Narrative Golf Zone is asking to amend the request of netting at the back of its driving range and operate
as they have for the last 60 days. The netting is asked to be put up at 230 yards to stop balls
from entering the wetlands, which start at 400 yards away. We have had over 6000 golfers hit
over an estimated 10 million balls in the last 60 days and 100% have not exceeded 300 yards.
Many facts will explain why hitting over the 300 yard mark doesn't happen. The average golfer
who hits his driver, which is the longest club in the golf bag averages a 208 yard carry which will
have a total distance of 222 yards versus a PGA tour player who has a 275 yd carry and a 305
yd total, (facts taking from Trackman Technologies) therefore either player would not be able to
make it to the wetlands from the hitting area. Also, the use of driving range balls which are only a
one piece ball that has less dimples and inner core which travels 5-10 yards less versus a real
golf ball that is a four or five piece ball and when hit in colder temperatures has a one yard loss
for every ten degrees in change, which means during our winter hours our range balls are travel
an additional 4-7 yards less, making it impossible to reach the wetland area. Furthemore, balls
are 100% clean picked on a daily basis by machine and hand. We have two machines picking
and 5-6 employees walking the range with ball pluggers to pick what the machine can not. In
addition, this business had operated for 10 years without the use of nets and when the site visit
was conducted in 2020, they were unable to find one single ball. This was stated in the Jan 5
planning commission minutes when the site visit was completed in the fall of 2020 by city staff
members, to which they stated:
o "We looked around for golf balls to see if any were still lying around and couldn't
find any."
o "The wetland boundary is located well off where most people are capable of
hitting the golf ball."
Finally, As an avid outdoorsman and for the concern of the wildlife, if I had any evidence proving
that the range balls would invade the wetland area and prove to be detrimental to our wildlife, the
Golf Zone would not contest the need for nets.