty at Largs.2 mins from the course and I pass it going to course. Canny whack it.

http://www.nationalcentreinverclyde.org.uk/our-facilities/outdoor/golf-facility.aspx

 

[turkish]

East ren in Glasgow have practice area with greenside bunker which is reasonably maintained- not as good as the course and the "greens" you pitch on to aren't good enough for putting on but ok for practice pitching on to from rough and sand. Also have a good practice green for putting but can't pitch on to it.

Weather been rotten though so haven't even been able to use.

AG have a short game area that looks lovely from a distance; well maintained and have a few different greenside bunkers. They were doing a winter special for £40 get up to end of March use so I paid it...... When I walked down big signs saying please do not pitch from Grass- Matts only- all the matts are right next to greens too so no chance of pitching from any kind of distance. Felt a bit conned

 

[IanG]

Brain Hills Driving range in Edinburgh has one but you have to 'join' to have the use of it. :angry:

 

[Andy]

East ren in Glasgow have practice area with greenside bunker which is reasonably maintained- not as good as the course and the "greens" you pitch on to aren't good enough for putting on but ok for practice pitching on to from rough and sand. Also have a good practice green for putting but can't pitch on to it.

Weather been rotten though so haven't even been able to use.

AG have a short game area that looks lovely from a distance; well maintained and have a few different greenside bunkers. They were doing a winter special for £40 get up to end of March use so I paid it...... When I walked down big signs saying please do not pitch from Grass- Matts only- all the matts are right next to greens too so no chance of pitching from any kind of distance. Felt a bit conned

I'd be demanding my cash back. This the one @ Clydebank?

 

[turkish]

I know I probably should have but took it out in November- they'd think I was now at it Should really tell you prior to purchasing though

Aye one at Clydebank. Only used it once. I'll maybe give it another chance purely for bunker practice but unless you want to practice wee 6-7 iron pitch and runs it's no really any use.

I got it because I want to practice wedge shots but can't even do that as the sign also says you must pitch to nearest flag which is only about 10 yards away

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Now that I live in Edinburgh I can't find a decent area for love nor money...and I've looked. Archerfield have a great short game practice area but sadly it's just a little exclusive. Members only...and rich ones at that. There is nowhere locally where you are allowed to chip or pitch on to a green and I'm getting a little hacked off.

Prestonfield have just built two par 3 holes at the back of the 10th tee for this purpose. I've not had a chance to use it yet, but I'm going to go at least once per week through the summer to improve my short game. It's probably only open to members only, but maybe have a word with the Scott the pro to see if there's any deal that he can do.

 

[Andy]

East ren in Glasgow have practice area with greenside bunker which is reasonably maintained- not as good as the course and the "greens" you pitch on to aren't good enough for putting on but ok for practice pitching on to from rough and sand. Also have a good practice green for putting but can't pitch on to it.

Weather been rotten though so haven't even been able to use.

AG have a short game area that looks lovely from a distance; well maintained and have a few different greenside bunkers. They were doing a winter special for £40 get up to end of March use so I paid it...... When I walked down big signs saying please do not pitch from Grass- Matts only- all the matts are right next to greens too so no chance of pitching from any kind of distance. Felt a bit conned

I know I probably should have but took it out in November- they'd think I was now at it Should really tell you prior to purchasing though

Aye one at Clydebank. Only used it once. I'll maybe give it another chance purely for bunker practice but unless you want to practice wee 6-7 iron pitch and runs it's no really any use.

I got it because I want to practice wedge shots but can't even do that as the sign also says you must pitch to nearest flag which is only about 10 yards away

Take a trip dokn the water to Largs. £6 for the day, absolute bargain for 1st class facility.

 

[John_Findlay]

Brain Hills Driving range in Edinburgh has one but you have to 'join' to have the use of it. :angry:

I've tried it, Ian. It's limited in what you can do as well, a bit like the one Turkish mentions. Rubbish

 

[turkish]

I had a look Andy looks fantastic- might need to get down to see my mate in saltcoats one weekend and have a swatch. Bit far to travel just for a hit though bout an hour drive

 

[John_Findlay]

I might look in to that one at Prestonfield, Strangely. I played there recently and it's nice course that suits my eye. What really annoys me is that my old club, Kings Acre advertise this on their website;-

Short Game Area
The short game is one of the most important aspects of golf. That's why we've created a first-class short game area where players of every standard can hone their skills and technique.
Widely used and highly regarded, our short game area is reputedly the best of its kind in Scotland.
It covers around 6 acres and allows large groups to work on their game in a safe and comfortable environment. There are two USGA specification target greens surrounded by numerous bunkers, which means you have every possible opportunity to test out and develop your short game. Play better golf by improving your 'scoring zone'.

Unfortunately, what they omit to tell you is that you can't use it!!! It's exclusively used by the Pros for lessons. It really is top notch too but even members aren't allowed on it. WTF?

 

[Val]

I might look in to that one at Prestonfield, Strangely. I played there recently and it's nice course that suits my eye. What really annoys me is that my old club, Kings Acre advertise this on their website;-

Short Game Area
The short game is one of the most important aspects of golf. That's why we've created a first-class short game area where players of every standard can hone their skills and technique.
Widely used and highly regarded, our short game area is reputedly the best of its kind in Scotland.
It covers around 6 acres and allows large groups to work on their game in a safe and comfortable environment. There are two USGA specification target greens surrounded by numerous bunkers, which means you have every possible opportunity to test out and develop your short game. Play better golf by improving your 'scoring zone'.

Unfortunately, what they omit to tell you is that you can't use it!!! It's exclusively used by the Pros for lessons. It really is top notch too but even members aren't allowed on it. WTF?

Sounds like an absolute nonsense John

 

[John_Findlay]

It's shocking, Val. I've raised it with the Pro on may occasions. Best driving range in Scotland and you're not allowed to use the short game area. Mental.

 

[patricks148]

That's a bugger John.

I don't tend to practice at all in the winter myself and only play. We do have access to N Dunbar and our own, the only downside is they are both small green area, so you can only practice short chips and the bunkers at Nairn anyway are nothing like the bunkers on the course, so i had to resort to some bunker practice on the course, which is not ideal.

 

[John_Findlay]

They're both ideal for wee shots under 30 yards, though, Patrick. Wee chip and runs, short pitches etc. That's where the score is made. My scrambling's rubbish from there nowadays.

 

[patricks148]

They're both ideal for wee shots under 30 yards, though, Patrick. Wee chip and runs, short pitches etc. That's where the score is made. My scrambling's rubbish from there nowadays.

Am pretty good at chipping its just bunkers i'm struggling with at the moment. mind you doesn't matter at the moment all the ones at Nairn are full of water!

 

[FairwayDodger]

Yeah this is a bit of an issue.

Craigielaw has a 6 hole par 3 course which I prefer to use for short game practice. It's usually pretty quiet so easy to spend some time practising around one of the greens.

Something else I'm struggling for is a practice area for hitting full shots, without spending a fortune on range balls.

 

[John_Findlay]

Yeah. I was a member at Craigielaw for 5 years and the wee par 3 course was useful but you couldn't throw down 50 balls and practice in case someone else wanted to play. And those hump back greens were hellish.

 

[Andy]

East ren in Glasgow have practice area with greenside bunker which is reasonably maintained- not as good as the course and the "greens" you pitch on to aren't good enough for putting on but ok for practice pitching on to from rough and sand. Also have a good practice green for putting but can't pitch on to it.

Weather been rotten though so haven't even been able to use.

AG have a short game area that looks lovely from a distance; well maintained and have a few different greenside bunkers. They were doing a winter special for £40 get up to end of March use so I paid it...... When I walked down big signs saying please do not pitch from Grass- Matts only- all the matts are right next to greens too so no chance of pitching from any kind of distance. Felt a bit conned

I had a look Andy looks fantastic- might need to get down to see my mate in saltcoats one weekend and have a swatch. Bit far to travel just for a hit though bout an hour drive

Welcome to a game at Largs.

 

[FairwayDodger]

Yeah. I was a member at Craigielaw for 5 years and the wee par 3 course was useful but you couldn't throw down 50 balls and practice in case someone else wanted to play. And those hump back greens were hellish.

Indeed. When I get it to myself I tend to just use four or five balls, throw them into different spots around the green and try to get them up and down. Go to the third or fourth hole and you get plenty of warning if anyone is likely to come up behind you.