Why not more free driving range privilages before a round?

[phil17]

I am just wondering why so many courses do not have free driving range privileges before you go. I know some courses offer use of there driving range before you go out (like at Willow Valley they give you the token for your balls, that you put into the machine). In my opinion all golf courses should have a driving range and they should give you a small bucket or something small to warm up with before the rounds. I know when I played willow valley and warmed up at the range before, I hit a lot better drives because I have many practice drives to warm up. So the question is why does not every place do this? I know some courses that have a range but still charge for range balls are a separate cost. Although the obvious reason for this is that they want to make more $ off there range, I think that all courses should have a range that offers a free small bucket of balls with a green fee. People would get warmed up and enjoy there day more and It makes the green fee a more attractive package with hardly any extra cost to the owners of the course. Just thought that I would offer my opinion. Also does anyone else know any descent priced courses that offer free practice balls before your round?

[westbeach]

Here's a question for you. Say you played a course for 20 years and the price stays the same. Range balls are always included. Then one day, they decided to take the range balls out of it. The price still stays the same. What would your opinion be?

A lot of time, price of the extra ammenities you're getting is priced in. Ie. if you played a course with carts included for say $75. If one day, they made carts optional, odds are their green fees would drop. So for the people who like to walk, they don't have to pay the "built-in" price of the cart. With your example, golfers who don't hit range balls before their round is "rewarded" by not having to pay the built-in range balls cost.

[phil17]

The range balls would be a extra cost of about $2 and there would be no reason for the course to charge anymore. Willow valley gives you a small amount of balls maybe 25 or 30 but it is nice to practice before. There should be no reason to raise green fees because because you let someone shoot off a really small bucket of balls before ( Im sure the courses would make up the extra $, because more people would play there). And I do not know many people would would turn down a free chance to get some practice in before playing ( unless you are in a hurry to play, and in that case you are playing the wrong sport).

[westbeach]

If I don't want to hit balls before I play and money conscious, I would probably play a course at a cost of $62 as oppose to $67. As for $2 range balls, I really have no idea where you can go for that?

[Dan_L]

I didnt even get my token today at willow.

Id like to see the range free but I only normally see it free at private courses.

[KaiShin]

I really don't think rolling a bucket of balls in with the green fee would increase traffic at the course. I'm willing to bet that for most people it just isn't a big issue, and their decision on whether or not to play the course is based on other factors like price, quality, etc.

[phil17]

I really don't think rolling a bucket of balls in with the green fee would increase traffic at the course. I'm willing to bet that for most people it just isn't a big issue, and their decision on whether or not to play the course is based on other factors like price, quality, etc.

If im deciding to play and I have 2 courses i want to go to and both are very close together in price, and both are great courses I would go to the one that offers free range balls and that would be the final deciding factor for me.IMO the best wat to get golfers to your course is to provide good value for there $, and by giving people a small amount of balls to practice before there round this improves the value of the course, and IMO makes me want to go back.

[Pingnut]

I think some of the courses that charge for balls on the range also let people just hit range balls without paying a green fee (I like to practice at courses more than I do at ranges) - so if there was no charge, they'd be losing that revenue. I'll agree that having range balls included is nice and it often factors into decisions on where to play.

[Focker Singh]

I think its simply a management/marketing decision. Higher end course such as Angus Glen, Bond Head, Eagles Nest, etc. include it cause they want to make it an "experience", "all inclusive". They also charge a lot higher rate than your average $60 course and the range cost to them is already fixed into the green fee. Also, its just marketing. To say "FREE range" would attract you and I more likely than a course that just says "range included with green fee".

A range is very expensive to maintain, you have to hire atleast one extra employee to collect/clean balls. Ball washers, ball retreivers, mats, tee`s etc etc. You have to mow, fert and maintain the range so it keeps in good condition. These costs all add up and of course there`s the obvious reason of increasing your margin.

[Ego Woods]

its simple economics and applies to many things, not just golf courses.

Why do u have to pay extra for options when buying a car or paying extra for upgrades on a new home? Cuz some ppl don't want to pay for them and would rather pay a basic price to save $$. Everything that is extra costs money and nothing is ever entirely free. You will be paying for it in some way or the other.

[westbeach]

its simple economics and applies to many things, not just golf courses.

Why do u have to pay extra for options when buying a car or paying extra for upgrades on a new home? Cuz some ppl don't want to pay for them and would rather pay a basic price to save $$. Everything that is extra costs money and nothing is ever entirely free. You will be paying for it in some way or the other.

Well said.

[bythehour]

It may even be better to "price in" the range use. I find that, more often than not, I don't make full use of the facilities.

I'm usually scrambling to get to the course for weekday client golf. I don't have enough time to use the range.

Hence, if the club prices its fees assuming that everyone uses the range, but only 60% to 80% do, they're making extra money!

[westbeach]

It may even be better to "price in" the range use. I find that, more often than not, I don't make full use of the facilities.

I'm usually scrambling to get to the course for weekday client golf. I don't have enough time to use the range.

Hence, if the club prices its fees assuming that everyone uses the range, but only 60% to 80% do, they're making extra money!

True but the psychology of course charging $48 as oppose to $53 must also be a factor.

[bythehour]

True but the psychology of course charging $48 as oppose to $53 must also be a factor.

$48 vs. $53 may be material to some. However, $85 vs. $90 (for say, Pheasant Run or Silver Lakes) is probably not going to change the minds of those who play there now...

[phil17]

A range is very expensive to maintain, you have to hire atleast one extra employee to collect/clean balls. Ball washers, ball retreivers, mats, tee`s etc etc. You have to mow, fert and maintain the range so it keeps in good condition. These costs all add up and of course there`s the obvious reason of increasing your margin.

I am mainly talking about courses that already have ranges but do not gice free range balls with a green fee. I understand that some courses can not afford to add a range onto there course ( althouhg it pays for itself after awile and will make you more profit), But I am mainly talking about courses that have ranges and still charge for balls. These courses already have the facilities and all these balls are just sitting around anyways not being used so is it really such a big deal to throw in about 25 range balls for a warm-up. Of course in the end it is all about the course making more profit, but is it really that big of a deal to give your cutomers a really small bucket of balls to warm up with at your range, When they have already paid good $ to play at your course.

[duffer den]

My take on all of this is slightly different, though along similar lines. Having range balls included with the green fee is great and a nice bonus but I do not expect it, except maybe at higher end courses. What I would like to see, though, is a warm up option - that is rare I find. That is, a warm up bucket for $2 or $3 that allows you to hit maybe 20 or 25 balls, work through your set with one or two shots, and actually warm up. Most of the time I go to the course as a single so sharing a small or large bucket isn't usually an option, though that would be a good approach for many who play with a partner or foursome. Being cost conscious, spending $5 or $6 on a small bucket just so that I can warm up isn't really a good way to go - I am not there to practice, I am there to warm up for my round.

Some examples of courses more local to me, from their web sites, are as follows:

Cambridge - warm up (30 balls) $3
Grey Silo - $4 per token (25-30 balls). For the Sunset rate of $25 a range token is included.
Oaks of St. George - warm up (20 balls) $2

I like the last option at Oaks the most - that is what I am talking about. It also answers westbeach's question of where you can go for $2 range balls! I have not played Oaks but will hope to this summer/fall. Just seeing that option of warm up range balls is a check mark in my mind for the course.

I would agree, though, that having the fee included is not really something I want, just like when a course includes the cart. I want a green fee for my golf only - anything else let me pay for it and give me the option. Even with my comments above about warm up range balls, there are times where I don't want, or need, this, but having the *option* is nice.

[jayda]

Or set up a pratice cage/net like Cresthaven or Markham Green for warm up...