Pasadena Roving Archers

Pasadena Roving Archers was established after field archery was introduced to the public by a team of Pasadena Target Archers members at an event in Redlands. Field archery, which is comparable to golf, entails traveling from one target to the next on a 28-target course. The initial layout was quite different, although it shared the same area. Several shots were very challenging, including one where archers had to climb a tree and shoot from a branch. Despite minor revisions over the years, the course was much the same in 1940 as it was in 1935. Acquired in 1938, the footings from the original PRA clubhouse can still be seen between targets 16 and 17. A larger clubhouse was built at target 1, which was around when the original was destroyed by arson in 2002. The PRA, which was destroyed in 2002 by arson, operated out of its new location until then. The PRA was the premier field range in the country by 1950. More than half of the 1952 championship team came from the club, which was also home to many national and international champions. When the club hosted a national tournament in 1949, it attracted more than 1,500 spectators. In 1950, Sylmar's Sagittarius Broadhead Range lost its property. It sold for the owner to avoid losing it. The sale allowed him to buy the range at the end of the Lower Arroyo’s archery facility, where it remained until the late 1970s. Several clubs in southern California made it difficult for many to stay at one. After the proliferation of archery clubs in southern California, including three in the Lower Arroyo, a steady membership was hard to come by. By the early 1960s, PRA had only 16 members. In the middle to late 1960s, the membership fell to 16, leading the club to offer free lessons and free equipment to anyone interested. The ownership of the Lower Arroyo target range transferring from Pasadena to the county of Los Angeles in 1957 and back to Pasadena nine years later was among those events. In a deal made in 1972, Roving Archers made its first archery class an official part of the city's recreation program. Over 10,000 participants enrolled in these classes each year. Membership within PRA rose sharply when Pasadena blocked their target range in 1975. The Pasadena Target Archers were also closed. The existing memberships of the PTA were converted to PRA when that organization later collapsed.

Review holds a wealth of information about the training given to budding archers in the Roving Archers range, and a good number of people have experienced significant improvements in their skills and passion for the sport. Instructor ratings are excellent, as are the first-time archer sessions. The geography of the area with access to some short hiking trails and plenty of yards to give room to many families make it a fantastic range. Several reviewers describe the place as a sanctuary, with a relaxing vibe far from the city. Some even say that Roving Archers is so good that once you are in the club, you will spend the rest of your life there. Roving Archers offer a lifetime of endless opportunities, and it is a must-visit for all new archers.