PGA Tour range balls

This is a question I've often wonder, but at Tour tourneys and at the majors, do the players get range balls that are by their OEM or do they receive balls like us hacks - "whatever deal the course has with whichever OEM is what you get?"

thanks!

They get the same brand of balls that they play on the course.

They've got range balls from all the different manufacturers so the players can hit the ball they play.

the manufacture will ship "practice" balls to the club a week or so ahead of the tournament, then the volunteers that work the range will separate the balls by brand and model, Pro V, Pro VX, Nike-20x1-x, 20xi-s etc.. then on the driving range tee will be a tent set up with tees, fruit, drinks and a table that will have the balls separated by brand and the caddy or player walks up and grabs whatever balls he uses for tournament play.

[quote name='nikegolfer1983' timestamp='1329428248' post='4302549']
the manufacture will ship "practice" balls to the club a week or so ahead of the tournament, then the volunteers that work the range will separate the balls by brand and model, Pro V, Pro VX, Nike-20x1-x, 20xi-s etc.. then on the driving range tee will be a tent set up with tees, fruit, drinks and a table that will have the balls separated by brand and the caddy or player walks up and grabs whatever balls he uses for tournament play.
[/quote]

Then after the tournament the courses usually give the practice balls away to local junior programs or the first tee.

Thanks guys. I often assumed that they got the ball the played but never truly knew.

must be nice!!!

[quote name='birdman72' timestamp='1329427903' post='4302493']
They've got range balls from all the different manufacturers so the players can hit the ball they play.
[/quote]

I worked at the range at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines and this was my experience as well. I still have two TM TP red LDP balls with number 108 on them for the 108th Open.

I have some taylormade tp from the 2010 waste management open. They just say practice on them.

[quote name='PaulFitz' timestamp='1329429186' post='4302649']
[quote name='nikegolfer1983' timestamp='1329428248' post='4302549']
the manufacture will ship "practice" balls to the club a week or so ahead of the tournament, then the volunteers that work the range will separate the balls by brand and model, Pro V, Pro VX, Nike-20x1-x, 20xi-s etc.. then on the driving range tee will be a tent set up with tees, fruit, drinks and a table that will have the balls separated by brand and the caddy or player walks up and grabs whatever balls he uses for tournament play.
[/quote]

Then after the tournament the courses usually give the practice balls away to local junior programs or the first tee.
[/quote]

^ The above two are how it works.

They don't always play there exact ball on the range tho. Like example Nike makes different versions for the tour players with different covers like the star tour d etc.. They usually wont get these on the range and have to use a stock one tour.

For those of you who want the tour treatment you can go to swanson golf center in houston and hit prov1's on the range for as long as you want for 30 bucks.

(I dont have anything to do with these guys I just think its cool)

[quote name='Thrillhouse' timestamp='1329454070' post='4305927']
For those of you who want the tour treatment you can go to swanson golf center in houston and hit prov1's on the range for as long as you want for 30 bucks.

(I dont have anything to do with these guys I just think its cool)
[/quote]
Shady Canyon does that to, but they charge like $200,000 a year. I also don't have anything to do with them.

They practice on the range with the same ball they use on course. I worked the tour event in vegas and a friend and i went home with 40+ hit-a-few-times Pro V1s each.

[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1329454356' post='4305943']
[quote name='Thrillhouse' timestamp='1329454070' post='4305927']
For those of you who want the tour treatment you can go to swanson golf center in houston and hit prov1's on the range for as long as you want for 30 bucks.

(I dont have anything to do with these guys I just think its cool)
[/quote]
Shady Canyon does that to, but they charge like $200,000 a year. I also don't have anything to do with them.
[/quote]

Well, I have been to some great private clubs in north scottsdale that have them too but I think the average golfwrx member might have a little trouble getting past security when they roll up in their ford fiesta and tell the security guard "its cool dude, thrillhouse totally told me I could come here and whack pellets with philly mick and freddy". It looks like as long as you wear shoes and a shirt to swanson's you are good to go!

[quote name='Thrillhouse' timestamp='1329454658' post='4305963']
[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1329454356' post='4305943']
[quote name='Thrillhouse' timestamp='1329454070' post='4305927']
For those of you who want the tour treatment you can go to swanson golf center in houston and hit prov1's on the range for as long as you want for 30 bucks.

(I dont have anything to do with these guys I just think its cool)
[/quote]
Shady Canyon does that to, but they charge like $200,000 a year. I also don't have anything to do with them.
[/quote]

Well, I have been to some great private clubs in north scottsdale that have them too but I think the average golfwrx member might have a little trouble getting past security when they roll up in their ford fiesta and tell the security guard "its cool dude, thrillhouse totally told me I could come here and whack pellets with philly mick and freddy". It looks like as long as you wear shoes and a shirt to swanson's you are good to go!
[/quote]
Can I drop your name at Shady?

[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1329455056' post='4306011']
[quote name='Thrillhouse' timestamp='1329454658' post='4305963']
[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1329454356' post='4305943']
[quote name='Thrillhouse' timestamp='1329454070' post='4305927']
For those of you who want the tour treatment you can go to swanson golf center in houston and hit prov1's on the range for as long as you want for 30 bucks.

(I dont have anything to do with these guys I just think its cool)
[/quote]
Shady Canyon does that to, but they charge like $200,000 a year. I also don't have anything to do with them.
[/quote]

Well, I have been to some great private clubs in north scottsdale that have them too but I think the average golfwrx member might have a little trouble getting past security when they roll up in their ford fiesta and tell the security guard "its cool dude, thrillhouse totally told me I could come here and whack pellets with philly mick and freddy". It looks like as long as you wear shoes and a shirt to swanson's you are good to go!
[/quote]
Can I drop your name at Shady?
[/quote]

Can you think of a better thing to tell someone who caught you doing something wrong than "its totally cool dude, thrillhouse said I could!"

Security guard at the mall: Sir! Get out of the fountain!
You (drunk): Its cool dude! Thrillhouse said I could!

Bouncer at the spearmint rhino: Sir! hands off the girls!
You (also drunk): Its cool dude! Thrillhouse said I could!

Dude why didn't you tell me this trick before I went to vegas and jumped in the Bellagio fountain drunk and naked?

^^^^^^^ Hahaha, those two words just belong together. Drunk and naked.

[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1329461153' post='4306407']
Dude why didn't you tell me this trick before I went to vegas and jumped in the Bellagio fountain drunk and naked?
[/quote]

You would think people wouldn't react to this. It's 3 A.M. Saturday night in Vegas and I'm still perplexed by the amount of staring and yelling that was directed towards me. And Vegas calls itself a party town, pfft. Buch of tightwads. I was just trying to sober up.

I wonder what minion they have that has to sit there and sort balls all day after they have been picked

A lot of the above posts are correct. One of my buddy's works at a private course that host a PGA event, and he worked on the range all week.

No. The pros don't get balls like us hacks. The balls are sorted out by brand and make and put in bags of about 50, there is a tent where they get practice balls of the same make and model they use. However if they want to try out a different ball they can use that.

For where the balls go after the tourney, not sure about the first tee, but my friend was able to just take about a box of 200 home. He's a strict proV1 user and gave them to another guy in our group, he now has balls for the rest of the golf season.

I worked the 94 Byron Nelson and Titleist was the only range ball. At the same club Feherty and Armour III had their maxfli ht's shipped in, yes when feherty played. We had to separate after picking the range. The salesmanship club sold the Nelson practice balls for charitable contributions.

[quote name='left handed pull cart' timestamp='1329512798' post='4310545']
I worked the 94 Byron Nelson and Titleist was the only range ball. At the same club Feherty and Armour III had their maxfli ht's shipped in, yes when feherty played. We had to separate after picking the range. The salesmanship club sold the Nelson practice balls for charitable contributions.
[/quote]

I can remember back in the late 90's going to the GVO and every range ball was a Titleist Professional. Mind you, probably 95% of the guys in the tournament were playing that ball back then.

[quote name='Potatohead' timestamp='1329519593' post='4311387']
[quote name='left handed pull cart' timestamp='1329512798' post='4310545']
I worked the 94 Byron Nelson and Titleist was the only range ball. At the same club Feherty and Armour III had their maxfli ht's shipped in, yes when feherty played. We had to separate after picking the range. The salesmanship club sold the Nelson practice balls for charitable contributions.
[/quote]

I can remember back in the late 90's going to the GVO and every range ball was a Titleist Professional. Mind you, probably 95% of the guys in the tournament were playing that ball back then.
[/quote]

Northview right?

[quote name='Thrillhouse' timestamp='1329519671' post='4311397']
[quote name='Potatohead' timestamp='1329519593' post='4311387']
[quote name='left handed pull cart' timestamp='1329512798' post='4310545']
I worked the 94 Byron Nelson and Titleist was the only range ball. At the same club Feherty and Armour III had their maxfli ht's shipped in, yes when feherty played. We had to separate after picking the range. The salesmanship club sold the Nelson practice balls for charitable contributions.
[/quote]

I can remember back in the late 90's going to the GVO and every range ball was a Titleist Professional. Mind you, probably 95% of the guys in the tournament were playing that ball back then.
[/quote]

Northview right?
[/quote]

yessir

I got a freebie at the 2008 Pga at oakland hills. We were hanging out by the ropes when the players walk to the range, and someone tossed me one. Can't for the life of me remember who it was... caddy of someone...

Oakmont has Pentas and TP Red and Blacks on the range, and those are for everyone to hit.

[quote name='9ccat9' timestamp='1329520114' post='4311481']
Oakmont has Pentas and TP Red and Blacks on the range, and those are for everyone to hit.
[/quote]

Yup thats not uncommon at really high end country clubs, its a super nice touch but they have to be changed out regularly or they get pretty crappy.

I think the only course I've been to that had range balls other than your typical "range rocks" was Peachtree Golf club in Atlanta- ProV1's on the range. I resisted the urge to pocket a few, as I'd really like to be invited back.

The Talking Stick in Scottsdale has unlimited Callaway practice balls for $20. (I don't work there, I just played there.)