I am thinking of opening a new practice facility in my area, and I wanted to get some ideas from other golfers. What is your number one most important aspect of a good practice facility?

Scott

Quality of turf and something to hit to (target greens or something to that effect)

Also need to have a big short game area that people won't feel crowded or worried that they might hit someone.

I second the various target green/pin locations to shoot at, from short pitches to long fairway wood shots. Also, I would go out of my way for a full short game practice facility. A place allowing green side work, pitch and putt out, and several sand traps of varying depths. Even a fairway bunker to practice from would be nice.

Another thing, which mostly applies to the what I've seen around here, is to provide ample room to get around the tee areas. Some ranges here have the walking area a little too close to the teeing area, and sometimes you have to wait for a golfer to swing before moving past.

Tough business to try and break into but good luck.

My list, in somewhat of a real order:

1. GOOD range balls. Not limited flight. If the range balls suck I won't go.
2. Flat AND slanted hitting areas.
3. Target greens, marked yardages to targets
4. Practice putting area
5. Practice chipping area
6. Practice bunkers
7. Cafe/snack shop
8. PGA Pro
9. Club cleaning station(s)
10. Check out Zone22 here for range ball equipment http://www.thegolfspace.com/readygolfer
11. Friendly staff

The first thing I really look for in a driving range (here in the central valley there are driving ranges with tiny practice greens, and if you get lucky there may be a bunker to pitch from) is asthetics. Around here there seems to be (to quote clint Eastwood in Heartbreak Ridge)a cluster F**k with our practice facilities. Obviously decent balls are a must, but I would suggest letting guests not feel like sardines in a can, or hurried to get done. I guess, long story short, spread out the driving, pitching and putting areas as much as possible...and maybe layering the driving range for up and downhill driving would be pretty sweet... nothing that I see around my area!

I have to agree with all of Tony's ideas and have to add a club maker. There are 7 driving ranges in my area and at all the golf courses the same thing that Tony has stated. They all send there clients clubs to a drive ranger in Vineland, NJ and I gave this suggestion to the that person to have a club maker on staff. It is working out great for him.