How to Start a Golf Driving Range

Thinking about turning your passion for golf into a business by opening a driving range is an exciting prospect. It’s more than just providing a place for golfers to hit balls, it’s about creating a community hub, a training ground, and a fun destination. This guide will walk you through the essential steps, from initial concept to your grand opening, giving you a clear roadmap to building a successful golf driving range.

Is Owning a Driving Range the Right Move for You?

Before you start scouting land, it's important to be honest with yourself. Owning a driving range merges a love for golf with the realities of running a small business. You aren't just a golf enthusiast anymore, you're an entrepreneur, a manager, a marketer, and sometimes, the person fixing the ball machine at 6 AM.

Successful range owners are grinders. They understand that the business requires attention seven days a week, often with early mornings and late nights. You'll be dealing with everything from customer service and staff scheduling to payroll, inventory management, and maintaining the grounds. If the thought of handling both the business side and the golf side animates you, then you're on the right track. If you only want to focus on the golf, you might consider bringing on a business partner to handle the operational details.

The Blueprint: Your Business Plan and Budget

A great idea needs a great plan. Rushing into this venture without a solid business plan is like stepping up to the tee without choosing a target. This document will be your guide and will be absolutely necessary if you need to secure funding from investors or banks.

Crafting Your Business Plan

Your business plan should detail exactly how your driving range will operate and become profitable. Don't get intimidated, just break it down into these manageable parts:

• Executive Summary: A brief overview of your entire plan. Write this last.
• Company Description: What is your driving range all about? Will it be a high-tech entertainment venue, a serious practice facility for dedicated golfers, or a family-friendly spot? Define your mission and vision.
• Market Analysis: Research your local area. Who are your potential customers (families, serious golfers, beginners)? Who are your competitors (other ranges, golf courses, entertainment centers like Topgolf)? What makes your idea different?
• Offerings: Detail what you'll sell. This includes buckets of balls, but also consider lessons, club fittings, a small pro shop with essentials, food and beverage, and potentially event hosting for parties or corporate outings.
• Marketing Strategy: How will people find out about you? Plan for a grand opening, creating social media profiles, local advertising, and building partnerships with local businesses or schools.
• Financial Projections: This is a big one. You'll need to forecast your revenue, estimate your expenses, and project your profitability for the first 3-5 years. Be realistic and a little conservative.

Figuring Out the Finances

The costs can be substantial, so a detailed budget is non-negotiable. Separate your costs into two categories:

Upfront (Startup) Costs:

• Land: Either purchasing or leasing the property. This will be your single biggest expense.
• Construction: Site preparation, grading, building the tee line structure, installing netting and poles, and constructing the main building (clubhouse, restrooms).
• Equipment: Golf mats, range balls (you'll need thousands), ball dispenser, ball picker vehicle, and a ball washer are the basics.
• Technology: A Point-of-Sale (POS) system is a must. A range technology system like Toptracer or TrackMan Range is a significant investment but can be a powerful draw.
• Permits &, Fees: Legal, zoning, and licensing fees from your local municipality.

Ongoing (Operating) Costs:

• Payroll: Salaries for your staff.
• Utilities: Water, electricity (especially for lighting), and internet.
• Insurance: Liability insurance is vital.
• Maintenance: Replacing worn-out mats, replacing lost or damaged range balls, turf care, and equipment repairs.
• Marketing: Your budget for ongoing advertising and promotion.
• Cost of Goods Sold (COGS): For your pro shop items and any food and beverage.

Finding the Perfect Piece of Land

The success of your driving range hinges heavily on its location. The right spot can bring in steady traffic with minimal marketing, while the wrong one can be a constant uphill battle.

How Much Space Do You Need?

For a traditional driving range, you’ll want a piece of land that is at least 300 yards long and wide enough to feel spacious and safe. A minimum of 150 yards in width accommodates a good number of tee boxes without feeling cramped. A conservative estimate is somewhere between 15 to 20 acres. Remember, you also need space for the tee line, the clubhouse, and parking.

Key Location Factors:

• Zoning and Regulations: This is the absolute first thing you must check. Before you get emotionally attached to a property, verify with the local planning and zoning department that a commercial recreational facility like a driving range is permitted there. You’ll likely also need special permits for things like high netting and lighting.
• Visibility and Access: Your range should be easy to see from a main road and easy for customers to get to. A location with good road frontage is a huge advantage. If people can’t easily find you or pull into your parking lot, they’ll go somewhere else.
• Demographics: Look for locations in or near growing suburban communities. Proximity to a strong middle-to-upper-middle-class population is ideal, as this demographic often has the disposable income for leisure activities like golf.

Designing and Building Your Facility

This is where your vision truly starts to take shape. The design of your range sets the tone for the customer experience.

The Range Layout

The core of your business is the hitting area. Think carefully about:

• Tee Stations: How many bays will you have? A typical range has anywhere from 30 to 60. Will you offer both covered and uncovered options?
• Mats vs. Grass: Mats are lower maintenance and can be used year-round in most climates. A natural grass tee area is a huge attraction for serious golfers but requires significant upkeep (and rotation to let the turf heal). Offering both is a great compromise.
• Targets: Don’t just stick a few flags in the ground. Use interesting targets like raised greens, simulated fairway bunkers, or large signs at specific yardages. Giving golfers something fun to aim at makes practice more engaging.
• Netting: Safety is paramount. High, durable netting is a major expense but absolutely necessary to contain errant shots and protect your neighbors.
• Lighting: Excellent lighting is what allows you to extend your operating hours into the evening, which is primetime for many customers. Invest in good quality, non-glare lighting for the entire landing area.

Value-Add Amenities

What else will you offer? These amenities can turn your range from a simple practice spot into a full-service destination.

• Clubhouse: This is your customer service hub. It needs a front counter, a comfortable seating area, and clean restrooms.
• Pro Shop: You can start small with essentials like gloves, tees, and maybe some logo apparel. You can expand into club repair or club fitting later on.
• Teaching Area: Dedicate one or two bays specifically for lessons. Partnering with a good PGA professional can create a new revenue stream and build your range’s reputation as a place for game improvement.
• Short Game Area: A well-maintained putting green and a small chipping area with a sand bunker is an incredible draw. Golfers know that this is where strokes are saved, and providing a place to practice it will keep them coming back.

Sourcing Your Equipment and Tech

The quality of your equipment directly impacts the customer’s experience. Skimping here can hurt your reputation.

• Range Balls: Your balls will get hit thousands of times. Invest in durable, limited-flight range balls. They are designed to withstand abuse and fly a shorter, more predictable distance. You'll need at least 10,000 to start, with a plan for regular replenishment.
• Hitting Mats: Don't buy cheap, thin mats. A high-quality mat that simulates a real fairway lie can be a major selling point. Golfers hate mats that grab the club or hurt their wrists.
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You absolutely need a reliable ball picker vehicle to collect balls efficiently and a powerful ball washer to keep them clean. A clean ball flies true and makes a good impression.
• Range Technology: We live in a tech-driven world. Systems like Toptracer Range or TrackMan Range gamify the driving range experience with ball tracking, virtual courses, and point-scoring games displayed on a screen in each bay. While it's a six-figure investment, it transforms your range into an entertainment venue that attracts a much broader audience than just avid golfers. This is arguably the biggest differentiator you can have today.

Marketing and Operations for Launch

You’ve built it, now it’s time to get people to come. Your operational and marketing plan will bring your first customers through the door.

Hiring Your Team

Your staff is the face of your business. Hire friendly, customer-focused people for the front counter. You'll also need a grounds crew to maintain the facility and, if you plan to offer instruction, one or more teaching professionals.

Pricing and Programs

Decide on your pricing structure. Most ranges offer small, medium, and large buckets. Consider loyalty programs, memberships for frequent visitors, or hourly rates, especially if you have bay technology. Build out a lesson program with clinics for beginners, women, and juniors to create a welcoming environment for all skill levels.

Go-to-Market Strategy

Start your marketing efforts before you even open.

• Build a Social Media Presence: Start sharing progress pictures and videos of the construction on platforms like Instagram and Facebook to build excitement.
• Plan a Grand Opening Event: Make a splash. Offer opening-day discounts, run contests, give away free merchandise, and maybe have a local food truck on site.
• Connect with the Community: Reach out to local high school golf teams, corporate wellness programs, and local charities to host events or establish partnerships.

Final Thoughts

Starting a golf driving range is a challenging and complex venture, but it’s an incredibly fulfilling one for those who are prepared. By moving carefully through each of these stages - from planning and budgeting to building and marketing - you can create a thriving business and a beloved fixture in your local golf community.

Just as running a range requires smart planning, improving on the course demands clear, intelligent guidance for every shot. When you're facing a tough lie or are stuck between clubs, the right advice makes all the difference. That's why we created Caddie AI. Our app delivers instant, on-demand strategy from your own AI golf expert, helping you navigate any situation on the course. Whether you need a simple club recommendation or a full strategy for escaping trouble, we provide the confident, clear path forward, making the game simpler and much more fun.