Newbie: Range membership or Cource membership?

[detz]

Started playing last year, I've had four lessons and my best game has been a 119. I plan on taking another 3-6 lessons come spring and either getting a membership to the driving range(unlimited balls) or to my local 9-hole course. The price is about the same, which would be better for someone in my position? Both I would probably try to do 2-3 times week, either play 9 holes or hit a large bucket of balls.

[par5in4]

This is a tough one. When I first picked up the game, I remember all I wanted to do was play play play! And that's what I did on a 9-hole course.....3-5 times a week. But playing isn't all that fun if you're hacking it up really bad either, which would suggest bottomless range balls wouldn't be a bad idea.

Either way you go, I imagine you'll still be paying to do the other occasionally, huh? I'd lean towards continuing the lessons and ingraining the correct swing with hundreds of range balls and keep the actually playing to a minimum. Play every now and then with some buddies and show off your new swing, but if you get unlimited playing, you may be tempted to not visit the range as often as you may need.

Just my $.02. Perhaps some actually teachers or more experienced players would have better advice. Good luck!

[SiberianDVM]

Best of all worlds is a course membership that gives you free range balls, too.

My fav course is doing just that right now: $100 per month for all the golf you want and free range balls. I just need to come up with a $500 initiation.

[detz]

Well, the yearly fee is $600 for unlimited golf at the course which is 2 miles down the road. The range is $699 for unlimited balls which is 2 miles down the road(different location). I just don't want to drop $700 and get really bored of hitting balls all summer, I get sick of hitting a bucket now so I can't imagine hitting two in one day. I think the course will give me more practice with different situations and be different every time I play. I can hit the ball, I Played 6 or so rounds last year and kept up with the average players.

[ezra76]

I say the course. When it isn't busy you can go play multiple balls to practice anyway as well as get short game practice. I personally don't like the range very much, never have. I get more out of hitting 50yd. 1/2 swing wedge shots than out of full swings at the range any day. Plus if you get bored at the course you can switch it up, maybe play off the ladies tees with no woods in the bag, stuff like that. I assume you are a younger guy and will have more time to play, like all summer?

[detz]

I say the course. When it isn't busy you can go play multiple balls to practice anyway as well as get short game practice. I personally don't like the range very much, never have. I get more out of hitting 50yd. 1/2 swing wedge shots than out of full swings at the range any day. Plus if you get bored at the course you can switch it up, maybe play off the ladies tees with no woods in the bag, stuff like that. I assume you are a younger guy and will have more time to play, like all summer?

I'm thinking of changing my work hours 2-3 days a week so I can play solo in the mornings during the week and if I have time maybe some twilight during the weekends. Since the course is right down the street anytime I'm bored I can shoot over there too. I should probably invest in a pull cart.

[clint]

My vote is the course membership. You'll learn a lot more about golf on the course and if you play much by yourself then you'll have ample opportunity to drop extra balls and pratice shots. You learn how to play golf on the course...you learn how to play golf swing on the range. Both have their place, but when faced with a decision of one or the other I'm picking the course without hesitation.

[Andy_79]

My fav course is doing just that right now: $100 per month for all the golf you want and free range balls. I just need to come up with a $500 initiation.

That is a pretty sweet deal, man. Take it you just pay by monthly direct debit, yeah ? My club is a one-off annual fee and is a curse as it is due in the next few weeks. Just after Christmas. Beautiful....:rolleyes:

[West Coast Duffer]

I get tired of the range real quick and sometimes I dont even finish the whole bucket, on the course you can practice so much more and if you get a chance to play by yourself like others have said you can play multiple balls and practice sand or chips shots.

[MGP]

I say the course. When it isn't busy you can go play multiple balls to practice anyway as well as get short game practice. I personally don't like the range very much, never have. I get more out of hitting 50yd. 1/2 swing wedge shots than out of full swings at the range any day. Plus if you get bored at the course you can switch it up, maybe play off the ladies tees with no woods in the bag, stuff like that. I assume you are a younger guy and will have more time to play, like all summer?

I'm with you Ez, the only time I go to the range to hit a significant number of balls is if I am having a specific problem or trying out a new club. The range I go to has two chipping greens and two putting greens so I always end up spending way more time there anyway.

As far as having a membership to a course with unlimited golf, that's sweet. You can go and play just a few holes and not be worried about having paid the whole greens fee or if you only have time for a few holes. Or if it's not busy you can play multiple balls or even one or two holes several times in a row. I'd rather play than chunk away at balls at the range any day.

[lamebums]

Started playing last year, I've had four lessons and my best game has been a 119. I plan on taking another 3-6 lessons come spring and either getting a membership to the driving range(unlimited balls) or to my local 9-hole course. The price is about the same, which would be better for someone in my position? Both I would probably try to do 2-3 times week, either play 9 holes or hit a large bucket of balls.

Golf course, absolutely. The driving range is an excellent place to practice, but so is the golf course. Hell, if the course isn't crowded on a day, go ahead and hit 20 balls off the tee. Or practice a couple dozen shots from well...basically, any real situation, instead of just light rough that's been chewed up by hundreds of previous players who'd been hacking away from the same area (if the range even has grass areas).

[tn-golfnut-from-nj]

I paid 350 dollars for a year at the driving range.
To me personally, you can't beat the practice you get at the range.

I agree with practicing at the 9 hole course, when it is not busy, but for me its really not the same.

Today was in the 60s here, and I took my wedges, and short irons out to the range.
Hit 3 large buckets with them, practicing all different kinds of allingments, stands, swings, flop shots, bump and runs and all different things.

I cant wait to get out on the course, and forget all that I've learned, in a matter of minutes.:laugh:

[Pa Jayhawk]

IMO the course. If you want to practice when it is not peak time, just play 3 or four balls. It provides a wider variety of practice conditions for not just full strokes but things like short game, which is much more important on improving your game.

Also alot more fun. I rarely go to the range when I belong to a course. It is also kinda hard to practice and learn the different aspect of course management on a range, where you do not fully see the impact of what you will face on the next shot. You may hit 20 good driver shots in a row, but that may do you little good when you are faced with a 40 yard shot to the green. When you see it in real life, and have to play the shots, it starts to sink in that there may be a better option. At least IMO, the ball striking ability you will gain from the range is alot less important than the other aspect you will practice on the course.

[Wi-Golfer]

The course is the only way to go. I will hit the range but I usually just end up seeing how far I can drive the ball, there is no course management, no penalty for missing a screwed up shot, etc. Plus as others have mentioned the range gets rather boring pretty quickly.

[row1031]

scoring is learned on the course. keep some stats so when you do have lessons and or practice you know what to work on. at 119 I would say short game, short game, and more short game. Hopefully your course has a short game area
30 min practice and then 9 holes three times a week and u will be breaking 90 in no time..........................



good Luck