So a local course here has a range membership for $200 a year. I hem'd and haw'd all year about it and finally we played there on the 4th of July and I got there early and inquired about the membership. Completely unlimited, any time any day, just walk in and help yourself to tokensa nd they pro-rated me for 1/2 the year since it's already July. So for $100 I figure why not.
39 days later I've hit 49 buckets of balls so I think I got my money's worth
I've spent a TON of time on my high irons since I can't hit a 4 iron to save my life and I have discovered a number of little things I had fallen into bad habits on. As I corrected those the 4 and 5 irons were absolutely stunning at the range. High, straight, working the ball a little bit, and L-O-N-G. Like raining a 5 iron down on the stake at 205 long. Now it's hard to tell at a driving range with driving range balls just how accurate that is so yesterday was the first time I've really had the chance to test it out. #5 is a downhill 520 par 5 so I'm licking my chops on the tee box. Pound one down the right side and catch some help from the downhill/hardpack ground and have 218 to the tucked right pin. Ok lie, not really rough but it's that hard ground by the cart path with wispy grass that's definitely going to get between my club and the ball. Ball isn't sitting up enough to get fully under it so it's gonna be that clanker that comes out low with zero spin. Pin is tucked right side behind a bunker so it's a no-go. Front of the green is approach-friendly so I take out 5 iron and figure I'll land it in front and try to roll it on the front of the green.
Hit a laser, get some decent elevation but as expected can't get elevation or any spin. Land 10 feet on the green but proceed to roll through and to the back fringe. My buddies are amazed at 5 iron from there. Even down hill that's way out of my previous range. That would be a hybrid all day long 2 weeks ago. I'm 52 years old, even my fish tales didn't have me hitting 5 iron from there.
I proceeded to 3 putt and stink up the entire front 9 with three doubles for 46 but that shot is all we talked about the rest of the day. Damn game.