Looking For Affordable City In Warm Climate With Affordable Practice Facility

[Mitch Jordan]

Admire what you hope to do. Agree with others that there needs to be an instruction component. You might like reading how these two tried to get better;

Paper Tiger by Tom Coyne and The Fine Green Line by John Paul Newport. Good luck.

[Ezgolfer]

Albuquerque , if you want to golf Almost 12 months a year.

[AThompson_3]

The Players Club at Disney is the best deal in Orlando. There are 3 membership tiers. The two that would apply to you would be the gold and platinum tier. The gold is 39/month and includes 2 large buckets of range per day. The platinum includes unlimited range balls for 69/month. You have golf privileges where you can pre book tee times 4 days in advance for 39 in the morning and 29 in the afternoon. Or you can walk up if there is a tee time available within 15-45 minutes and pay 15. With the platinum membership you can play the Oak trail course complimentary after 12. But you get 3 18 hole championship courses (Magnolia, Palm, Lake Buena Vista) and a 9 hole executive course. You won’t find a better deal anywhere in the country.

[Sweetdraw]

OP-

Love the passion and drive to chase your dream!

Another vote for ABQ.

Tucson could be another option with city course pass. Probably a better fit for playing more or blending playing and practicing vs practicing only. housing still tough. https://www.tucsoncitygolf.com/mega-pass/

Other ideas to consider:

Become a caddy: Start in MN and go south in winter. Seasonal approach. Do a loop in the AM practice and play in PM. Probably have to buy a membership at another course vs get playing privileges at course where you caddy. You're still involved in the game and earning $. Could spend more on housing.

Van Life: Go mobile for a year. Escape winter by driving south on 35. Cut shorter term deals with courses (like 3 months) and move on. See more of the US.

Work / Play: You have IT skills. Consider contract gigs. Work for a short burst (4 week) and get back to playing. Rinse and repeat. Gets $ coming and gives your body a break. Could be based on MN or travel to warmer markets.

[swizz]

OP- I must say I question what you’re doing because you already seem so dedicated now and practicing a lot, but your scores don’t seem to reflect that.

I do have a suggestion for you if you want cheap.

knoxville, TN. Going to be real affordable and they have a place that is right up your alley. https://fairwaysandgreens.com/

They have a 3 hole course but this is your ultimate practice facility. Huge grass driving range that can probably fit 70+ People. Multiple putting and chipping greens. Indoor hitting bays and indoor putting green. Workout facility and also really good instructors.

 

I used to spend my whole summer there as a kid. My guess is no initiation fee and probably $150 a month or so now

 

 

[GolferMW1234]

These look awesome, I will check them out.

[GolferMW1234]

I went through a swing change and putting stroke change. Went from shooting 90s to low 80s, then to a 78. Did not play nearly enough rounds as I should have to get even better, I played less than 20 rounds.

I put in my two weeks notice today.

Again, I have no attachment to the outcome of this. I simply love the game enough and have enough savings to commit myself to the pursuit of it.

Thanks for the info about Fairways and Greens, I sent them an email. The place looks awesome.

If any of you would like to share advice on what you actually did and what worked to get better at golf, I would love to hear it.

[ryan84]

I’ve said this already, but find an instructor! Anyone can groove their **** move and get a solid short game from practice to get into low 80s/high 70s. You need to build a swing from fundamentals and proper sequencing which to me is only achievable with a reputable instructor. Without it, you will continue to find magic every once in awhile and then lose it in an ever repeating cycle.

[GolferMW1234]

I do agree with you on this and the rest of you that have mentioned finding an instructor. My situation is a little different and let me explain since I have stolen enough of your time already.

I do have a golf school that I use which is full of instructors. They all teach the same swing. They have all sorts of videos and online teaching of the swing. I have been to one of their in person golf schools. I work with them online by sending my swing videos in on a weekly basis. So I am learning one specific swing and following their videos, practicing the movements and then sending video in for feedback. I have shown some improvement, but still have room left before I start to "mirror" the swing they teach (old habits die hard).

I can travel and take lessons from them in person and I do plan on figuring out a way to do this soon and spend a month there at a time and take 1 lesson a week, and maybe more as needed.

So yes I do have an instructor although I don't work with them in MN on a weekly basis. I have had an instructor here locally in the past and he was not helpful to me.

The specific school that I am working with really resonates with me so I am going to stick with it.

Edit: I needed to add that my putting and short game instructor is local here in MN and he is great. Long swing is through the school.

I appreciate the feedback Ryan.

[ryan84]

As long as you are buying into what they are teaching and confident in the progress you see, that sounds like a great situation. That is infinitely better than a garbage local instructor as you said, so great work.