range or 9 holes?

Question
Dan
I am luckey enough to live close to a par three 'learner' course with a driving range.
I have pulled the night shift this summer at my work, and I have set aside enough time to vist, a couple hours in the mornings,maybe one or twice a week tops. I want to get practiced up for my weekly Sunday golf game with my buddies.
I am an average golfer, but am improving with the help of new clubs and reading up on golf tips.
Question: Would it be better to hit lots of balls at the range and practice putting at the putting green, or to actually play nine holes by myself? It would be cheaper to hit balls, but that wouldnt be like actually playing.Thanks for your thoughts!

Answer
Hello Bud:
Thanks for asking this question.
I hope you can do both, but I think you are in a position to choose only one.

Here is my humble opinion.  As you know it will take at least 2 hr or 2 and 1/2hr to complete 9 holes.  Do you think you can spent the same amount of time at the practice range?
If you are still working on the ball striking or balance of stance or gripping, then I'd like to recommend to go to practice range.  However, you just don't hitting a bunch of balls.  
Please develop some sort of routine before hitting the ball.  Don't rush and hit the ball.  Work on the detail of swing, especially on the area that you want to improve.  Hit 2 or three balls and take a break and think on what is working or what is not working.  Write some memo on the note.  
In this way, you can practice with careful thought and plan.  Have some enough pause between the each ball striking.  
As you said you are an average golfer, I believe you already have basics of swing and ball striking.  Do check-swing a couple of times before hitting. Imagine as if you are in the field and prepare hitting the ball.  

Lastly, I want to give one tip if you allow me to give.
Please remember that swing-plane is so important for the great ball-striking.  I want you to spend some time on researching the One-plane-golf-swing (single plane golf swing), and work on this.  Please look for some video tips at youtube.com for MOENORMAN's swing.  You will find something different and fresh.  I recently adopt this, and this really makes sense. I am hitting the ball straighter and more accurate.

Thanks and good luck on your golf practice and game of golf.  Enjoy and have a wonderful season.

Dan