Your first trip to the driving range
What to bring, what to do and what to expect the first time you go practise.
You never have to have played golf to go to the driving range. Honestly, it is probably the best place to start.
You do not need a tee time. You do not need to play 18 holes. You do not need a pretty swing. And depending on the place, you do not even need your own clubs.
You show up, get a bucket of balls, find a spot to practise, and start.
That is it.
First: what exactly is a driving range?
A driving range is a space built specifically for practising shots.
Instead of playing hole to hole, you stay in one bay and hit balls out into an open area marked with distances.
Some ranges have real grass. Others use mats. Some have technology like Toptracer that shows you distance, ball flight and other data on every shot.
To start with, none of that particularly matters.
What matters is that you can practise without the pressure of playing a full round.
What you need to bring
For your first time
- ✓Comfortable clothes
- ✓Sneakers or golf shoes
- ✓Water
- ✓One club, or a few
- ✓A golf glove if you already have one
- ✓Zero expectation of being good
You do not need to buy a whole golf outfit. You do not need to buy fourteen clubs either.
If you can borrow a 7-iron, that one club is enough for your first session.
If the facility rents clubs, that is another easy option.
What you do when you get there
- 01
Go into the pro shop or check-in area
Tell them you want a bucket of balls for the driving range. If you need clubs, ask whether they have rentals.
- 02
Get your balls
You will usually get a bucket, or a code or token to fill one.
- 03
Find an open bay
Every player uses their own space. Don't crowd the person next to you, and never walk in front of someone who is swinging.
- 04
Start with an iron
Don't pull out the driver straight away. Start with small swings and focus on simply making contact with the ball.
- 05
Take your time
You don't have to get through the bucket quickly. A 45–60 minute session is more than enough to start.
What am I aiming at?
The ball.
Seriously.
At the start, your goal should not be hitting it 200 yards. Your first win is simply making contact reasonably consistently.
If some balls go right, some go left, and some travel twelve feet along the grass, you have officially started playing golf.
The first milestone isn't hitting it far. It's starting to feel like you can make contact again.
One important thing: safety
A golf club moving at full speed can do a lot of damage.
Before every swing:
- look behind you and to the sides
- make sure nobody is standing too close
- never cross in front of someone who is practising
- don't walk out onto the field to pick up balls
The range feels casual, but it is still a space where dozens of people are swinging at the same time.
Questions everyone asks
- Can I go alone even though I have never played?
- Yes. Nobody is evaluating your swing. Most people are far too worried about their own.
- Do I have to book?
- It depends on the facility, but plenty of driving ranges run without tee times. Check before you go.
- Do I need my own clubs?
- Not necessarily. Some places rent clubs. You can also borrow one.
- How many balls do I need?
- Start small. More balls does not necessarily mean better practice.
- When am I ready to play a course?
- Much sooner than you probably think. You do not need a perfect swing to play your first round.
Your mission
Go to the driving range once.
Don't buy a full set. Don't study twenty YouTube videos. Don't wait until you feel “ready”.
Get a club, get a bucket of balls, and go experience the game.
Your next step
From zero to your first round.
A free beginner series built for Puerto Rico.