[Markgolf]

What is the reasoning for so many golf courses and so little grass driving ranges? The obvious answer is money. How would one go about trying to change this? With so much good going on here it’s a disgrace to have people pound balls off mats

[Jim1mack]

Originally Posted by Markgolf

What is the reasoning for so many golf courses and so little grass driving ranges? The obvious answer is money. How would one go about trying to change this? With so much good going on here it’s a disgrace to have people pound balls off matts.

Sarasota used to have grass. They’d move the tee boxes as an area got beat up until just the mats were left. They were heavily used. They eventually gave up on maintaining the grass and now it’s just mats. I too can’t hit off mats and the tees they have are higher than I tee up on the course. You can buy cone shaped tees of various heights and use those on the mats. I do.

[UpNorth]

There are good quality mats and there are cheap mats. The cheap ones are usually placed over a concrete slab, making them even worse. My home course up north recently installed a brand called Range Hound, which features multiple layers underneath the hitting surface. A feel very similar to a quality fairway. You would likely prefer hitting off these mats vs crappy range turf.

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by Markgolf

What is the reasoning for so many golf courses and so little grass driving ranges? The obvious answer is money. How would one go about trying to change this? With so much good going on here it’s a disgrace to have people pound balls off matts.

Glenview grass is in great shape but only available several days a week. If I want to hit off grass I go to Baseline. On the bad side their grass is very thin. Took lessons recently and pro told me that the worst thing to do is practice off mats. Do admit that I do not hit a shank off of the mats. Another problem around TV golf courses is that the ranges are not very deep and there are a lot of ball pounders

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by Markgolf

What is the reasoning for so many golf courses and so little grass driving ranges? The obvious answer is money. How would one go about trying to change this? With so much good going on here it’s a disgrace to have people pound balls off matts.

To answer your ? probably nothing. Most courses do not even have a range and the ones that do have a range, range is not big enough as most courses are 27 holes and get a lot of play when the grass is dormant and/or does not grow.

[Arlington2]

Originally Posted by Markgolf

What is the reasoning for so many golf courses and so little grass driving ranges? The obvious answer is money. How would one go about trying to change this? With so much good going on here it’s a disgrace to have people pound balls off matts.

Beats hitting from dirt and mud. You can go to the range behind Walmart on 466 if that is your thing. If you need something better get a luxury mat off Amazon and take with you as an overlay when you use the driving range. Many to choose from.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Arlington2

Beats hitting from dirt and mud. You can go to the range behind Walmart on 466 if that is your thing. If you need something better get a luxury mat off Amazon and take with you as an overlay when you use the driving range. Many to choose from.

[mraines]

Originally Posted by Markgolf

What is the reasoning for so many golf courses and so little grass driving ranges? The obvious answer is money. How would one go about trying to change this? With so much good going on here it’s a disgrace to have people pound balls off matts.

Lakes of Lady has grass.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Markgolf

What is the reasoning for so many golf courses and so little grass driving ranges? The obvious answer is money. How would one go about trying to change this? With so much good going on here it’s a disgrace to have people pound balls off matts.

Why is "money the obvious answer" ?

It's simply not practical in The Villages, given the number of so-called "golfers" and the quality of that "golf".

If you want a decent hitting area and range experience, go down to Sarasota Learning Center and join the Premier Range Program. For $2500/year, you can hit off decent turf, to your heart's content ... and, generally avoid interacting with the unwashed masses.

[Rwirish]

Is Lakes of Lady the same as Lady Lakes off of Rolling Acres?

[ndf888]

Originally Posted by Markgolf

What is the reasoning for so many golf courses and so little grass driving ranges? The obvious answer is money. How would one go about trying to change this? With so much good going on here it’s a disgrace to have people pound balls off matts.

I believe that the Oxford Golf Academy behind Walmart on 466 has this option.

[4$ALE]

Originally Posted by Rwirish

Is Lakes of Lady the same as Lady Lakes off of Rolling Acres?

No.

[SHIBUMI]

Doesn't that money include a sorely needed service to most Villages Golfers, Instruction.

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Why is "money the obvious answer" ?

It's simply not practical in The Villages, given the number of so-called "golfers" and the quality of that "golf".

If you want a decent hitting area and range experience, go down to Sarasota Learning Center and join the Premier Range Program. For $2500/year, you can hit off decent turf, to your heart's content ... and, generally avoid interacting with the unwashed masses.

[SHIBUMI]

If you hit 5 full buckets of balls a week for a year, your 2,500$ is covered. Add in some free instruction, bunker area, grass tee, and chip/putt green it's a great deal............Premier Range

Originally Posted by Markgolf

What is the reasoning for so many golf courses and so little grass driving ranges? The obvious answer is money. How would one go about trying to change this? With so much good going on here it’s a disgrace to have people pound balls off matts.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by SHIBUMI

If you hit 5 full buckets of balls a week for a year, your 2,500$ is covered. Add in some free instruction, bunker area, grass tee, and chip/putt green it's a great deal............Premier Range

Unfortunately, that's not exactly how it works.