Practise on the beach?

[Farneyman]

Has anyone who doesnt have access to a practise course/ground ever used the beach if they live near one.

I am currently using some waste ground but its very rough and dont want to go to the driving range to hit 100+ wedges,at a cost, as you cant step out your yardages.
I live 1 mile from the beach.

Is this something anyone has done before?

Pros.
The tide is out and you have a nice smooth surface for measuring distances.
Hit off a mat for a smooth conection
Its free.
It can give you calm or windy conditions allowing you to try some things.

Cons.
Looking like a plonker down the seaside
Too much salt in the sand/ground? Is that a problem considering links courses are beside the sea.

 

[brendy]

Beach would be ace if its empty of other users. You can make target mounds (having sand castle fun while you are at it)
Its a great way of learning ball first hits and your longer sandy shots will be more accurate too.
I live less than a mile from the beach also but my practice grounds are equally as close!

 

[OldWindy]

Often go on the beach with an old 8 iron - our 2yr old thinks it's great!

 

[Farneyman]

SOLD!!!

Thats my new practise ground.

 

[Page]

i would suggest washing your club/s off after as the salt could potentially wreck them. other than that, it's prob a little more interesting than going to the range. you could evn play shots in dry and damp sand which could help your technique.

not to sound rude, but some courses do have lone bunkers on or near their practise ground which, at my local public course, they will let you use for nowt.

 

[HTL]

Seve use to do it all the time. Seems like a good idea if you are close.

 

[madandra]

I would look for a dune that resembled a steep bunker face and practice floppong out if it.

The practice area bunkers I have tried are always in a poor state and the sand in them usually comes from old sand removed from on course bunkers,its rarely the same as the sand currently being used and hasn't been raked in months.

 

[shanker]

Lee Trevino said that wet sand was where he learned to strike iron shots so well because you must hit down on the ball.

 

[benny]

Forget about how you look mate, who the hell cares?! The beach is the finest natural putting surface in the world. If you get down there just after the tides out its flat, smooth as anything and you get a perfect roll. I used to go down to Scarborough North bay last year before I joined my club, lost hours down there putting. I used to get quite an audience sometimes, its wicked - if you do go to the beach be prepared for people wanting to watch you - you'll get a few rounds of applause too tho! Best thing I heard when I was down there though was this old bloke who shouted to me when I was stood on the beach one night - a mile of sand to both sides of me - 'I hope your going to rake that bunker when you come out of it!' - that was funny man.
GO FOR IT!! you'll love beach golf!

 

[Deleted member 1147]

It'll be great for striking if you play straight off the sand!

Oh how I'd love to be near the beach today - but Derby is about as far away from the sea as you can get in this country!! !!

 

[Timberbonce]

If you are lucky enough to go to most of the beach's on the Northumbrian coast in the North East you wouldn't have the problem of poeple watching you, they are (in my opinion) the best beaches in the county and are usually prety deserted in most parts.

 

[andiritchie]

i used the beach on my annual 5 day trip to southerness,i have a problem of dipping into the ball so playing off sand help me big style