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Yes.
I’m tired of paying $15 for a bucket of those yellow rocks they call “balls”. But that’s just me. I want to hear from you.
Are you overpaying for range balls? Do you think they should be free? Take this short survey and let us know what you think.
Connor is MyGolfSpy's resident sneakerhead and the authority on all things golf shoe performance. He's tested over 150 different pairs (and counting). When he isn't scrolling Twitter to find his next golf shoe purchase, you can find him at the piano or trying a new dessert place with his wife and daughter. #Lefty
| Driver Callaway ELYTE Mini | Hybrid Cobra KING TEC |
| Irons Titleist T250 | Wedges Titleist Vokey SM10 |
| Putter PING Scottsdale Prime Tyne | Ball Bridgestone TOUR BX |
2 years ago
The bigger problem is starting to be even finding a range. Most of them by me have been bought out and turned into housing developments. Even the ones that are left have been shrunk to the point where you have to use those awful limited flight balls.
2 years ago
I manage a public golf course. Last year we started with 5,000 new range balls, at the end of the year I had 1,500. $5 for a small bucket of 30 balls is not a lot to pay if you want to keep the cost of a round of golf down, we are $45.
2 years ago
I think $5 is reasonable. When its $10+ for a small bucket, sheesh.
2 years ago
I find the quality of most Driving Range Balls inferior and if I can find some in the edge of a pond or off the course in the weeds, I will save them because I can practice in my yard which is 10 acres of land I just hit em at home, then send the grandkids out when they visit me and pay them a dime or a quarter for each one of those found and returned to Grandpa…Life is good when you can reward those little ones, and who knows they too can practice and take up the Royal Game of the Scotts…OH, did mention that my last name was MacGregor?
2 years ago
I know of one course in my area that includes unlimited range balls before your round. Another offers an annual “range membership” that’s a pretty good deal if you’re going to go multiple times per week, but the range itself is poorly maintained and they use a random assortment of found balls. Long story short I put a net in my garage.
2 years ago
I don’t mind paying for a bucket of balls but they should have quality control.
2 years ago
Agreed. Better quality.
2 years ago
I usually just buy a couple dozen of brand new cheap balls for about $10 a dozen and hit those on the course from different situations.
Ranges are a waste of time and money.
2 years ago
Why should they be “free”? Connor, do you work for free? EVERYTHING costs something, & somewhere along the line, someone will end up paying for them
2 years ago
I believe range balls should be free for all golfers prior to or after a paid round of golf. Whether increasing the greens fee or just including as warming up should not cost extra.
2 years ago
I agree that the profit margin is outrageous on range balls, particularly for my local courses that have no cover, old mats, old balls, and, obviously, no technology. A small bucket should be included with an 18-hole round, in my opinion. It’s all marketing. No one pays for small because medium is only a dollar or two more, but large is three or four dollars more than a medium. You’re meant to pay for medium. Like the course that includes the cart with the green fee – you can walk if you want, but you’re paying the same price. I only play there two or three times a month because it’s more of a drive, but I’ve never seen a walker in the two years I’ve been going.
2 years ago
However balls are paid for as part of a daily fee, annual fee or membership the cost of range balls needs to be covered. The course I normally play at replaces the balls annually at the beginning of the main golf season in the late spring. They are good quality new balls. The cost is included in my annual pass. Those that pay a daily fee must pay for range balls separately. Nothing is free. Charging all daily fee players for range balls only raises the green fee. I would rather players have the option of paying for range balls if they desire.
2 years ago
I will caveat my response with the fact that I am only talking about on course Ranges. At my stand alone Range, I can get 175 good quality range balls for $15, good mats, heated stalls in Winter and Fans for Summer. Many Public courses will charge $10 bucks for 25 crappy lake/found balls of dubious age and quality. Along with mats that are nothing more than a piece of indoor/outdoor carpet on a slab of cement, with rubber tees that are broken or missing. And that is on top of the Green fee that can be $75-100.
2 years ago
The range i use (Sandy Springs, Ga) installed Top tracer, new balls and half is covered from the sun /rain. Large bucket is 120 balls for $17.00. I think that’s a good deal since you can actually work on your game with real time feedback. it’s been a few months since they got the new balls and now they’re looking little rough but still not bad compared to other places.
2 years ago
No . But $5 for 50 balls . $10. 100 balls.
Premium balls . Not the junk balls. Nothing gained by bad balls.
2 years ago
Golf is a business and golf’s business is to make money. Running and maintaining a range cost a considerable amount of money. Just like any other business a golf course or golf range must implement proven businesses practices to ensure financial viability. The cost of balls should be directly related to the quality of the practice facility. If it is a well maintained facility with high quality premium golf balls then you should be prepared to pay a premium price. If it is a budget facility that is not well maintained then the cost should be offered at a discount rate.
No one is mandated to practice golf before, after or separate from a round of golf. This is the golfers decision so if you really have a problem with the cost of range balls then simply vote with your feet.
2 years ago
I was fortunate enough to grow up playing a private course where the balls were free. I do believe that they should cost something, bit I think that $5 for a decent bucket is good enough.
2 years ago
If it’s really good grass with decent range balls that fly properly, I don’t mind paying, but paying $15 for worn rocks on mats is unconscionable
2 years ago
I think it would be appropriate to offer a small “warm up bucket” of maybe thirty balls with green fee purchases. That seems reasonable. But if you’re just going to practice for an hour or two, I think paying for the bucket of balls is a fair trade for the effort and expense of range upkeep. As for the price, I’m typically a medium bucket guy and wouldn’t want to pay more than $12-13 for that size bucket. Going somewhere that has TopTracer or Trackman in the bays, I’d be willing to pay a bit more. That’s my two cents.
2 years ago
I often go to a driving range only facility to practice. The facilities are grass unless for inclement weather. They put in a lot of effort to maintain the grass as they often have people waiting in line to get a spot and it is a very large facility. I think their prices are quite reasonable and fair. It is a well run facility and staff is very helpful and friendly. This facility is located in Carrollton, TX. As a result of the terrible windstorm we experienced several months ago, the facility closed for two months to make repairs, the facility had major damage. Looking forward to its reopening.
2 years ago
They shouldn’t be free because of all of the other costs associated with them, like needing to be replaced, the machines used to pick them up, the machines used to distribute them, the mats, general upkeep of the range, and if you’re lucky enough to hit off of grass, that’s another cost. There’s no such thing as a free lunch – SOMEBODY has to pay to keep things running.
2 years ago
I agree they should not be free. But I also agree they cost too much. I worked at a golf course as a cart attendant in high school. Part of the job was picking the range, throwing balls through a cleaner, then bagging them up. Machinery was literally an OLLLLLLD golf cart that cost almost nothing (paid for years ago), and an attachment that hooked on to the cart. They mowed it once a week (took maybe an hour). Their profit margins are pretty dang high for the $72 a WEEK the course spent on picking and mowing.
2 years ago
Golf in any form has significant operating costs.
I do believe that any product should be top shelf quality to create value.
At hi end golf courses practice balls are usually included. Don’t be fooled, you’re paying for them somewhere.
If they don’t get you with the popcorn, they get you with the peanuts 😉
2 years ago
In Thailand new range balls go for $1.25 for 40 balls. At the course found balls go for$1.50 for the same, used to be free for members. Do the math.
2 years ago
The problem is that in most cases, the answer is “it depends.” I go to a couple of ranges where they replace the balls every year, mats every couple, have grass, have actual green complexes and bunkers on the range, and charge anywhere from $6 for 40 balls up to $15 for 150. Completely reasonable if you ask me.
I then go to some course ranges where the “range” is basically an area of lower than usual cut grass, a bucket of toss-away balls that they found on the course and that have been used since the Clinton administration and they charge $6 for 20 balls. Not worth it.
Lastly, should range balls be included in greens fees? Well…..it depends on what the greens fees are. a $35 muni? No. A $70+ daily fee course? Yes.
2 years ago
The profit margin on range balls, at least at the public courses and ranges I frequent, is rather outrageous. Especially so given the ratty condition of the balls. There is, however one exception. The exception comes in the form of a range that recently installed a trackman in every bay and upped their prices by $3 a bucket to $13 which strikes me as reasonable. If the balls were a bit less worn, that might actually constitue a good deal.
2 years ago
Agreed, just moved from MN where a large bucket could be up to $20…… for cracked balls. I don’t mind the crappy balls as much as throwing an extra $15+ just to warm up for a course charging $145. Just moved to Charlotte and seems like much of the same. Hoping to buy a club membership and not worry about it anymore
JJ
2 years ago
Range cost was part of my justification for the Rapsodo MLM2Pro purchase. I still won’t like when I get a $200 annual subscription charge just for it not to be a paperweight but between travel time to and from the range and the cost of a bucket of balls, I will be ahead. I haven’t seen a jar out to tip the person who collects the balls on the range. That must be coming soon.