Matt, I fully understand the attraction of field shooting. More variety and a different approach as a result.
I have been trying to get my head round the organisation of field archery.
From a total outsider's position it seems that clubs set up the venues.An association offers advice on setting up etc etc and also provide a level of insurance. Clubs seem to put on a lot of competitions open to visitors in order to make full use of the course. Do they also offer visitors the opportunity to just shoot for a range fee like visitors to a gold club?
From memory (Although I'm a member of one club, and have been a member of another as well, I haven't really been involved for a year or 3):
Yes - clubs setup the venues.. Generally a group of archers will look around for a landowner willing to let out an area of woodland for the purpose. Could be a large landowner, could be a small one. I know that Company of 60 in Leatherhead lease their woods from the Crown Estates! My own club lease a small area of woodland from a local landowner, but the woodland is also used by his stables for gentle hacking, so we have restrictions on when/where we can shoot sometimes, and we have to be on the lookout for riders. Generally it's recommended (IIRC) that the area can be 'secured' and is fenced (to prevent the general public getting shot).
Yes - the Associations have rules about the area shot in, target layouts etc. And (I think) the insurance for the club is organised by the parent association (I'm NFAS, can't really speak about the others).
There does seem to be a lot of Field competitions compared to Target, I think, not sure if that's an impression or actual fact. I know that if you're prepared to travel, you can shoot a field comp almost every weekend of the year (especially if you're a member of other associations as well). Maybe it's a financial thing - I suppose it helps that putting on a shoot for field is probably significantly less financially onerous than a target shoot? But I'm guessing there. I think also there may be an element of the field archery community being a little less competitive, and a touch friendlier?? Again, that's probably more an impression.
Most field clubs I know of allow visitors, and (the ones I've visited) charge about £3 or £4 (most prefer about 3 or 4 visits, then you're expected to join - but then, if you're already and NFAS member each club is not more than £30 - £50 to join for the year - so if you're visiting regularly it makes sense for the archer to join the club anyway). You're expected to notify the club of your presence - for insurance purposes, and most clubs require an existing club member to accompany the visitor: which makes sense, otherwise the visitor might not know the peculiarities of the grounds.