Driving range plans

[azgreg]

I moved to Vegas a week ago and have been dealing with all that. Today I decided to go out and hit some balls. I drive to the nearest course, Las Vegas Golf Club, and the range closes at 1:00 on Wednesdays and they don't have a chipping green. I drive to another course, Los Prados, and they have a chipping green but no driving range, only hitting nets. The next course, Painted Desert Golf Club is mats only and no chipping green. f*** it, I hit some balls anyways. I strike up a conversation with the guy picking up baskets and he tells me about Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort. This place has three courses and two practice area. The pics look fantastic and the guy says the practice areas are like tour quality. To use the practice areas it is $30 for the day or $900 for the year unlimited balls. Sounds like a pretty decent deal.

[Mikey_HACKilroy]

We are really limited around here. At some point, I may join a country club so I can have consistent access to good range conditions; but right now that's not in the cards.

 

There is a range down the street that has become so popular that it is next to impossible to get good grass there anymore. It's always chewed up and it has also gotten to sandy on one side. Just too many people; it never recovers. Another one is mostly mats with a small grass area that I have yet to be able to try; they do have a Trackman setup now (Leatherman's) but their golf balls are very old in some cases you're hitting "Sliceooks" with them. Beyond that, there are few other options, and none of them are really any good.

 

The trouble is, most of these places operate on the basis of the limited revenue a driving range really provides. The Leatherman's place sells beer to make their money. They all want $20 for a large bucket.

Now, there is a place not far from here that sells a $500 range plan, but their range wasn't very good really. Plus it is a bit of a drive.....

 

Most golf courses have merely average practice ranges. Though, there are a ton of people going to them, and so they're gonna get beat up. Nothing you can do until somebody develops a synthetic replica of grass and sandy dirt that can be reset like a bowling alley. 😄😄 

[MattM97]

Probably a no brainer if you practice a lot and can get out year round. You think you'll practice more than 30x? 

[azgreg]

6 hours ago, MattM97 said:

Probably a no brainer if you practice a lot and can get out year round. You think you'll practice more than 30x? 

I practice once or twice a week and play once a week.

 

[MattM97]

4 minutes ago, azgreg said:

I practice once or twice a week and play once a week.

 

 

Was more rhetorical question but you'll have gotten your moneys worth in 6 months. I'd be all over that especially if a nice grass range that wasn't jammed packed like ranges where I am. 

[betarhoalphadelta]

7 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

 

Was more rhetorical question but you'll have gotten your moneys worth in 6 months. I'd be all over that especially if a nice grass range that wasn't jammed packed like ranges where I am. 

 

Yep. But we're all different. 

 

I personally have the most difficult time doing certain things I feel like I want/need to do if there is too much "friction" involved. And there's a certain level of friction involved merely leaving the house. 

 

For example, fitness. I had a gym membership to a gym 0.9 miles from my front door. And I just didn't go. I switched to Peloton and have the ability to do all my fitness in my own home, on my own schedule, with zero friction. And suddenly I am doing things every single day. 

 

For the range, I have a monthly "players club" deal with my local range at $50/mo. It's barely farther than the gym, definitely <1.5 mi from my front door. But I have trouble getting my money's worth out of it because the friction is higher. If it was a 4 mile drive? Probably would never use it.

 

For OP, I think a good question is how far this course / practice area is from you, and how much the "friction" of going there is going to get in the way of you actually practicing at that facility often enough. Maybe OP isn't like me and that's not an issue. But I mention it because you don't want to throw money at something you aren't actually going to use. 

[MattM97]

3 minutes ago, betarhoalphadelta said:

 

Yep. But we're all different. 

 

I personally have the most difficult time doing certain things I feel like I want/need to do if there is too much "friction" involved. And there's a certain level of friction involved merely leaving the house. 

 

For example, fitness. I had a gym membership to a gym 0.9 miles from my front door. And I just didn't go. I switched to Peloton and have the ability to do all my fitness in my own home, on my own schedule, with zero friction. And suddenly I am doing things every single day. 

 

For the range, I have a monthly "players club" deal with my local range at $50/mo. It's barely farther than the gym, definitely <1.5 mi from my front door. But I have trouble getting my money's worth out of it because the friction is higher. If it was a 4 mile drive? Probably would never use it.

 

For OP, I think a good question is how far this course / practice area is from you, and how much the "friction" of going there is going to get in the way of you actually practicing at that facility often enough. Maybe OP isn't like me and that's not an issue. But I mention it because you don't want to throw money at something you aren't actually going to use. 

 

Well see I hate my home life so I spend as little time there and more time anywhere else so everyone is different in their wants and needs.  

[betarhoalphadelta]

17 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

 

Well see I hate my home life so I spend as little time there and more time anywhere else so everyone is different in their wants and needs.  

 

I hear you. I hated my home life. Then I got divorced. Now I like my home life 😉 

 

[phizzy30]

1 hour ago, betarhoalphadelta said:

 

I hear you. I hated my home life. Then I got divorced. Now I like my home life 😉 

 

They say the grass isn't always greener on the other side.  If I didn't have to work, I'd stay home, workout at home and golf 3-4x a week. 

[aenemated]

On 5/8/2024 at 5:03 PM, azgreg said:

I moved to Vegas a week ago and have been dealing with all that. Today I decided to go out and hit some balls. I drive to the nearest course, Las Vegas Golf Club, and the range closes at 1:00 on Wednesdays and they don't have a chipping green. I drive to another course, Los Prados, and they have a chipping green but no driving range, only hitting nets. The next course, Painted Desert Golf Club is mats only and no chipping green. f*** it, I hit some balls anyways. I strike up a conversation with the guy picking up baskets and he tells me about Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort. This place has three courses and two practice area. The pics look fantastic and the guy says the practice areas are like tour quality. To use the practice areas it is $30 for the day or $900 for the year unlimited balls. Sounds like a pretty decent deal.

 

Paiute is my home away from home! Stellar practice facility and you absolutely will not find a better deal for locals on greens fees.