It's tempting for some teed off golfers who are renting a graphite club for $1, forking over $11 for a large bucket of balls and hitting a target in the shape of Hussein right on the kisser (there is also an Osama bin Laden target).

But this isn't putt putt. These golfers must drive the ball 90 yards at All-In-One-Golf in Largo.

"The targets are fun," said Jose Ibarra, assistant manager. "Each person who hits them is entered in a drawing and they can win a free lunch."

Politics and war aside, hundreds of golfers use local driving such as All-In-One-Golf and practice ranges at golf clubs such as the Tarpon Springs Golf Course to "hit balls, just groove their swing," said said Marvin Collins, a cart keeper at the course.

Many ranges offer indoor or outdoor artificial turf and grass tees, putting greens, lessons by PGA certified instructors and pro shops.

Everyone from rank beginners to those with a six handicap crowd the hitting stations, also called stalls, to improve their games.

"Most of the time it's strictly to practice," said Chuck Winship, manager and director of golf at Tarpon Springs Golf Course. "It's tough to be a decent player. Everyone's working on getting a little bit better. The driving range is a nice place to hit good shots and bad shots -- where it doesn't count. And we all hit bad shots."

Instead of artificial turf mats, Tarpon Springs Golf Course uses real grass "which is preferable to the serious player," Winship said, because "it's easier on your hands and arms."

It's also better to hit off real grass "because that's what you play on," said Collins.

The tee is 270 feet from a 50-foot-tall net which catches the balls. Very few players, Collins said, are able to drive balls into the net, however.

At Countryside Golf Center, owner Michael Murphy said he has recently installed "shockless" mats that mimic the feel of real grass.

"Some people with arthritis and joint problems may be afraid to (hit off) mats," he said. "But these are really soft."

If you still don't like the mats, Murphy has 50 grass stalls at his 34-acre facility, which also features 2,400 new Top Flight Super range balls, children's instruction programs, a chipping green and a practice sandtrap.

"Some people come out to exercise, some to see how far they can hit the ball" Murphy said. "And the serious players come out to improve their game."

A few hours at the practice range is an inexpensive way to spend the morning or afternoon. It costs nothing to use the range, and balls cost from $3 for a small bucket to $7 for a large bucket depending on where you go.

Best of all, "it's a great way to relieve your stress," said Collins.

-- Eileen Schulte can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or schulte@sptimes.com .

If you go

Countryside Golf Center at 2987 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater, offers a fully lighted facility with 100 hitting stations, private lessons and clinics. It opens at 8 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and 10 a.m. Mondays. The last bucket of balls is sold at 9:45 p.m. every night. Call (727) 726-8481. Tarpon Springs Driving Range at 44098 U.S. 19 N offers covered hitting stations, PGA instruction and demo clubs. It is open from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Call (727) 942-4780. All-In-One Golf at 12700 66th St. N, Largo, is the area's only two-story range offering air-conditioned and covered grass tees, 12 target greens and on-site club repair. It is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Call (727) 507-8911. The Tarpon Springs Golf Course on Alt. U.S. 19 near Klosterman Road (across from Helen Ellis Hospital) offers a real grass practice range. Call (727) 934-5191.

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