Pardon my ignorance on this topic but how can you get into a course and do that for free? Don't you have to buy a bucket of balls to even practice any of that?

Nope. Public courses allow players to practice their short game for free on and around the green. If it facilitates interest in the game it is more likely to lead to them buying buckets of balls and rounds on the course.

There is some etiquette involved, but most of it is common sense. Don't hit near where others are practicing, and don't monopolize several holes while putting if a lot of people are on the green. Don't hit longer pitch shots that will leave ball marks in the green if you can avoid it, because although you can fix it, it's still damage to the putting surface.

If you have a suitable surface for the activity, a drill you can do at home is chip into an opened and overturned umbrella.

I can attest to this theory...

That's exactly how I started, trying to rip it big and it messed up my swing from woods to wedges, eventually I realized I had to go smooth until I consistently hit it straight and with the right loft, and then I started punishing the ball 😃

I can hit 300 w my drive now pretty consistently, not bragging, just reinforcing what Hamas said, get a good motion, then ramp it up as you progress

If you think your swing speed is the problem, maybe you need a stronger shaft(absolutely no pun intended)

When I went to Golfsmith, they told me my shaft needed to be custom for my driver, because I generate too much torque...

They were probably just trying to upsell me, but it's working for me

Most or atleast some courses will have a short game green tok thag you can hit shots into.

Thanks. I went to Golf Headquarters last night and told them what was going on. They really seemed to think it was an issue with my swing, but mainly striking the ball on the heel of the driver. Which has happened, but not often. I ended up buying a new King Cobra LTD last night, going to give it a try. Hopefully this one works out better.

Thanks for the answers.

Hamas, are you saying I just go onto the course somewhere and find a hole no one is using and practice there? Or is there a small green and chipping area near the range?

Up around the clubhouse therr will be a putting green, maybe a short game green around there somewhere that's free for anyone.

They're likely to have a range plan where you pay so much per year for unlimited balls.

Pain in the ass trying to divine what local membership rates are around here.

Except for Hillcrest, for obvious reasons.

Don't look now, but if Mickelson birdies 18 he'll shoot 62.

The golf gods just don't want anyone to shoot 62 LMAO

That putt missing with 6 inches to go is beyond explanation.

Went left the entire way, and somehow squeezes right.

It's one thing to lip out for 59 at Phoenix, it's another to lip out from 16 feet for the all time scoring record in a major.

Sick.

Also, most course have a practice green for chipping and putting. I stop by on my way home from work quite often just to practice chipping and putting.

Stenson has been a machine this week. He is going to be very, very tough to beat.