u/tldredditnope

The best value event in golf, imo, is a 36 hole final qualifier for the US Open. Hard to beat from a valueperspective because its free. You get to follow some players with respectable world rankings for free, up close and personal.

Korn Ferry is a close second. A grounds pass is $10-20 and the golf is high level, especially if you follow the leaders. Parking is usually easy and the crowds are low. Just don't make any critical comments to a fellow bystander because they're probably a parent/coach/gf or former teammate of the player.

I know pros in adjacent counties teach on grass. As a non-club member, can I find a good teacher in Wake County who teaches on grass?

Strangely, I see mat ranges with nice 10-20 yard wide hitting areas just in front of the mats, but they aren't ever used, even for teaching.

And my main problem is mid/long irons which I hate hitting off mats.

Just when I was about to make a wise ass comment:

"I grew up in very much a working-class family, and golf has always been a very expensive game,” Rai said. “I started from the age of 4 years old, and my dad used to pay for the equipment, pay for my memberships, my entry fees. And it wasn’t money that we really had, to be honest, but he’d always buy me the best clubs.

Rai began to ascend up the junior ranks, but his family’s financial situation remained strained. Young Aaron grew, as children do, and soon, his clubs were too small for him.

“When I was about seven or eight years old, [my dad] bought me a set of Titleist 690 MBs, and they were like 800-1,000 pounds back then, just for a set of clubs for a kid. I cherished them,” Rai said. “When we used to go out and practice, he used to clean every single groove afterward with a pin and with baby oil.”
In an effort to keep the clubs — which cost a small fortune — in their best possible condition, Rai’s father purchased iron covers. Thus a tradition was born.

“To protect the golf clubs, he thought it would be good to put iron covers on it,” Rai said. “I’ve pretty much had iron covers on all of my sets ever since just to appreciate the value of what I have, and it all started with that first set.”