[SF_Cardinal_Fan]

[quote author=SF_Cardinal_Fan link=topic=16777.msg192110#msg192110 date=1492800516]
I miss the days when Stanford GC provided (the public) a grass tee driving range.

I was surprised they didn't convert the old varsity hitting area and charge a premium for hitting off the grass. My local range (Mariners Point, Foster City) charges $5 extra to hit off the grass and it's always busy over there.

Personally I don't see much value in it. 95%+ of golfers don't have a good enough swing where it will make a difference, including me.
[/quote]

One unique aspect of Stanford's driving range space is its vast square footage of flat terrain hitting area.
Prior to the era of synthetic mats, due to divot damage, every few days driving range operators would need to move the tee blocks either forward or backward. The worn grass area would then need a month or more to rejuvenate. So , grass range tee blocks are constantly being moved forward, then backward, and within a relatively confined space finding suitable grass (for tee block usage) can be a challenge.
But compared to most driving range hitting areas, Stanford has considerably more space. Specifically, more than 50 yards of level terrain front-to-back hitting area. For decades the Stanford GC driving range hitting area was grass; a beautiful facility in harmony with the golf course itself.

[SF_Cardinal_Fan]

[quote author=SF_Cardinal_Fan link=topic=16777.msg192110#msg192110 date=1492800516]
I miss the days when Stanford GC provided (the public) a grass tee driving range.

I was surprised they didn't convert the old varsity hitting area and charge a premium for hitting off the grass. My local range (Mariners Point, Foster City) charges $5 extra to hit off the grass and it's always busy over there.

Personally I don't see much value in it. 95%+ of golfers don't have a good enough swing where it will make a difference, including me.
[/quote]

One unique aspect of Stanford's driving range space is its vast square footage of flat terrain hitting area.
Prior to the era of synthetic mats, due to divot damage, every few days driving range operators would need to move the tee blocks either forward or backward. The worn grass area would then need a month or more to rejuvenate. So , grass range tee blocks are constantly being moved forward, then backward, and within a relatively confined space finding suitable grass (for tee block usage) can be a challenge.
But compared to most driving range hitting areas, Stanford has considerably more space. Specifically, more than 50 yards of level terrain front-to-back hitting area. For decades the Stanford GC driving range hitting area was grass; a beautiful facility in harmony with the golf course itself.