Joining a Club without a driving range

[ajsmith227]

Good afternoon everyone,

 

I'm thinking about joining a club that doesn't have a driving range on site. They have a short game area that includes room for 70 yard-ish shots.

 

Would you every join a club with out a range?

 

Thanks for any thoughts,

 

AJ

[Shemp]

Depends on how much I like the course. I just took a trip to Southwest Ireland and half the courses we played didn't have ranges. I'd join Tralee, Dooks or Lahinch in a heartbeat.

[mctrees02]

If I have a quality range option nearby, then I don't see much harm in it. If you're somebody that learns better practicing your game on the course vs range, then it's an even greater benefit.

How good is the short game area? Does it offer a full arsenal of shots & turf conditions (useable rough and sloped lies are crucial IMO) then even better.

[RRFireblade]

Tough one....probably not. I spend maybe as much time on the range as the course, if I had to join a club and then pay for range time somewhere else, not to mention all the driving back and forth, I'd probably just find another course with one.

[Shambles]

If I had a reasonable alternative, probably not. In my best, I spent more time and money on the range than I did on the fairway. I never really considered the fairway as more than a place to see how well I had progressed or if I had lost ground. Besides, back then the cost of the range was a of less than the cost of the fairway and I got to hit a lot more balls in whatever shot shape I could try for. More important, I could try as often as I needed without people yelling at me from behind. The range is very important to me.



Shambles

[Johnny Biarritz]

Given the short game practice area, I would consider joining, but it would depend on how busy the course gets. If the course has some really slow times where I could play and hit 2 or 3 balls at times, it would be no issue. If the course is really busy and also has no range, that would almost certainly be a deal-breaker.

[Arizonalefty59]

Aspen Valley? I would not...... A range is a necessity IMO.

[rbhan12]

I definitely wouldn't. Sometimes you just need to practice, not play.

[flip flappy]

I would, but I live in the country and have plenty of room to practice or warm up at my house. If I didn't have a place to warm up on full shots before a round though, I probably wouldn't join one without a range.

[kuslamb]

Driving range is essential to me, and one of the most enjoyable things about the course that I play. I really like to hit at least once a week as a way to keep my game in shape. I often am unable to play as many rounds as I want because my weekends are often busy with kid stuff and friends weddings and bachelor parties. It is rare though that I cannot get out for an hour and hit for a bit, hit some wedges, and then chip and putt.

Also, I really struggle with rhythm when I cannot beat at least a hand full of balls before a round, especially with my driver, so that makes my rounds more enjoyable.

[ChipDriver]

[quote name='ajsmith227' timestamp='1410117779' post='10080155']
Good afternoon everyone,

I'm thinking about joining a club that doesn't have a driving range on site. They have a short game area that includes room for 70 yard-ish shots.

Would you every join a club with out a range?

Thanks for any thoughts,

AJ
[/quote]

Sure - if the golf course was primo - the lack of a full-sized driving range would not be a problem. Buy a practice net/Net Return. The primary reason to join a golf club IMO is to play a great course...not to practice.

If there was zero driving range - and I liked to practice, make sure there is something available.

You're talking about an "accommodation" not a deal breaker IMO.

[Hateto3Putt]

If the course is otherwise acceptable, the range (or lack of one) for me is not a deal killer. The hay is made on the short game anyway, and it sounds like you can still dial the wedges in.

(Take the above opinion with a grain of salt, I would much rather play a course than mindlessly whack balls at the range)

[mr_divots]

I have a range down the road, so it wouldn't hold me back. And I tend to play 99% of the time instead of "practice." It is my practice.
The course does something to the mind. Thus the "Ranger Rick" term. Range is good for swing. Course is good for real golf.

[Shambles]

I guess times have changed. Used to be that the range was a profit center of a golf course, more attended than the fairways. Of course I'm talking about a course accessible to a large population. People did not always have the time to even do a few holes but the range can always do as a place to hit a few balls and be a refuge from the rush hour at the end of the work day. When traffic is that bad it's more relaxing to spend the time working on your swing rather than sitting frustratedly in traffic. Getting home in a relaxed state of mind is also beneficial to the family.



Shambles

[conceptDawg]

I would not, simply because I couldn't even warm up properly on a 70yd practice area. I can't even hit a full sand wedge within that distance so there's no way I could hit any full-strength shots to get properly warmed up.

As you get older and more broken you need more time to warm up your swing and full shots are important. I go through my bag (PW-8-6-4-3W and ending with driver) before every round. I may only hit two or three shots with each one. But being able to do that to stretch out my back muscles is important (2 back and 1 shoulder surgery in my past).

[OCdog]

I like being able to hit all my clubs prior to the round. Especially long irons, 3 w and driver

[Buzzkill]

No problem for me - [u]most[/u] folks think they need the warm up though.

[kuslamb]

Sounds like I am in the minority here with respect to hitting the range for practice [u]AND[/u] enjoyment. I [u]LOVE[/u] hitting the range. It probably helps that I get to hit what I consider a very nice range, with a variety of targets/distances and the ability to hit into and down wind. Couple this with a great wedge game area with shots from 75 to 130 or so and then a chipping area with shots up to about 60 or so down to the shortest of chips.

I think it makes me a better player. I have worked down from an 11 to a 5 in about 3 years. Its a combination of range time, playing regularly, maturing, etc... but to me, range time is up towards the top of the things that has made me a better player.

In fact, I am heading the range here in a couple hours as part of my typical Wednesday evening...

[kemau]

[quote name='conceptDawg' timestamp='1410317854' post='10093315']
I would not, simply because I couldn't even warm up properly on a 70yd practice area. I can't even hit a full sand wedge within that distance so there's no way I could hit any full-strength shots to get properly warmed up.

[b]As you get older and more broken you need more time to warm up your swing and full shots are important.[/b] I go through my bag (PW-8-6-4-3W and ending with driver) before every round. I may only hit two or three shots with each one. But being able to do that to stretch out my back muscles is important (2 back and 1 shoulder surgery in my past).
[/quote]

no truer words spoken there....it's a must for me to get things going prior to playing with light weights and stretching at home then warm up on the range. my back will let me know for sure if i skip doing those things! no range would rule out joining a club for me

[Joselo]

unless you dont have many other courses available i would def not join one without

[cristphoto]

I probably wouldn't. Every club in my area has a range. A couple even have small tented areas next to the first tee where you can hit a couple balls prior to teeing off. Besides the obvious ability to practice, a great benefit is being able to demo clubs. I demo'd all my woods and irons prior to buying. Very helpful. The reps in my area always come by the private clubs offering all their new gear to try. With no range the reps might pass.

[2bGood]

I would. I was a range rat, but when I joined a private club I found over time I spent less and less time on the range and more time on the course. Part of this was economics, I pay one price per month to golf lets say $300. I golf once it is a $300 round, I golf 10 times they are $30 rounds. As a result I find I play way more golf and don't feel the need to get my fix in on the range. I also find that I will go play 3 or 4 balls for a few holes rather than hit the range as I find I get more out of it.

Now the club I do play at has a range so it is nice to have that option, but I could live with out it.

[golfinglarrypiersall]

Depends on how good the course is... What's the course name?

[ajsmith227]

GolfWRX friends,

Thank you for all the replies! The club is the Aspen Valley Golf Club. I go back and forth with you. The latest issue is the club doesn't take AMEX...and I'm one of those weird folks hooked on getting my points.

Still considering it, and I value all of your options.

Thank you again!

[rbhan12]

No AMEX = automatic bust.

[kekoa]

No way. Driving range(grass tees) is a must for any club i consider joining.