200M range at Oakdale

[mc762x54R]

Does anyone know if the 200 will be open tomorrow, or why it was closed today?

[xd ED]

Can't answer the first question,
but regarding the second, 2 thoughts come to mind:
1- If you aren't a member, and they were short of RSOs, they would have closed access to a range.
or
2-There was a work party scheduled for today, I can only speculate that maybe they were doing some work on/ around the 200.
I doubt that would cause any problem tomorrow.

[mc762x54R]

It said closed for competition. What I saw was one guy shooting, and 2 guys spotting/standing around. They were shooting at a silhouette or something, it looked more like someone wanted to practice their shooting, and wanted the 200 to themselves, which seems unreasonable to me on a Saturday.

[xd ED]

Checking the calendar, there was an match scheduled for today, so it wasn't closed, it was reserved for an event.

I don't see anything up for tomorrow.

[mc762x54R]

They went way past 5, in fact, a range officer told me he though they'd be done at 5, I asked and they said 5 ah...um... or maybe closer to 6. They were still in there taking up all the benches at 6.

There seems like there are more and more range closures lately.

I really can't believe they would shut down the 200 on a September weekend for 3 people.

[Holland&Holland]

They went way past 5, in fact, a range officer told me he though they'd be done at 5, I asked and they said 5 ah...um... or maybe closer to 6. They were still in there taking up all the benches at 6.

There seems like there are more and more range closures lately.

I really can't believe they would shut down the 200 on a September weekend for 3 people.

Ok you asked if anyone knew why yet you seem to know why. It was reserved for a match until 5.

This begs the question. Are you a member?

[Erud]

They went way past 5, in fact, a range officer told me he though they'd be done at 5, I asked and they said 5 ah...um... or maybe closer to 6. They were still in there taking up all the benches at 6.

There seems like there are more and more range closures lately.

I really can't believe they would shut down the 200 on a September weekend for 3 people.

More accurately, it sounds like they shut down the range on a September weekend for a scheduled match, and 3 people showed up. It always pays to check schedules before you go somewhere to do something.

[photogpat]

I dislike that they're shutting down ranges that could support paying customers - and I AM a member. I voted for the pistol range to be opened to the public too...we'd make a ton more money during public times with a dedicated pistol range, especially if we put in target retrieval. Naw, that needs to be reserved for the MEMBERS. I think many members forget that the public pays the majority of the money for the Club to stay open the other 275 days a year. Want money for more improvements? Make the club more marketable to Gunnie v2.0 instead of Gunnie v1.0.

That said - its a rare day, even during deer sight in, that the 200 sees more than 1-2 people from the paying public.

[Holland&Holland]

I dislike that they're shutting down ranges that could support paying customers - and I AM a member. I voted for the pistol range to be opened to the public too...we'd make a ton more money during public times with a dedicated pistol range, especially if we put in target retrieval. Naw, that needs to be reserved for the MEMBERS. I think many members forget that the public pays the majority of the money for the Club to stay open the other 275 days a year. Want money for more improvements? Make the club more marketable to Gunnie v2.0 instead of Gunnie v1.0.

That said - its a rare day, even during deer sight in, that the 200 sees more than 1-2 people from the paying public.

Pat, I don't know if I could disagree with you more. So I guess my vote will have to keep canceling yours out

While I completely understand, agree with, and am appreciative of the public that come use our facility during public hours, and yes they do pay the majority of the costs of our club. I would content that their is a balance to be had. Remember we are a gun club, not a gun range for profit business. Their is a role for both to play of course but we are the former. In that matches and organized events are looking for a place to exist as well, and one might contend that participation in these by gunnie v2.0 is the longer term lifeline than the weekend pay and blast. Remember there are many more locations for the later than the former and as long as their is the former their is a market for the later and the free market will ensure that their are locations to pay to play.

It is also not lost on me that as a club, we would not exist without the public, but we also would not exist for the public without members. Members who are willing to put in the time, stand up to a metropolitan area that would like to see them shut down, etc... So in that, I feel that one has to accommodate their needs as well, as it is a club by members for members. Sometimes I think we get a bit to focused on chasing the dollars of the public and forget that our true purpose in this club is a bit larger than just that.

Long story short, I am stating that their is a balance that needs to be achieved. Now I am not saying we have the correct balance yet, but it is not an all in for any one constituent situation. As Member, that is what I support.

[xd ED]

I dislike that they're shutting down ranges that could support paying customers - and I AM a member. I voted for the pistol range to be opened to the public too...we'd make a ton more money during public times with a dedicated pistol range, especially if we put in target retrieval. Naw, that needs to be reserved for the MEMBERS. I think many members forget that the public pays the majority of the money for the Club to stay open the other 275 days a year. Want money for more improvements? Make the club more marketable to Gunnie v2.0 instead of Gunnie v1.0.

That said - its a rare day, even during deer sight in, that the 200 sees more than 1-2 people from the paying public.

Something I now question due to this thread, is whether the non-member(aka cash paying) public could see the same, or similar calendar/ schedule from which I pulled the screen shot posted.

As a logged-in member, there is an obvious path to the range/ event - calendar/ schedule.

When not logged in, I am denied access to the Calendar, and find no obvious path to-nor can I find - any comprehensive range schedule. I can seek out events for various disciplines, some dated, but not listed on any integrated schedule.

While I agree with your thoughts about marketability of the club as a whole- more so for members than the public, in regards to the pistol range there would likely be two standards for behavior,(holsters) based on membership, were it open to the public; and that would not work.
A target retrieval system would not be something I'd want or use.
There are many places, with many lanes for traditional target shooting.
I'll admit I am not a big fan of the pistol range, but would not use it when open to the pubic


You are quite correct about the use of the 200 during public hours. When i did RSO duty it was my range of choice. In the course of 5-6 days over 3 years, my big day was 8 shooters, mostly members.

To the OP
If you are a member, I suspect that at 5PM you could have explored the possibility of using the range by approaching the guys on the 200. If you're not a member, public shooting had ended by then.

[mc762x54R]

I am a member, for 3 or 4 years now, and never once have I gone there and found the 200 closed, which is why I don't scan the whole OGC website every time I go.
I've also done range duty on the 200, and it was packed all day, on a rainy day! I've gone during public hours and couldn't get a bench in the 200.
Those guys should have said yes, we'll be open at 5, like their reservation said, that is what pisses me off, people thinking they have special privileges. They just wanted the range to themselves til closing, despite knowing that a fellow member wanted to get on that range. That is what I have a problem with. 2 hours from 5 to 7 would have been more than enough time.

[photogpat]

To each their own - either raise membership fees and provide less public availability - or upgrade and provide a better experience for the public.

Upgrades cost money...just sayin', and the club has a track record of usually failing when it comes to relying on the members for the really important stuff.

[mnblaster]

I have been a member at Oakdale for 13 yrs, I had range duty today, we only had a handful of shooters all day on the 200. I am NOT in favor of expanding the range to the public, they already dominate some of the best outdoor shooting months. Raise the dues, reduce public time, all we hear is how much Oakdale is concerned about public perception, put damper on it

[xd ED]

At the very least I would change club policy to allow members to have guests during public hours.
It would help demonstrate to membership that we are in fact a club, and not a business run by people who are not good at running a bussiness.
Having the range open to the public does help, I believe in being seen as a community asset, thus aiding in justifying its existence.

[Holland&Holland]

At the very least I would change club policy to allow members to have guests during public hours.
It would help demonstrate to membership that we are in fact a club, and not a business run by people who are not good at running a bussiness.
Having the range open to the public does help, I believe in being seen as a community asset, thus aiding in justifying its existence.

Did it change? I thought you still could bring guests to the ranges not open to the public?