| If you are just starting to learn to play golf then | | | | In most cases, as the name suggests, you will be |
| one place which you are going to become very | | | | using you larger clubs on the range, including |
| familiar with is your local golf driving range. Indeed, | | | | naturally your driver, but there is no reason at all |
| even if you have been playing the game for | | | | why you should not practice with any of your |
| some time you will still return to the driving range | | | | irons and can play the ball from both the tee and |
| from time to time to practice new techniques and | | | | the mat itself because the artificial turf used |
| to sharpen up your skills. | | | | provides a good approximation of hitting your ball |
| Driving ranges tend to be very similar in design | | | | from the real grass of the fairway. |
| with a typical range accommodating anywhere | | | | The most important thing to remember when |
| from 30 to 50 golfers each with their own | | | | using the range is that your practice session must |
| individual driving 'stall' separated off with wooden | | | | have a clear purpose and you will be wasting your |
| or metal barriers. | | | | time if you simply hit balls as quickly and as hard |
| Inside each stall you will find a bucket containing | | | | as you can down the range. |
| 50 to 100 practice golf balls, depending on the | | | | Decide before you start just what you wish to |
| range, and an artificial grass mat which is generally | | | | practice in a particular session and remember that |
| about 6 feet square and includes an integral | | | | the object should be to learn how to use each of |
| rubber tee. | | | | your clubs and to perfect your technique so that |
| As you stand on your 'teeing ground' and look | | | | you can get your ball to fly the distance you |
| down the range you will find that it is marked | | | | want it to go and land on a predetermined target. |
| with a series of distance poles which normally | | | | At the end of the day it really doesn't matter |
| start at 75 yards and extend out to 250 yards or | | | | how much power you can get into your swing or |
| more at 25 yard intervals. In some cases you will | | | | how far you can get your ball to go. What really |
| also find a simulated green area at the far end of | | | | matters is being able to control your ball so that it |
| the range with flagpoles to provide you with a | | | | goes the distance you want it to and lands on a |
| target to aim at. | | | | specific target. |