Golfing in Every Season
Plattsburgh's only driving range
Story and Photos by Alan Fanitzi
The Plattsburgh Driving Range won't replace a real golf course, but it's a good place to spend an afternoon.
The fast-approaching cold weather in the North Country can put an early stop to a golfer's season. Thankfully, the City of Plattsburgh has its own indoor driving range for golfers to practice their skills all year.
Located at the back corner of the recreation center at 52 U.S Oval is the area's only indoor driving range. This is a place for the golf community and aspiring golfers to go and practice their swings or have fun with friends. For people like me who love golfing but can’t golf a lot of the year due to the cold Adirondack winters, Plattsburgh’s indoor driving range is a nice place to spend a free hour and hit some golf balls.
Upon entering the driving range, you are greeted by a balcony housing three individual slots for people to stand and make their shots. After walking over to the dispenser on the far right of the range to receive your bucket of balls, it is time to begin. Once in position to swing, you face an artificial fairway made of turf with an extremely large mural of a golfing green about 60 feet away. Surrounding you are nets protecting the walls.
Plattsburgh’s indoor driving range is a nice place to spend a free hour and hit some golf balls.
The driving range allows you to use your own golf clubs, but it does not provide customers with sets to rent. If you are interested in learning how to golf but do not own your own pair of clubs, borrowing a friend’s may be the best route to go.
The driving range is located at the back of the recreation center at the U.S Oval.
The price is $5 for a bucket of 50 golf balls. Other driving ranges charge around $10 for the same amount, so the Plattsburgh indoor range is a decently-priced golf outlet. It does come with some drawbacks, though. This range is only about 60 feet long and 25 feet high. This makes for a very short range, which causes golfers to go through balls rather quickly.
Another drawback of the indoor driving range is its capacity. The range only allows for four golfers to use the range at a time. There are seats in the back for people to wait their turn, leading to long wait times and stares from inpatient individuals.
Overall, the city of Plattsburgh’s Indoor Driving Range is reminiscent of a golf simulator or hitting cages at sport outlets like Dick’s Sporting Goods or Sports Authority. Although the place is small in comparison to an outdoor driving range, it is open all year and provides patrons with a chance to learn the game or improve their skills during the off-season.
APN gives it Plattsburgh’s Indoor Driving Range 3 out of 5 stars.
