Are driving ranges becoming too expensive?

As you probably know, I am a big fan of driving ranges.

I spend a lot of time at my local range working on my game. If something starts to go wrong with a specific part of my game, it’s the first place I go in search of a solution.

Back in the day, most of us were happy to put up with dreadful mats and golf balls that felt like lumps of stone when you hit them. We would put up with whatever was delivered to us.

But times have changed. Now, we want to get more from our range sessions than mindlessly beating golf balls. We want to know exactly how far we hit every club in the bag. Now, we expect to turn up and be offered the full experience.

Do Driving Ranges Cost Too Much These Days?

I use two driving ranges - the one at my golf club, Dunston Hall, now features full Trackman technology, which tells me everything I need to know. And lots of stuff I would rather not know.

I also use another one nearby, Norwich Family Golf Centre, because I love the forgiving nature of the mats and also because it has an automatic ball feed and tells you how many balls you have hit and how many remain. It also has Toptracer technology.

So how much should you expect to pay when you go to the driving range?

The range at Norwich Family Golf Centre at Bawburgh charges as follows:

• 25 balls = £4
• 50 balls = £6
• 75 balls = £7.50
• 100 balls = £8.50

TOPTRACER Bays:

• 30 minutes + 50 balls = £8.50
• 2 hours + 100 balls = £11.00

It also has a superb short-game practice area, including bunkers and a terrific, undulating putting green. If you have paid for range balls then there is no charge for honing your short-game skills.

I have been doing some research and there is definitely a cost variation but my perception is that, by and large, driving ranges still offer pretty good value for money.

Wensum Valley, on the outskirts of Norwich, has a practice facility that includes a driving range with covered bays, a large putting green, and a short-game area where you can practice your chipping and bunker shots. The driving range is equipped with high-quality range balls and targets at various distances.

These facilities are open to both members and visitors, with range tokens available for purchase at the Pro Shop. They also run regular practice sessions and clinics to help golfers of all levels hone their skills. Prices typically range from £2 for a small bucket (20 balls) to £5 for a larger bucket (60 balls).

Finn Valley in Suffolk has a purpose-built golf range, with 20 floodlit bays, eight of which are undercover. It is open seven days a week from 8am until 9pm and 100 balls will cost you £6.50.

At York Golf Range you can expect to pay £5 for 50 balls, £7 for 75, £8 for 100 balls and £9 for 125 balls.

Members at Canterbury Golf Club get a great deal - 25 balls cost £1.75, 50 balls cost £3.25, 75 balls are £4.25 and 100 balls represent superb value at just £5.

Wokingham Family Golf is one of the more expensive ranges, with 100 balls costing £13.50 but you get to hit Wilson 2-piece Distance balls, the range is 300 yards long and it features Power Tees. There are also loyalty cards and designated happy hours.

So my advice is to shop around until you find a local range that fulfils your requirements without breaking the bank.