I went to the range yesterday. I parked, grabbed my clubs, walked to the club house, put my clubs down outside, went in to get my range balls, and then walked over to one of the hitting bays and set my stuff down. I'm standing behind the bay getting my glove,putting wallet/phone in bag, etc. and this woman asks me if I plan to use the bay.I said, "well I was planning to" and at the same time I realized a large pink cart bag had been sitting behind and to the side of the bay. She'd put her bag down to hold the bay, and then gone inside to get her golf balls.I started to say "I can move" but she picked up her bag and balls and walked to another bay. It wasn't crowded and she didn't make a federal case out of it so it really wasn't a big deal.

But what's the etiquette here. Is it really right to put your stuff down to 'claim a bay' when you're not even ready to hit? I mean, either you're at the range and ready to hit, or you're not.

Either way. I dont do it if its really crowded, but respect the fact that other people do. I wouldn't move someones bag or anything.

I don't see the big deal if it isn't crowded. I would make sure my bag was in a spot that made it obvious that I was using, or intended to use, the bay.

During the hotter times of the year I have left my bag at my spot while getting something to drink or sitting in a cooler spot for a minute or two. Obviously if the range is crowded I would move my stuff and find a new spot when I am ready start again. The range I frequent has a machine for balls between the parking lot and deck so your particular scenario wouldn't really occur.

May not have rules there, but we have them here damnit

I don't see a problem with it and I do it quite often.

However, I do it when I'm hitting balls before I tee off. I don't want to wait on a bay at the range and then rush to warm-up and run over to the tee box.

If it's just a range session I'll just wait it out, but prior to tee times I'll drop my stuff off and go get balls.

I think it is poor form to put your bag at a spot on the range before getting your bucket of balls, but if it's not full, then it doesn't really matter.

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I think it is poor form to put your bag at a spot on the range before getting your bucket of balls, but if it's not full, then it doesn't really matter.

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Agreed

Yep, if it's not full, it doesn't matter. If it is full, you should be ready to roll when claiming one.

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I think it is poor form to put your bag at a spot on the range before getting your bucket of balls, but if it's not full, then it doesn't really matter.

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i feel the same way about eat at places where you order and then sit down. don't send 1 person in your party to snag a table while others wait in line and order for you.

Ha I was going to use that an example but was too lazy to type it.

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May not have rules there, but we have them here damnit

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Is this a serious thread?

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May not have rules there, but we have them here damnit

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I feel the same way at the gym when someone "claims" a piece of equipment by putting their towel on the seat and goes off talking to someone. Or, better yet, when someone claims more than one equipment station and moves back and forth between stations.

Ehh, if I see an open range bay (especially at memorial park) I'll place my bag then go get a bucket. but I also get the bucket and come right back. I don't dilly dally

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Ehh, if I see an open range bay (especially at memorial park) I'll place my bag then go get a bucket. but I also get the bucket and come right back. I don't dilly dally

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Yep. I do this all the time there.

Interesting, I've never thought it to be an issue for someone to put their bag at a bay before getting their balls.

Now that I think about it, though, I've only done that if the facility is set up to where you have to walk past the range to get to the clubhouse. Otherwise it doesn't make sense to lug your clubs all the way past the range to the clubhouse then backtrack. Just leave the clubs there then go get your balls.

But, if you have to go through the clubhouse first, then yeah, I think it's kind of BS to go out of the way to claim a bay then go get your balls, especially if it's busy. But if it's not busy, I don't think it's a big deal at all.