What makes a good driving range?

There isn't a good one round here.

The Manor has those terrible no brand 'stolen from' balls, knackered matts and is too cramped. Driver backswing is inches off the back wall. Very off putting.

Willow Valley has the same crap balls as The Manor, you have to rent a tee cos scrotes steal em, and its massively up hill.

Direct Golf in Huddersfield has decent matts, better balls and some power tees but isn't long enough and loads of the tees face directly at the hillside 150 yards in front of you.

Bradley Park is probably the best of a bad bunch but again has crap balls and is flat until it drops away sharply at about 200 yards so you cant see any longer shots land. And the council will be closing it soon anyway.
 
None that really stand out around me here either unfortunately. My local one at Elton has some good mats but all the balls are dreadful and its poorly lit. Woodside is half decent but extortionate to buy balls and doesnt have an outside area for real practice in the summer. My golf club has some land at the back that people practice on but its only about 130 yards long so you can really only use wedges on there.

Very frustrating.
 
There isn't a good one round here.

The Manor has those terrible no brand 'stolen from' balls, knackered matts and is too cramped. Driver backswing is inches off the back wall. Very off putting.

I remember going to the manor end of last year when I was in leeds with work. I couldn't understand why they don't get rid of walls behind each bay and just have the dividing bit. If they got decent balls and matts in it would be ok then but as you say very off putting thinking your going to slam your diver into a brick wall.

I thought it was just who couldn't find a decent range around there with me not being local.
 
I love the range at St Andrews - simple stuff but really well done - I don't need power tees but do need good mats and balls - It's always beautifully looked after and has the best view of any range I've ever been at

Best and well kept range I've used including the short game area, the teaching bays are fantastic too, only ever had 2 lessons and both were there, well worth the 2 hour journey
 
I use the range at Sunderland. Decent Srixon balls and matts. Plenty of targets all marked out with distance guide in each bay.
As a member I benefit from happy hour , 2 balls for price of 1, at certain times. Range is very long and slightly uphill which I like so I can see where balls land. You need to buy a plastic tee which is cheap enough, not interested in automatic tee facilities. Hot drinks available. American golf attached so able to try clubs out.
The new owner has really improved the range making it more inviting. Only thing I would like to see is mirrors on the wall sink can see my swing.
It's the best around
 
Ufford Park near Woodbridge is an excellent range. Balls are goodish Srixons (slightly limited distance), the mats are decent quality and well maintained and plenty of rubber tees of varying height (no messing about with power tees)... several of the bays are heated.

You can buy £150 worth of ball credit for £100.

The landing area itself is around 280 yards long and from 200 yards out there are two parallel rows of bushes planted roughly 10 yards between each bush and 30 yards between each row...thus marking a definite "fairway" to aim at. There are five well defined greens spread left, right and centre at 175 yards, 150yds, 100yds, 80yds and 55yds.

Then you have the upper tier for those that want an elevated view of the world.
 
I remember going to the manor end of last year when I was in leeds with work. I couldn't understand why they don't get rid of walls behind each bay and just have the dividing bit. If they got decent balls and matts in it would be ok then but as you say very off putting thinking your going to slam your diver into a brick wall.

I thought it was just who couldn't find a decent range around there with me not being local.

Yeah, nowt more off putting than the prospect of slamming your expensive driver into a wall. I find myself looking backwards in a subconscious effort to avoid it. I even move my matt right to the front and it still feels close.
 
I use the range at Sunderland. Decent Srixon balls and matts. Plenty of targets all marked out with distance guide in each bay.
As a member I benefit from happy hour , 2 balls for price of 1, at certain times. Range is very long and slightly uphill which I like so I can see where balls land. You need to buy a plastic tee which is cheap enough, not interested in automatic tee facilities. Hot drinks available. American golf attached so able to try clubs out.
The new owner has really improved the range making it more inviting. Only thing I would like to see is mirrors on the wall sink can see my swing.
It's the best around
Sharpley has an excellent Driving Range and a mix of automatic/Non-automatic tees.
 
Good mats, turned around or changed regularly
Decent range balls
Plenty of accurately marked targets
Grass area for the summer
Short game/practice bunker area
Heated bays
Hot and cold drinks/food available

We have that at our place bar the grass bit. But will also add that we have,
Rolls ups for kids, women and elder groups. Coached by a PGA pro.
cheaper ball rates for kids to encourage them into golf.
 
I like a roof to keep dry and a wall or net between the bays to keep me and most others out of danger from the odd shanked ball. I would like the option of different bucket sizes. You don't always want to hit 60 or 120 balls, maybe a light 20 before a round. And enough bays so not to wait too long at peak times.
 
Aren't Top Golf ranges aimed more at the social side, so you can get something to eat, have some food, play some games with mates and have some fun. And not primarily aimed at the serious golfer that wants to just practice, as most ranges are?

I'd love to give Top Golf a go but there isn't one near me. Surprised it hasn't taken off more as they look a great idea.
Top Golf has normally quite good balls with microchips in them that register when they hit one of the target greens, so that you get a score that gets bigger the closer to the centre of the target. It's quite good fun and a little bit addictive. They used to do practice deals called 'Top Practice', but they have stopped doing them, which is a pity because I would go there more often if they still did. :(

My club has a reasonable, if fairly basic, driving range, where you get about 25 half decent balls for a Pound, so I do most of my practicing there. Unfortunately no heated bays or floodlighting.
 
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