Maximize your driving range tee!

As many of you know, the driving range tee at Highland Meadows is very small relative to the amount of usage.  Year after year we struggle with keeping enough grass for members to practice on.  With Jamie Farr taking a year off, we have been fortunate to keep members on fresh grass most of the season.  However, as the season progresses, we are more than halfway through our available hitting surface.  With the summer heat in full swing, we are at a  point where growing new grass is not very likely even with our regular sanding and seeding of the surface.  That being said, there are some basic concepts that members can use to minimize the amount of damage they cause when practicing.

Below are some pictures of our range tee and below you will find a good short article from the USGA on how to "Practice Like a Pro".  The idea is simple.  When you take a divot, place your next shot directly behind the prior divot.  That way, the amount of grass removed will only be what the ball was sitting on.  You will get the same response as if taking a full divot, but your club will pass through the previous divot without removing even more grass.  Following this idea, you shouldn't wipe out more than a couple of square feet of turf even with an extended practice session.

In order to have grass to hit from, it will take a little effort from all of us.  Please also note that for the rest of the summer, we will be using the mats once or twice a week to stretch the tee as far as possible. 

The link to the USGA article is below.  Take a couple of minutes to read through it. 

Here's a shot from our range tee.  Look at the amount of grass left in between all the random divots.

Here's a spot where the player maximized their space.  No wasted grass here.

And the classic complaint.  On days when we are on the mats, stay on the mats!

Click here for the USGA article "Practice Like a Pro".