There are many sports where the more you play, the better you become. Golf, however, is a little more complicated in that the slightest variation in your swing means you can suddenly spend more time in the rough than on the greens…
Inchmarlo Golf Centre, just outside Banchory, boasts a floodlit fully-automated driving range that’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can short out your shank whenever it suits. Range balls can be purchased from the Golf Reception area, or there’s an automated dispenser for when reception isn’t available. Thirteen of the 18 covered range bays come with Toptracer Range, which means you can take on your friends or family in a variety of fun and skill-based games, or even part in national and international competitions. Of course you can also just use the technology to watch your shot traces and stats on interactive game screens. If you’d benefit from some coaching, Inchmarlo also has a dedicated teaching bay with a great selection of measured targets, and an expert professional staff. The centre also offers a practice area and you can also arrange to put your new skills to the test on the challenging nine hole course. Inchmarlogolf.co.uk
Kings Link Golf Course offers a Trackman Driving Range which is open from 9am-9pm on weekdays and until 5.30pm on weekends, before shorter winter hours kick off in October. 100 ball baskets cost £10.95, with concessions and junior fees available. You can even hire a club for £2, which is perfect if you’d like to try golf for the first time. kings-links.com/driving-range
Head out on the South Deeside Road for the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre where the facilities include 17 Toptracer driving bays and a team of three PGA instructors. paullawriegolfcentre.co.uk
Meldrum House Hotel and Golf Course is another great option, especially if you’d like to combine your driving range session with some excellent food or a quick visit to the bar to console yourself. The practice facilities include a dozen target greens and a short game area. The driving range is powered by Toptracer technology which can help improve every aspect of your game from driving to chipping, swing geometry to putting. Email club@meldrumhouse.com to book
If you prefer to get some practice in where you can stay out of the weather and have a café bar and even a sauna on the doorstep, then head for NeoSpace on Riverside Drive. You can book their golf simulator which provides a fully immersive experience from £20 an hour. Take on the world’s greatest courses while their Trackman™ technology and software, provides feedback on your performance Book via
neo-space.com/more-than-aspace/#golf
Before you know it, you’ll be driving further and more accurately, rather than been driven to distraction. Fore!