starting up a driving range

[craigo]

Me and my partner are in the middle of planning to set up a golf driving range and shop. The land that we are building on is rented, and it is on a showground/industrial estate. On the grounds on which we are building there is a sunday market and car boot sale every weekend. The site also plays host to dozens events throughout the year; hence "showground". Therefore we have a large footfall for customers who are already on site.

However, we are having difficulty on deciding the way in which we should target our business. As the place in which we are in has limited things for young people to do (its in Pembrokeshire which is very rural) therefore we want to provide a fun, exciting, not cheesy but edgy, (maybe playing music) range. However, the other side of the coin says that a golf driving range will serve primarily golfers, and they will make up 90% of our custom. So playing music and trying to make things a bit different will more than likely put them off.

If anyone has any experience or advice for us we would be more than grateful.

Thanks!!!!!!!!

 

[Iaing]

Welcome to the forum.

Make sure the fence at the end of the range is at least 350 yards so you don't lose too many balls over it.

Lose the music!!

 

[thecraw]

Coffee machines on the range, I like having a sip of coffee at times when hitting balls, it saves me having to go back into the shop/range for a hot cuppa/coffee.

The heated bays at World of Golf in Glasgow are a God send in November, December, January and February nights!

I wouldn't be piping in music, too many fuddy duddies who will be put off by that in my opinion and the younger generation golf with ipods etc on the range anyway.

Nice young chicks in bikini's offering you more balls would work well!!

 

[birdieman]

Don't face the bays towards the south, in winter the sun is low and ruins the Inchmarlo range, you can't see anything you're hitting.

Make the targets interesting - real greens with water and bunkers to make the shots realsitic.

Heated bays would be good in winter if affordable.

Reasonable quality golf balls is also good.

Music is a bad idea, people are trying to find a rhythm in their swings and everyone likes different music, it will just annoy. Most golfers like some peace to work on their game.

People come to the range for an hour, a coffeee machine and snack machine is plenty, you don't need a cafe or shop.

You wont be able to compete with big online retailers for golf gear, could be a waste of time trying to flog stuff.

Opening before and after work will let you get working people in to the range.

Dont see how shows and car boot crowds are going to help with a golf range really. Golfers go to car boot sales or shows with the family usually, they do golf ranges on their own.

Good luck!

 

[Alex1975]

Dont see how shows and car boot crowds are going to help with a golf range really. Golfers go to car boot sales or shows with the family usually, they do golf ranges on their own.

Good luck!

I think he just means to get the word out that there is a new range in town.


Ditch the music, good balls and targets, make me warm and let me play. Is one of you a pro as I would think lessons with bring some money and kudos.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Are burnt out cars at 147 yards a good target? I knew a golf course where a burnt out car was a reference point on at least 3 holes... there was also a local rule to deal with the frequent movement/disappearance of balls related to youths from the adjacent estate (had to chase on off who gave me lip once, I was waving my 3 iron about all over the place).

Oh god I miss Grimsby

 

[ScienceBoy]

In my opinion ranges are best sited near or in large business estates, they may not get a lot of casual golfers but a fair amount of lunchtime/afterwork golf.

If you are not on a business estate get known by the local one, if you are on (or close to) the commute home of some keen golfers you will get a lot of trade (and regular customers).

One more thing is I like it when a range recognises me, pubs are not the only places where you should know your regulars! Be nice to your regulars, give them good deals on balls and they will keep coming back!

I liked the advice about not trying to flog too much equipment, very few will buy. Good ball deals should not be avoided just because you missed equipment sales targets!

 

[HRC99]

Quite a few ranges have deals with bigger golf chains, so if there is space, it could be a draw to your range. Might be worth a word with AG, DG, Nevada Bob's etc.

Definitely ditch the music.

Interesting targets is always good. If you've room for a proper short game area, then that's a big draw too. You could charge by the hour instead of balls.

Tea, coffee and bacon sarnies are always good.

Make sure the vent points towards the range when you're frying your bacon and you'll get a stampede!

 

[bobmac]

What's your competition like?
How many courses and ranges are there within 10 miles and how many people.
Are you going to have it floodlit? (special planning permission needed.
Is your budget enough to buy all the machines/cutters/ball washers/balls/mats etc etc.

One final thing.Try and raise the hitting area a little so the golfer can see where the ball lands.
Good luck
Oh, and like others have said, forget the music

 

[acesup1504]

First of all good luck with your venture.

I think a lot has already been mentioned:

Depending on competition in the area, setting up a well stocked shop could be both a good idea and bad. Great if there are no other shops about, but you need to have the expertise to sell the equipment, Custom fitting, trackman/Flightscope etc, otherewise causual buyers will no doubt just go online these days

Good balls a must, With good quality matts to play off ( self loading always a bonus.

As mentioned interesting real life targets, to many ranges fall down on this and it becomes a chore just hitting balls.

I dont know how other people feel about this, but i would like to see a ranage split into 2 sides, One side for iron play, as mentioned with targets etc.

The other side deadicated to the Driver and 3 wood, i find it quite difficult to actually judge if i have hit a good drive as targetting with the driver is quite difficult on the range. So it would be nice if there was a "fairway" to target, eg some bunkers either side at average distances, the odd confifer and longer grass / shorter grass to signal rough and fairway.


A Pro attached to the range would also be a must for lessons etc, probably would not have to be full time at first to get a feel for footfall/ custom

Group lessons are always a benifit to new starters for both children and adults.

Depending on square footage both inside and out, a short game area for shots inside 50y would be a great idea with a green and a few practice bunkers.

Inside i would have a synthetic green charged by 30mins for people to practice on, putting lessons and help people buy putters.

Some of which will cost money other parts not so much.

So where abouts will this range be?

 

[ScienceBoy]

It amazes me how many ranges out there are not aimed at golf..

They are aimed at making some quick money off a piece of poor land!

This thread is a must for marketing researchers! Someone could make a brilliant chain of ranges just from these snippets, if only I had a few mil to throw at this I would say it would be a good investment!

 

[madandra]

I may be reading the OP wrong but is the piece of land you will be using be exclusive to you and your range or is it the same land that will be used for the market?

 

[Toby_LeRhone]

Heated, comfortable bays. Decent mats that are changed regularly. Full distance balls that are changed regularly. Seating. Flood lights for late night practice (without lights you'll close before 5 for much of the year); you'll need special planning consent for lights. Club hire. Club repair. Accurate distance marking. A reliable ball dispensing machine (that also washes the balls). A reliable ball collecting machine.

 

[The23rdman]

I'll just echo the other thoughts. You need good mats and balls. I'll travel miles for good balls. You need interesting and varied targets and you need to, as Bob said, be able to see them pitch.

also make sure the targets are accurate and mark out from each bay exactly how far they are.

Only big girls need heated bays.

 

[Toby_LeRhone]

I'll travel miles for good balls.

Same here. But I dont like paying more than about £2 for
50.

Good value is important to me. I'd rather pay less and have less of the bells and whistles. Things like auto teeing ball hoppers; whats all that about? I'd rather hit more balls for my money.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Get the best quality mats and balls possible. No one wants to hit chipped rocks of a thin mat laid straight onto hard concrete.

Good targets ideally set up to replicate real greens.

Investment in equipment (auto tees, ball collection/cleaning) and if you get permission for lighting make sure you get the best you can. Some ranges I've used are powered by torchlight and anything over 100 yards is lost in the dark.

A good pro to give lessons.

The range I use at Maidenhead has a sofa area you can use for a break and a warm drink or to wait for your lesson. Well kept with lots of golfing mags and tea and coffe always on the go.

A top quality short game area (ideally turfed) with a couple of vunkers and a small but proper green would definitely attract a lot of visitors.

Lose the music

 

[Mark_G]

Good luck with the new venture, heated bays for me is a must, I have just moved ranges for this reason only, personally I dont care about auto tees, but seeing as I can only use the range in the evenings I need light, and would like heat in the winter. A "consumables" shop with balls, gloves, tees and caps/hats, would be another income, and would not need any technical expertise from a pro. Drinks machine and chocolate machines, and late opening hours for the after work brigade.

 

[craigo]

thanks guys that really has been a massive help. i'm not a great golfer myself tbh, i can play but not as good as my partner! she was part of the welsh junior squad. so she knows quite a few pros, and people in the area big into their golf.

its based in haverfordwest, pembrokeshire, where there is little competition. theres a driving range about 8 miles away owned by a farmer and is very tired and in need of make over to say the least.

Yeh floodlights is definitely an issue. at night its useless when the lights only shine for a few yards and then you have no idea how far you have hit it.

we have thought a lot about targets. would you guys be put off by targets such as a burnt out car?

 

[Mark_G]

On holiday there in July, I hope your open by then.

 

[DrPepper]

A burnt out car to me would be off putting and sounds like work when it comes to collecting balls in. Also I don't want this to sound harsh but I'm going to echo what others have said, your main audience is going to be golfers who are serious about their game and looking to improve not your local rock stars who want to listen to loud music, slosh beers about, be roudy and then hit the range while drunk. I know your trying to add something a little different to appeal to a wider audience but tbh stick to what is tested and proven, develop on that and you can't lose!