[Markgolf]

Thank you. So the I intention was originally to have grass tees. That’s good to know!

[Markgolf]

Originally Posted by 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.

So there are better quality mats available. So, in terms of feel they are better. How about ball flight and spin?

[Justputt]

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.

EZTee and XGrass are pretty good to hit off of without the issues of real grass or the feel of those thin cheesy mats.

[HORNET]

Driving Ranges around the country also use mats. If as many use The Villages driving ranges, new golfers, there would be chopped up boxes. I think that The Villages does a great job!

[StillBruin]

Even with rotation, if driving ranges were turf, the hitting areas would be divot ridden and/or a mess of uneven seed mix.

[UpNorth]

Originally Posted by Markgolf

So there are better quality mats available. So, in terms of feel they are better. How about ball flight and spin?

As long as the range balls are in good shape, pretty close to hitting off real turf.

[FloridaGuy66]

Originally Posted by StillBruin

Even with rotation, if driving ranges were turf, the hitting areas would be divot ridden and/or a mess of uneven seed mix.

The grass driving range behind Walmart in Oxford is in pretty decent shape usually. They rotate around their range daily between several different hitting distances. It's not perfect, but it sure beats hitting off of mats. You also get to hit a lot more balls for your money compared to Sarasota.

[UpNorth]

Originally Posted by Rwirish

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

The Lions Club range off Rolling Acres uses matts exclusively. Not the best quality. Love to support them, but their current crop of balls have worn out covers (smooth, no dimples) and are horrible. No telling where the ball will go, but it won't be very far. Wait till they get a new stock of balls.

[jimhoward]

My problem with mats is that the ball flies too perfectly off them. You can hit an iron pretty fat off a mat and still get a good result. You can also hit the ball a groove or two thin and still compress. So you hit great on the range and then struggle on the course.

I’d rather hit off the ground (I won’t say grass because on a heavily used range there is no grass) even if it’s hard an and full of divots. That way only ball first contact goes airborne. The feedback is way better and my game on the course is helped.

[kcrazorbackfan]

Originally Posted by jimhoward

My problem with mats is that the ball flies too perfectly off them. You can hit an iron pretty fat off a mat and still get a good result. You can also hit the ball a groove or two thin and still compress. So you hit great on the range and then struggle on the course.

I’d rather hit off the ground (I won’t say grass because on a heavily used range there is no grass) even if it’s hard an and full of divots. That way only ball first contact goes airborne. The feedback is way better and my game on the course is helped.

Go to the driving range at Arlington Ridge, it will be perfect for you - very little grass, hard and full of divots.

[HoosierPa]

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.

This is a good solution for the OP since he didn’t seem to have a problem with money

[Markgolf]

Originally Posted by kkingston57

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

I suppose hitting off mats is better than not hitting at all. Or is it? The ball spins differently off mats and comes off club face at different speeds. Moreover, hitting off mats robs the golfer the experience of alignment; easy to align when you have the perimeter of the carpet running into 90 degree corners. Then there is the shank thing. Fair to say you are attacking the ball with a different intention off the mat than the grass. Clubface to turf contact, with low point control, is the name of the game. Driving range mats require attack angles different than the optimal angles experienced in elite play off of grass. It seems the worlds most friendly town isn’t really that friendly : ) I agree with your pro - in some ways mats are bad for our games.

I think the answer is to build some grass driving ranges outfitted with some real balls. Seems that was the original intention (at least the grass tees) until it became too difficult to keep the grass range from getting destroyed. Instead of building more ranges, or bigger ranges, it was more efficient to install mats. This is understandable. However, now that we are beginning to understand the shortfalls of mats, can we not begin a dialogue about the merits of more ranges and grass tees?

[Markgolf]

Originally Posted by mraines

Lakes of Lady has grass.

Thank you!

[Markgolf]

Originally Posted by FloridaGuy66

The grass driving range behind Walmart in Oxford is in pretty decent shape usually. They rotate around their range daily between several different hitting distances. It's not perfect, but it sure beats hitting off of mats. You also get to hit a lot more balls for your money compared to Sarasota.

Thank you for pointing out that option. I am just thinking we are too complacent. Let’s review policy and see if we can make it better. It makes sense to install grass tees. The subset of golfers that our community misses out on is significant. If we think the grass at oxford is good I am going to question your golf experiences.

[Markgolf]

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.

Most things are about money. Just because you haven’t reasoned an alternative doesn’t mean a solution doesn’t exist. Further, I find your assignment of me to the washed masses as a form projection, a red herring, and a form of tribalism.

I find you too miserable at this time to engage. Not that I am above you - it’s just that you are basically disrespectful.