[hictchewisa]

Google Dave Pelz Backyard. It looks like the ultimate practice area to me... (no mowing required)

Yeah, that is definately a dream backyard, I shudder to think how much that would cost though.

[flower-buy]

Short game area with bunker, rough. Lots of green targets at 50 yd increments, plus 25 yd targets.

There is one facility near me that has nice feature...slight hills in the terrain at the yardage markers. That's really nice as it makes it really easy to gauge your distance by weather your ball rolls, over, flys the hills.

When you're done the first, open one near me. :-)

[Kneeniasy]

either a membership or a frequent golfers card or something that entitles em to a bucket after every 10 bought or, having different memberships, ie $350 bucks worth of range balls for say, $200, or $800 for $500...the heated, all-season range by me has 2 different 'golfer card' options and they make out like CRAZY in the winter...and we have 3 (or more) ranges within 10 miles.

I would pay a monthly membership for unlimited practice balls. I would do that over a large one time fee.

[RastusuadegeFrimoum]

I'm thinking garage doors with two bays per door and heatrers over the door for those tweener days in the great white north

I would love a set up like the guy on youtube has, can't recall the name, but the British guy with the glasses that does all the reviews. Indoor bay with the wall that moves away so he can see full outdoor ball flight.

A fitness facility concept is actually somewhat of a brilliant tie-in. No one here even sniffs at the fitness aspect of golf.

[ZZtop]

For the past couple of years, I have been considering starting up a practice facility here in my home-town.

A bit of background about the area. We have 5 local courses. 1 driving range with traps and practice greens. 2 of the courses have driving ranges. We also used to have an indoor "Winter Golf School". It had one simulator, a couple practice greens, and some hitting nets. The indoor facility packed up and moved this past year to the home course of the Pro, which is half an hour away.

I have no experience in this at all, aside from a love of golf. Originally my wife had encouraged me to look into building a range. But with 3 local ranges, I feel like there is maybe a niche market not being served now.

An indoor facility, with greens, some simulators, a launch monitor etc might really serve our market here. Being able to play a round on the simulator was always a treat for me the past couple of years. The day of my brother's wedding we played 18 holes on the sims, and it was a great time.

I am envisioning something that could serve both the avid golfer (with putting greens, varying artificial turfs to hit from, full swing nets, and launch monitor), and the recreational (people who want to use the simulators, perhaps mini-golf).

There is also somewhat of a void in the marketplace here for golf purchases during the winter months. There isn't a local clubfitter. To get clubs gripped, you need to go to a local box store to get it done. I would also like to include re-gripping, and general pro-shop facilities.

Now, what sort of things would you want at an indoor facility?

I would really appreciate any input from anyone who would like to chime in. What would draw you to a facility? What would keep you away?

[Anavaralo]

Its funny, the one outdoor practice facility has a putting green that always has really bad winter kill, every year. You pay to use the facility, and the greens are always closed. I always wondered if it would have been cheaper in the long run to install an artificial green instead of trying to create/grow/maintain a live green.

A practice bunker would be a great idea. Thanks Damaikis.

[Scfdglkn]

A practice bunker would be awesome. According to DawgDaddy, they have one at the PGA SuperStore he visits to try out wedges. I'd love a bunker at a practice facility.