Hogan's satellite office

I recently moved and haven't been able to practice much lately. But this weekend the weather finally improved so I decided to try to find a golf course to join.

I found a Donald Ross that is pretty close by so I decided to check that out.

I turned out that the range wasn't connected to the golf course, so when I arrived I got directions to the nearby practice facility. I thought it was a bit odd because the range had a large brick building and was practically hidden among a bunch of office and industrial buildings. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised when I got out there. Facilities were top notch, especially for the inexpensive price, and there was a large indoor practice area as well.

I spent most of the day practicing along until I was the last one standing. My session went really well until I was asked to leave by an older man who told me they had to close the range a bit early for the super bowl.

On the way out I started asking him about the range, and it turns out it was a "Ben Hogan testing facility" back when the company was still around. That's why the range was so secluded and the the indoor area was so big. I thought it was pretty awesome to find out the man himself had probably spent quite a few afternoons at the same range I did so I figured I'd share. Video below from the session.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXDGVnxxnEY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-uEE5kMog8

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN7l0rbrr6Q"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN7l0rbrr6Q[/url]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5PK9RpoqOA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5PK9RpoqOA[/url]

Cool story. Where is this? Fort Worth? Doesn't look like it but I think there might have been a factory up north at some point.

Those trees looks like this is up north? Virginia? Hogan had a fitting school up there back in the 80's.

Also there are no Donald Ross courses near DFW?

Hogan sold the company in 1960 to AMF, went through several other owners, was sold to Bill Goodwin, who moved the company to Virginia in 1992. The videos look way more like Virginia than Ft Worth, and by '92, I doubt Hogan spent any time in Virginia.

Virginia and large building makes alot of sense, that could be where the Hogan fitting school used to be. Which Course is it?

I'm gonna guess Country Club of Virginia? Since this is the only Donald Ross course in Richmond?

Lakeside Club in Richmond...fwiw...not exactly a Ross jewel... U of R practice facility, shared with Club....

All knowing siteseer is correct. And Hogan was never there I later found out. Still a pretty solid range.

Well that's a boner killer. Would have been awesome if he actually went there to practice once in awhile.

Get the embers burning and all that so you practice harder!