Stupid Golf Problems: This reader's short-game area pet peeve might strike a nerve

The short-game area etiquette debate highlighted a recurring frustration for golfers: how to practice when others are already using the chipping green. In the piece, a reader identified as Rick wrote in to complain about someone arriving with a bucket of range balls, dominating the area by scattering all 30 balls around, and leaving the balls behind. The problem, according to the email, is most acute when the green already has three or four golfers trying to work on their shots. The author also describes how his own club’s short-game area sits near the driving range with no net, making basic safety important. While emphasizing that solo practice can be flexible—such as using multiple flags and repeating drills—he argues that when other golfers are present, players should choose a spot, limit the number of balls they place, and hit only from that area.