This is driving me nuts

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

Since late last year, I've been realizing that my short game needs improvement to shoot better scores. In that time, I've been keeping an eye out for places where I would have a good area to practice my short game type of shots. But most of the munis around that have practice greens have very small areas that aren't useful for the shots I'd really like to practice, the pitches between 10 to 30 yards.

In the back of my mind, however, was remembrance of a pitch-and-putt course a friend and I used to hack around at when I didn't know enough to realize how much a good short game could mean.

I drove by it on a whim yesterday, and I fear the worst, that it has been boarded up for good, not just for the winter offseason.

I guess maybe the thing to do is ask the pro at the muni I often play. He would likely know of a range or public course that has a good short game area. If not, it's going to be very frustrating.

[Pa Jayhawk]

Not sure if it is to far for you to drive, but Ingleside has a green between 18 and 5, back towards the apartments that you drive around the back way to reach. Last I saw it had a sign for "Members", but I don't recall ever seeing anyone check, and I used to go there 3 times a week to practice. It has a bunker as well. Although they may say something about 30 yard shots as a non member, I have seen people use it for 40 and in, as I believe the sign said. I would use it for 15-20, but never for 40 as I didn't want to have to repair all the ball marks. Man, My short game was good when I used that green. Assuming you fix any ball marks, you may be able to use it. I know the guys in the apartments would and they were not members. They didn't open it until April when I was there. If the Flag is out, it is closed. The Driving Range in West Chester off Matlock used to have a par 3 pitch and putt course that may be of use. I think all the holes are inside of 100 yards. I've have also seen guys practicing in the fields by the VA Hospital in Coatsville, not sure if it is legal or not.

I believe alot of the courses and ranges in the area use to have yearly rates for unlimited balls, might be a thought. I always thought it to be expensive to hit buckets inside of 50 yards, but if you have a yearly rate it may come out to cheap practice. This area only has 1-2 driving ranges and the balls are like formed concrete, so the range is not even an option here for great consistency.

edit 1 - if you try Ingleside, go to the putting green and look down the fairway back down 18, then look left you will see the green and the tee box for 5. Then Drive around, there is a parking space for the green. BTW, the putting green is open to the public, they actually have 2. One by the 1st tee and a small sloped one behind the building

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

Originally Posted by FKA Pa Jayhawk

The Driving Range in West Chester off Matlock used to have a par 3 pitch and putt course that may be of use. I think all the holes are inside of 100 yards.

I forgot about Ingleside, that would be good to check on.

I'm trying to scratch my head with the West Chester/Matlack reference. Which side of town would it be on or towards, the north or south? If I know that, I might just take a different way home tonight and see if I can see.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Oh, if it's south I know what you mean. Is it possible I went there this winter and missed that they had a pitch-and-putt course? It's possible knowing me.

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

Okay, I just used Google maps with satellite/hybrid and I think I see what you mean. I'll have to stop by there tonight and check again. It's possible that it's not there anymore, but if it is, I'll probably make use of it.

[Pa Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by Ravenous Bugblatter Beast

I forgot about Ingleside, that would be good to check on.

I'm trying to scratch my head with the West Chester/Matlack reference. Which side of town would it be on or towards, the west or east? If I know that, I might just take a different way home tonight and see if I can see.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Take 202, where it curves around to go towards Malvern (past Gay street entrance, if I remember correctly) you hit a stop light with Spaz beverage, and Kelly sports on the left, the range is on the right just past the light. next to what used to be the Electronic Boutique Warehouse. The stop light is Matlack Street, turn right on it, go up it and turn left. The range is viewable from 202, the entrance is kind of hidden off Matlack. It used to be a really nice range as well, that opened 3 years ago right before we moved. It has a double decker range, putting green which kinda sucks and is turf. I believe mini Golf, and it had the Par 3 course which I never played but knew it was there.

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

Yeah, I finally managed to correlate it with the clutter that hangs up in my head, and I've been there, but hadn't noticed anything about a pitch-and-putt. I'm going to stop there tonight and take another look. The satellite picture looks like there's a course area nearby with greens, but it's not detailed enough to really tell.

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

You were right about it.

http://web.archive.org/web/200402110...eitupgolf.net/

Unfortunately, it's now under different ownership, and the current website:

http://www.ericmaccluengolf.com/

makes no mention of the par-3 course.

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

This could be so frustrating. The wayback machine has a cache of the the old site from this time last year, and it still had the par-3 course. If it's disappeared since then in the change of owners I just want to kick something, like my own ass for waiting so long to play golf again.

[Davebud]

Just lobby your local Port Authority.

http://www.portolympia.com/airport_golf_entry.asp#

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

Originally Posted by Davebud

Just lobby your local Port Authority.

http://www.portolympia.com/airport_golf_entry.asp#

That's another thing that'd be nice around here, a decent executive style course.

[Pa Jayhawk]

The par 3 course was there when it first opened, so no telling what they have done in the last 3 years since I last went prior to moving. They also have a nice selection of clubs that you can demo on the range (or did at the time) and gear like clothes, bags, etc. That is where I bought my bag that I couldn't find anywhere else, and the prices weren't bad. I remember the putting green was the turf they made the mini golf out of, so it wasn't to great. A guy I worked with at the time liked the par 3 course though.

There also used to be a driving range on 322 by 82 called Irish Oaks, and they built a new one in lionville on 113 across from the school, which was open last year, but I'm not sure what the facilities are like as far as pitching and chipping.

[Pa Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by Ravenous Bugblatter Beast

That's another thing that'd be nice around here, a decent executive style course.

It is a haul from you but if you are up in Pheonixville they have a 9 hole course called Meadowbrooke that was only about $11-15 when I was in a work league, I think you could play unlimited or 2 times around for the same price, it even had different tees for the second time around. May be a good option for practice if you are ever in the area. We had our work league there and at Pickering Valley. Neither course were fantastic, but Meadowbrook was cheap and very walkable.

Both have a bar for a drink afterwards. Pickering seemed overpriced for the quality.

[Farquod]

My sister and her family live in Wayne, and her 13 yo son is a budding playa. He told me of a par 3 in his area that he played regularly, that closed at the end of last season. I fear this is the course you are discussing.

[Davebud]

Its a nice little Exec course, and cheap. 10 bucks for 9 holws and you can buy a unlimited pass for 600 bucks. Its got a covered range and its where I will be taking the wife so she can learn to play. Its perfect for her, she has a hard time hitting out of her shadow right now.

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

Well I can tell you all that the 9-hole pitch-and-putt that Jayhawk mentioned is no more. You can see some the old layout, but the lot is available for lease.

I know about Meadowbrook for cheap play, I used it some late last summer when my place of work was a bit north of Exton. Now it's a bit more out of my way.