alosso:Very good analysis - a driving range will not be free of costs!
If a range is ever introduced I have no illusions that we will pay for it. From a business perspective I do understand the need to offset development costs by income.
But taking a step back, as the range would really only be useful for mapping clubs/balls the overall usage I think is limited. Newer players may use it for a short term to learn - but can you see many of then actually paying to do so?
Alosso sensibly points out, costs will vary depending on the type of ball, and lets face it, there is no point using a different ball than you usually use as you will get significant variances depending on the attributes. Therefore I really do not believe there will be a great return on the investment as most players will not actually pay to use a range.
As pointed out earlier, Icon was quoted as saying a range would make the game too easy by systematic practice.
We can practice and practice and by having mulligans retake shots and try various shot types. But there are always variables such as elevation changes, angles, holes that play long/short and wind - all of which vary results and always add some doubt to the end result (was it user error, did I miscalculate etc.). By removing these it becomes exact math and therefore can become too easy. It also removes the unknowns - the level of VEM. I was in PM's with a very respected player and he suggested this, something I have believed for quite some time as being a reason for no range.
For the VEM haters - it does have it's place, but I very much doubt WGT will want to show exactly how much variation exists by introducing a range.