The range of one of the most important places on the golf course. It is a place where one can work on improving your game before and after a round of golf. Think of this way … if you were to put in the time and effort at least 30 minutes before and after every round, think of how much the other four or five hours of golf would be vastly improved.
One only has to stand by the clubhouse and watch those weekend warriors dashing from the parking lot to the first tee to see the value of a warming up and cooling down after each round pays dividends. If you want to get a good laugh stand by the first tee and watch the balls fly left and right because someone did not take the time to physically and mentally warm-up before their round commenced.
Take your pick, 18 holes or 9 holes, the results are the goal is the same. You want to play well and enjoy yourself. Even if you play poorly, you still want to find some level of enjoyment at some point during your round.
Consider the following:
- KEEP your time on the range simple. You want to practice shots that carry at least three distances (200, 150, and 75). You will find on average that three distances will get you to the green safely provided that they are hit straight. Going off target by about 15 yards to the right or left is manageable within reason. Even though the legal limit of clubs in your bag is 13, you only really need about six or seven. Find clubs in your bag that you can hit well and dump the rest. Keep in my mind your goal is keep your practice simple and your round simple as well. Enjoyment comes from doing the simple things well and repeat them over and over.
- DO NOT SKIP practicing your chipping and putting. If given the choice to skip full shots or chipping/putting on the range error on the side of practicing your chipping and putting. On average over 66% of your round will be spent with 75 yards of the pin. Lousy off the tee and the fareway can always forgiven, but not lousy around the green and pin. It slows down the round considerable and makes one miserable. You want to smile and bask in glory from green to tee not the other way around.
- TAKE THE TIME to survey your bag while on the range. Do you have enough golf balls, tees, and other related equipment? The first tee is not the place to figure out you are not prepared to start your round. Off the first tee style is everything since everyone is looking at you. You would be shocked at how much sitting on a bench on the range for few minutes surveying your bag or watching others hit their golf balls will teach you about the state of your game, for better or worse. Treat the range as a visit to church, synagogue, or temple. It is place to gather your thoughts and summon the GOLF GODS before you head to the first tee.
I will add more later to this page. This includes illustrations and other golf tips.
Coach Williams