Getting Myself to Braemar
Okay, so I finally got around to checking out Braemar Golf Course over in Edina the other day. I’d heard a few folks mention it, and I was looking for a spot to just, you know, hit some balls and work on my, uh, “game.” So, I just decided to head over. Getting there wasn’t too bad, pretty straightforward drive, which is always a good start for me. Found a parking spot without any drama, which, believe me, is a win in my book.
First Impressions and Hitting the Range
Walked into the main building, the pro shop area, I guess. Seemed decent enough, clean and all that. My main mission was the driving range. I really needed to iron out some kinks, or at least try to. So, I went up to the counter, grabbed a large bucket of balls. The fella there got me sorted pretty quick, no fuss.
Then I headed out to the range itself. They had a good number of spots, so I didn’t have to wait around, which was nice. I just wanted to get swinging. Honestly, those first few swings were a bit of a disaster. Topped a few, sliced a couple into the next county. Standard stuff when I haven’t played in a bit. But I stuck with it, tried to focus on what I was (supposedly) doing. After a while, I started to hit a few decent ones. You know that feeling when you actually connect properly? Yeah, had a couple of those, mixed in with plenty of the usual duffs and shanks. The mats were alright, and they had some flags out there to aim at, which helps.
Checking Out the Short Game Area
After I’d emptied most of my bucket and my back was starting to complain, I figured I’d wander over to their short game practice area. I saw they had a putting green and a spot for chipping. The putting green looked pretty well-kept. I spent about twenty minutes there, just trying to get a feel for the speed. My putting, man, it’s always an adventure. Sank a couple of short ones, three-putted a bunch from longer range. Classic. The chipping area was useful too. I spent a little time there trying to hit those little touch shots. Definitely need more practice with those.
Here’s what stood out from my practice session:
- The driving range had plenty of space, so I wasn’t cramped.
- Getting a bucket of balls was quick and easy.
- The putting green seemed to roll pretty true.
- It was a good spot just to work on things without much pressure.
Wrapping It Up
So, after a couple of hours, I was pretty much done. My hands were getting a bit sore, and I felt like I’d hit enough bad shots for one day, mixed with a few that gave me a glimmer of hope. Didn’t hang around the clubhouse or anything, just packed up my gear and headed off. Overall, Braemar served its purpose for me. It’s a solid facility if you’re looking to practice. Nothing too over-the-top fancy about the practice areas I used, but they’ve got what you need. I’d probably go back when I need to just grind it out on the range again. Yeah, it was a decent enough outing to try and not embarrass myself too much next time I actually play a round.
