Go to course, use their practice green, then going home

[Doppelganger]

Tell me if this is okay or not... Do you use practice facilities for a daily routine without ever spending any money there? Or do you feel obligated to buy a few rounds of golf or maybe some food from the bar before feeling like this is okay?

 

I was talking to a work buddy today and I know he lives right by a golf course with decent putting and chipping greens. He was talking about buckling down on short game for the next couple of weeks and said he was driving 10 minutes every day to a range in town. I asked why he wouldn't just use the course facilities instead and he said it wouldn't be fair to use those greens for an hour a day without paying for anything. Call me rude but I have never considered that anyone would care that much if you were respectful of others. I use a local courses facilities fairly often and noone has ever said a word about it to me. Granted I use their driving range from time to time but I feel like practice greens suffer pretty minimal abuse.

[IcemanYVR]

How can you think it's ok to go on to private property and use their facilities without paying? Those facilities are there because people pay for the upkeep and the staff to work there. The machines that cut the grass need to be kept in shape, fertilizer for the grass, etc... All those things add up.

 

That's like people who go to Starbucks and sit there all day using their wifi.

[benclab]

Yeah it's okay. Just don't pull a ****** move and take the practice chipping balls and blast away on the range. When I was an assistant pro, I had no problem of people using our practice greens.

[jslane57]

If he honestly doesn't golf at the course, I don't blame him for going elsewhere to practice. Could he use the practice greens for free? Sure. And it is truly a non issue. But if the employees are good, they'll go say hi to him, make friends with him, and hope to see him out golfing there too. He's just trying to avoid those relationships since he is not going to patronize the facility...

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Every single time I've visited a course just to work on short game I've checked in to the shop and asked if it was ok if I worked on my short game and rolled a few putts. I've never been sent packing.

 

 

[northgolf]

Every single time I've visited a course just to work on short game I've checked in to the shop and asked if it was ok if I worked on my short game and rolled a few putts. I've never been sent packing.

 

I was sent packing at one course, Sterling Farms in Stamford, CT. I was playing there twice a week at the time and practicing at the range three times a week. I went to use the chipping green and was told it was for lessons only.

[Mcgeeno]

I've done it but I also bought a soda or hot dog, maybe a sleeve of balls once from the kid in the shop. Chat with the pro and make sure they are ok with it.

 

Buy a hat at the end of the season and thank them for letting you use the facilities. You will never have to sweat it or worry about it again.

[Krt22]

Yeah I would at least buy a bucket or some concessions every once in awhile or at least play a round once in a blue moon

[DaRiz]

I roll up to a course near my office and chip on their chipping green for a legit hour during lunch while wearing dress pants/shirt (I do put on my golf shoes though) and no one says anything.

 

I've played the course only once and ironically shot my personal best

[daco81se]

I agree with the above. Not sure I'd go to a practice green if I never played there or bought some range balls. I'm a member of a course about 25 minutes away but practice "mostly" at one about 5 minutes from me (I like the range better-it's closer-and....no chance of seeing a golf buddy talking me into playing vs practicing). I buy range balls around twice a week but on occasion just go there to chip put and never worried about it.

[ray9898]

I have on occasion. The staff has never had a problem, they understand people who are there trying to get some quick practice in will likely be playing rounds at a later date.

[Cwing]

I'd say you should at least be purchasing something there. Whether it be food/drink, range time etc...

[Kuuuch]

I did this all the time in college. Never practiced at a course I never played at though....then again I've played about every course in the area. Honestly, I really don't care, no one hardly uses many of the short game spots anyways.

[thechief16]

I do it all the time. But it is a county course, so I figure "my tax dollars at work." And it works out for them. 2-3 times a year I will get up there just to chip and putt, and find the course empty and pay to play 9.

[isaacbm]

Super strange thread. You simply walk in to the shop and ask.

[Chazb]

I used to belong to a private club with a great practice facility.There was this person who was hitting balls there about three times a week the pro came up to me one day and asked if I knew him.

I told him no so he approached the guy and asked him politely if he was a new member he said no.

He asked he why he was using the range and has been for a while,he said he drove up and seen the range and the balls there and thought no one would care.

He was promptly kicked off the property and told not to come back.

[npham]

I think using a private club's range/facilities is a huge difference than using a semi private/public course's facilities.

 

I would definitely ask or purchase something if I did this though.

[Chazb]

I think using a private club's range/facilities is a huge difference than using a semi private/public course's facilities.

 

I would definitely ask or purchase something if I did this though.

It was also a driving range and he was hitting balls there and he had to know what he was doing was wrong.

[2bGood]

The concept is sort of a non-issue for me. If I am hanging out a course 5 hours a week, i am going to be buying something. Not out of obligation just out of proximity.

 

My club is close to home, so I practice there mostly. If I practice near work, I am likely going to rent some range balls when there most days or grab lunch (because I am there, not because I have to)

[bad coffee]

I don't *feel* right using a club's practice area for free. I usually buy lunch or a bucket of balls.

 

I much prefer the $7 Short game pass. All the putting/chipping/bunker play you can from open to close for a few bucks. Money well spent if you ask me.

[chrisronline]

I often visit a public course to use their practice facilities, but most sessions involve range time so I'm buying some balls but for the few times where it's just short game, I usually roll up, do my thing and leave without buying anything. I actually never thought about it until now - maybe I should buy a drink or something next time

[chrismikayla]

One of the courses I frequent has a short game area they don't mind players using. It's nice however to sometimes support the course by playing sometimes

[mikpga]

I tell students all the time to practice their putting and chipping at a nearby public course. No cost.

[PaulGT3]

The last time I saw my pro I asked what percentage did he suggest for chipping/putting/full shots. This is a city course, and he said 80% on chipping putting and 20% on the range. Then he said "you can come here every day and practice chipping and putting and its absolutely FREE!" So I go 3-4 days a week to practice. During the week I buy maybe 3-4 buckets. But some days I dont. What I do do however is, since its kinda my home course, I pick up the buckets off the range and bring them in and I pick up the garbage and toss it. 95% broken tees and 5% cigarette butts. WHY do smokers just dump trash anywhere? if you can smoke why cant you simply go to the trash can and toss it there instead of the course? Is the course your ash tray?

They told me they appreciate that. It literally takes 5 minutes and every once in awhile they toss me free tokens. So its a symbiotic relationship.

[apprenti23]

I've known of many courses that charge to use the chipping/putting greens if you do not purchase a bucket of range balls or a green fee. I don't blame them.

[27x10.5]

I drive through towns that I don't pay taxes in

[DaveGoodrich]

Super strange thread. You simply walk in to the shop and ask.

 

I would say that this is the "right" answer. But personally, if I even occasionally play the course or pay for range balls, I wouldn't hesitate to occasionally use the practice facilities. But if I used them all the time, I would feel that I should spend some money there (which I would anyway, based on proximity, as mentioned previously).

[Hawkeye77]

Super strange thread. You simply walk in to the shop and ask.

 

I would say that this is the "right" answer. But personally, if I even occasionally play the course or pay for range balls, I wouldn't hesitate to occasionally use the practice facilities. But if I used them all the time, I would feel that I should spend some money there (which I would anyway, based on proximity, as mentioned previously).

 

Yep. I'm surprised at the poll results, maybe the first question should have included the words "with the course's permission" which may be assumed by most who answered.

 

If the course doesn't care, there is no concern, but you don't know without asking.

 

I'm in the camp of asking first and if they said yes and no charge, I guarantee I would be spending some money on something there just as a gesture of thanks.

[Ri_Redneck]

I've done it but I also bought a soda or hot dog, maybe a sleeve of balls once from the kid in the shop. Chat with the pro and make sure they are ok with it.

 

Buy a hat at the end of the season and thank them for letting you use the facilities. You will never have to sweat it or worry about it again.

 

This is how you do it. Never had a problem at any public course with this approach.

 

BT