Chip Putt Practice Area
A chip putt practice area is a practice facility for the short game with a chipping area and putting green.
The chip putt practice area is part of the training infrastructure of many golf facilities, alongside the driving range and practice bunkers. It usually consists of one or more practice greens with flags, surrounded by areas of different grass heights. From there you practice chips, pitches and putting on a real green instead of just hitting balls onto the range. Some facilities add practice bunkers and approach zones from 30 to 80 meters. For beginners, the chip putt practice area is often the first contact with real course conditions.
In practice, it is best to use the facility with a plan instead of aimless ball hitting. An example: ten balls from the semi-rough to one flag, then ten balls from the short grass to a second, followed by ten putts from three and six meters. This is how you train stroke lengths and green reading in one session. The short game decides your score more than the tee shot, and this is exactly where you lay the foundation. The course certificate courses also spend a large part of their time on practice areas like this.
Typical misconception: the chip putt practice area is only something for beginners. The opposite is true; even very good players spend most of their practice time here, because strike quality in the short game converts most directly into strokes. Second mistake: hours of putting without pressure. Build in small games, for example holing three putts in a row from changing distances, otherwise you practice without the stress the round brings. Whether a facility has such a practice area is shown in the features of the golf courses in the directory.
FAQ
Can I practice on a chip putt practice area without a membership?
At many facilities the practice areas are also open to guests, often for a daily fee or in combination with a range card. The rules differ from course to course, so a quick look at the facility's website or a call to the club office is worthwhile. Similar to the driving range, there are often taster offers for beginners as well.
How do I train most sensibly on the chip putt practice area?
With a fixed plan instead of aimless ball hitting: for example ten chips from the higher grass to one flag, ten from the short grass to a second, followed by putts from three and six meters. This is how you train stroke lengths and green reading in one session. Build in small games with target goals so that the practice pressure resembles that of the round.
Is practicing on the driving range enough, or do I need the chip putt practice area?
The range alone is not enough, because the majority of your strokes in a round happen within fifty meters of the hole. You can only train these distances on a real green from real lies — the short game decides your score more than any tee shot. Anyone who regularly chips and putts lowers their score faster than the eternal range hitter.