What are the most important considerations when a builder is setting up a golf course driving range?

Ideally a driving range should be a golf learning center. This can include a putting green, some practice bunkers, possibly a place for some indoor lessons.

The nicer your practice facility, the better positioned you will be at attracting new members, especially if you are a private club. It really is a benefit and an asset. If we can do something more than just a driving range, it will serve the golf course well.

What are the kinds of things you look at when setting up an exceptional driving range?

In this day and age, with the developments of technology, we often have to set up the range to be about 330 yards long because people are simply driving the ball that much farther these days.

So we start with a driving range, then we like to set up an area at the back of the tee where we can set up mats. This is helpful because sometimes you may need to work on the driving area and you might want the turf to be able to recuperate.

We also like to see a good putting area that is about 10,000 – 15,000 square feet.

We also encourage some sort of short game facility. That could be another practice green that would have some chipping areas, some practice bunkers, something that you could hit something 20 – 60 yards.

We generally try to provide some sort of a facility that would allow you to practice all aspects of the game, including: Driving, chipping, putting and sand shots.

I’m sure safety has to be an important consideration when you are setting these up?

Orientation is obviously important and you have to be able to have the space to set it up right. We generally would not want to have a driving range that would have a golf hole or the clubhouse or houses on the right side of the range, the slice side of the hole. So we always try to separate that a little bit.

What about driving range nets?

When ever possible, we try to put the practice facility where we don’t have to put nets. It’s a little more expensive so if we can set up a range by just using the land, it’s much better.

What about how the range stalls are set up and the design of actual facility?

There’s some common sense issues like circulation on and around the teeing area, things that we do about radiusing the tee (pointing the tee a little left of center), looking at the overall orientation, the prevailing winds, the rising or the setting sun. Ideally we would like to set the range up to the northeast – we don’t like it pointing directly to the east or the west.

We also like to set up some target greens down the range so that there is something interesting for people to aim for.

What about considerations for the actual landing area? There can be problems with the golf balls getting beat up if the surface of the driving range is not in good condition. Problems like rocky surfaces, poor drainage, etc.

This is really a function of turf quality and maintenance and proper construction. You want to make sure that rocks and debris are removed before you put the seed in the ground. You need to also make sure that you have a quality stand of grass out there. Irrigation, fertilizer, maintenance and drainage are all important to make sure you have good healthy turf.

Any other considerations that a developer should consider when they are developing a driving range?

I think if people are thinking about a practice facility they should find themselves an architect, someone who can work them through the process of developing more than just a driving range, something that includes a practice facility. I would encourage them to get detailed plans and work out all the details of drainage and safety issues.

You can see the complete golf course design article as well as the mP3 audio interview at Golf Course Designers Herfort Norby

Colin Goehring
http://www.articlesbase.com/ask-an-expert-articles/golf-course-driving-range-design-127547.html

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Fastly I need a graceful joke on it for a formal party

Here’s a good one:

What’s the difference between a woman making a 15 foot putt and a man making a 15 foot putt?

Ans: In the clubhouse after the round, the man will describe the putt as a "slippery, downhill 30 footer with all kinds of break" and a woman will ask, ".. did I make a 9 or a 10 on that hole?"

Sam approached the clerk behind the counter in the pro shop and said, "I would like 18 holes of golf and a caddie."

The clerk behind the counter says, "The 18 holes of golf is no problem, but all of the caddies are out on the course. What I will do for you is this. We just got 8 brand new robot golf caddies. If you’re willing to take one with you out on the course and if you will come back and tell me how well it works, your round of golf is on me today."

Sam anxiously accepted the man’s offer.

He approached the first tee, looked at the fairway and said to himself, "I think my driver will do the job."

The robot caddie turned to the man and said, "No sir. Use your #3 wood. A driver is far too much club for this hole."

Hesitantly, Sam pulled out his #3 wood, made good contact with the ball, and the ball landed about 10 feet to the right front of the hole on the green. Delighted, turned to the robot and thanked him for his assistance.

As Sam pulled out his putter, he said, "I think this green is gonna break left to right."

The robot then again spoke up and said, "No sir. I do believe this green will break right to left."

Thinking about the last time the robot corrected his prediction, he decided again to listen to the machine. He made his putt and birdied the hole thanks to the robot and his advice.

His luck didn’t end there, his entire game was the best game he ever played, thanks to the assistance of the new robot golf caddie.

Upon returning to the clubhouse, the clerk behind the counter asked, "How was your game?"

Sam excitedly stated, "It was, by far, the BEST game I ever played. Thank you very much for letting me take one of your robots. See you next week."

A week passed, and excited, Sam returned to the pro shop.

Upon entering the pro shop he turned to the man behind the counter and said, "I would like 18 holes of golf and one of those robot golf caddies, please."

The gentleman from behind the counter turned to Sam and said, "Well, the 18 holes is no problem. However, we had to get rid of the robots. We had too many complaints."

Confused, Sam cried, "COMPLAINTS? Who in the hell could’ve complained about those robots? They were incredible!"

The clerk sighed and said, "Well, it wasn’t their performance. It was that they were shiny silver metal, and the glare from the machine was blinding to other golfers on the fairway."

Sam said, "So then why didn’t you just paint them black?"

The clerk nodded sadly and replied, "We did. And then four of ‘em didn’t show up for work, two filed for welfare, and the other two robbed the pro shop."

LMAO. hahahahahaha… ohhh you’re in trouble, you’re a wanted guy with them blacks. LOL, still stalking you, LOL..

It’s brilliant to use! But on the golf game, although I can whack the balls down the fairway I can’t get the hang of gently putting it into the hole to get onto the next round so my handicap is enormous! Has anyone got any tips on how to gently putt? Thanks!

Easy as putt…y (no pun intended). On the green, (or whenever using the put) just swing back A LITTLE and then bring the club down up to the moment it makes contact with the ball at the height of your shoes/toes – don’t follow through with a SWING as that will be interpreted by the Console as a Drive and you’ be fetching the ball on the other side of the clubhouse!

This is a question about the songs, does anybody anywhere know the song that was played when Happy and chubbs were playing mini golf, when chubbs was training him for the final tourney on the putt putt mini golf?

I’m not entirely sure what was playing at that time but I found the soundtrack listing and I will cut out the one’s I know it isn’t which should narrow it down a bit. If it’s the same song playing in the credits that is: * "Tuesday’s Gone"
Performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd

* "Carry On Wayward Son"
Performed by KANSAS

* "Magic"
Performed by PILOT

* "Kiss You All Over"
Performed by EXILE

* "Happy Day"
Performed by UNCANNY ALLIANCE

"Jump Around"
Performed by HOUSE OF PAIN

* "Rock and Roll Part 2"
Performed by Gary Glitter

* "Green Onions"
Performed by BOOKER T. & THE MG’S

* "Wooly Bully"
Performed by SAM THE SHAM & THE PHAROAHS

* "Money (That’s What I Want)"

* "Vidyekhom Svyet Istinly"
Performed by Siavyanka men’s Chorus

* "Clubhouse Pie-ano"
Written & Performed by Sourcerer

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