Driving ranges that dont use mats

[cs1986]

Obviously most driving ranges use mats and im not a huge fan, would much prefer to shoot off actual grass. Does anyone know of any driving ranges in West yorkshire or over near Bolton where they dont use mats?

Also what are peoples thoughts about hitting off mats?

 

[Shiny]

Bradford Golf Club has not got mats on its range, not sure if you have to be a member or not though.

 

[dufferman]

Near me down south there are some ranges that have 'power tees'. They automatically adjust the height of the tee & load a ball onto it for you which is nice & all, but the other benefit is they have a 'fairway' bit of mat which is much thicker and lusher than a normal mat. Good if you usually take a divot because you can actually get under the ball. It might be worth searching for a range like that up your way?

 

[cs1986]

Shiny - Yeah the Bradford Golf club website doesnt even mention a driving range so Im assuming you have to be a member.

dufferman - Ive used a driving range with the power tees but they didnt have that fairway strip, that would be alright!

 

[Shiny]

In that case, Direct Golf (Stadium) in Huddersfield has those type of tees with fluffy rough on them.

 

[philly169]

Our local DG has recently invested in a new grass area (range members only) its great in the summer. I'm trying to get my home course to do a way with the crap outdoor tees for grass.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Can't think of anywhere near me that offers grass practice facilities that isn't a club and therefore restricted to members. The only place that use to do it many moons ago was Sandown Park (Direct Golf) and that had a grass area at the far end of the bays. Not sure if thats still there.

 

[duncan mackie]

Does anyone know of any driving ranges in West yorkshire or over near Bolton where they dont use mats?

Can't think of anywhere near me that offers grass practice facilities that isn't a club and therefore restricted to members. The only place that use to do it many moons ago was Sandown Park (Direct Golf) and that had a grass area at the far end of the bays. Not sure if thats still there.

 

[lyden]

I'd imagine grass tees would be more like divot tees if they let everyone hit a 100 balls off them.

 

[stevelev]

The driving range at Clarkes Golf Centre in Rainford has bot plastic and grass tee's.

It also has a himalaya putting green, sounds great but the quality of the surface is very poor. In the 3 years its been there it has never been scarified, spiked, hollow-tined, top dressed or any of the above. Also the raised chipping green ispoor as the quality of the mats around it are. But for the actual range the grass tees are ok. You will need a laser if trying to hit distances or work out targets, but if just hitting balls and drills it great. It also has a decent on site cafe and shop

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Near me down south there are some ranges that have 'power tees'. They automatically adjust the height of the tee & load a ball onto it for you which is nice & all, but the other benefit is they have a 'fairway' bit of mat which is much thicker and lusher than a normal mat. Good if you usually take a divot because you can actually get under the ball. It might be worth searching for a range like that up your way?

I hate those things with a passion

 

[6inchcup]

The driving range at Clarkes Golf Centre in Rainford has bot plastic and grass tee's.

It also has a Himalaya putting green, sounds great but the quality of the surface is very poor. In the 3 years its been there it has never been scarified, spiked, hollow-tined, top dressed or any of the above. Also the raised chipping green ispoor as the quality of the mats around it are. But for the actual range the grass tees are ok. You will need a laser if trying to hit distances or work out targets, but if just hitting balls and drills it great. It also has a decent on site cafe and shop

DAVE 'S shop is probably the best around,the staff are all pros and been in the business along time,if you are going to get a bacon and egg sarnie ASK for the egg to be well done i had one last week first bite and a stream of egg shot out down my shirt,not a good look on the range.

 

[Jay Gee]

I played at my brother's club last week and they have grass practice tees + decent balls. Private and pricey though. Does anyone know of any golf friendly open spaces near Berkshire?

 

[Fish]

I only live a few minutes from a range that is 100% mats but, I prefer to drive 30 minutes to The Warwickshire where I can play off grass.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The point being there is nothing local to me that offers this facility and was making the comment/assumption that it isn't a common thing and so it was unlikely to be easy to find anyhwere else. At least thats what was going on in my head at the time

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I played at my brother's club last week and they have grass practice tees + decent balls. Private and pricey though. Does anyone know of any golf friendly open spaces near Berkshire?

If you join Royal Ascot (more than happy to propose you) we have a grass practice area

 

[Slab]

Can't help with suggestions but on the point of playing off mats...

Mat is ok if you need to start to drill a posture technique etc with a club or two but would always choose grass when you need to know whats gonna happen with the ball

The range at the course I play only has grass and the range near home has the mat's on top of grass and they aren't fixed so I just pull them away to get at the real stuff