Best Orange County driving range?

[Ranchobob]

I'm working hard on some issues with my game and am wondering where the better driving ranges are.

 

To me, if you're hitting off mats the range is off the list. Grass only. A free short game facility is nice, but not required. Free is better, but for a quality one I'll pay for a tube of balls and practice (e.g., Oak Creek). The quality of the balls figures in as well. Hitting balls with no dimples doesn't teach me much.

 

I've practiced at these ranges and here's my thoughts:

 

Meadowlark: Mats only, though they do seem to replace the balls on a semi-reasonable basis. They give you a bucket and you can fish balls out of two bins, so if you're really OCD you can pick through for the newest balls. Only two sizes of buckets, which is unfortunate. I don't need a large and a small isn't enough. They do sell a range membership, but I don't recall the cost.

 

Costa Mesa CC: Mats and grass, with grass costing a few bucks more. The balls don't seem to get replaced as often as at Meadowlark, but you can't have everything. The grass rotates through three sections of the range and when the tees are forward the grass is irons only. That's generally ignored, though if there are folks taking lessons at the other end of the range it doesn't take a big hit to bring them into range. I don't think I've ever seen anyone get told to quit hitting a wood, but you can always move to the mats for driver work if you want. They do have a chipping green that's free and two very large putting greens.

 

Mile Square: Mats only. I don't play nor practice here often, so I'm way out of touch on the conditions of the balls, short game facility if any, etc.

 

Recreation Park 18: Mats only and the mats are sloped enough that they emphasize my *cough* draw. Maybe that's not the case for all the mats, but the ones closest to the clubhouse have that issue. They do have a strong short game facility and a large putting green. The balls are mostly OK, but not fabulous.

 

That's all I know.

 

Any other places I should be looking at?

[1t2golf]

Oak Creek is probably the best public range in the OC. Only negatives would be it gets crowded and everyone would rather socialize than practice.

 

Strawberry Farms is on grass Fri-Sun. Balls are usually good. Gets pretty crowded at times.

 

They also close off part of the range if there's a wedding scheduled, which is pretty much every weekend. There are 2 putting greens but no short game practice area for the public. I believe they offer range memberships which includes use of the short game area on the other end of the range.

 

Saddleback range was pretty good, but I believed they closed permanently after the net came down.

 

San Juan Hills has a grass range. Never used it, but got an email about it.

 

Hope that helps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ranchobob]

 

Hope that helps.

 

It does. Or at least it reinforces what I thought I knew. :)

[wmblake2000]

El dorado is grass on weekends and has a short game area

[kekoa]

Coolest thing about oak creek is that they have lights now and stay open until 10:30. Buckets are $9 after 8:30 as well.

[johnrobison]

Tustin Ranch is on the grass Mon/Tue/Wed and it's in decent shape and a couple bucks less than Oak Creek. They change the balls about as frequently as Oak, it seems. Short game area is smaller and costs $5 but there's rarely anybody using it so it's often nice and quiet.

 

Super Sports Range (I think that's what it's called) next to the Arena Soccer park behind the Orange Mall has a small grass section and is one of the more affordable places around. Balls are decent - not great but I've seen worse. No short game area.

 

I recall Black Gold used to have grass a option but not so sure anymore - it's been a while.

 

Lake Forest Practice Center says that they have grass but I haven't been there so can't speak to the quality of the place.

[1t2golf]

Tustin Ranch is on the grass Mon/Tue/Wed and it's in decent shape and a couple bucks less than Oak Creek. They change the balls about as frequently as Oak, it seems. Short game area is smaller and costs $5 but there's rarely anybody using it so it's often nice and quiet.

 

Super Sports Range (I think that's what it's called) next to the Arena Soccer park behind the Orange Mall has a small grass section and is one of the more affordable places around. Balls are decent - not great but I've seen worse. No short game area.

 

I recall Black Gold used to have grass a option but not so sure anymore - it's been a while.

 

Lake Forest Practice Center says that they have grass but I haven't been there so can't speak to the quality of the place.

 

Forgot all about Tustin ranch, even though I've played there more times than I can recall.

 

The grass and balls are ok, but it's irons only at times if they move the tees up.

 

I would cross lake forest off your list. Worn balls and not very good grass.

 

 

[johnrobison]

Tustin Ranch is on the grass Mon/Tue/Wed and it's in decent shape and a couple bucks less than Oak Creek. They change the balls about as frequently as Oak, it seems. Short game area is smaller and costs $5 but there's rarely anybody using it so it's often nice and quiet.

 

Super Sports Range (I think that's what it's called) next to the Arena Soccer park behind the Orange Mall has a small grass section and is one of the more affordable places around. Balls are decent - not great but I've seen worse. No short game area.

 

I recall Black Gold used to have grass a option but not so sure anymore - it's been a while.

 

Lake Forest Practice Center says that they have grass but I haven't been there so can't speak to the quality of the place.

 

Forgot all about Tustin ranch, even though I've played there more times than I can recall.

 

The grass and balls are ok, but it's irons only at times if they move the tees up.

 

I would cross lake forest off your list. Worn balls and not very good grass.

Good to know. Does Lake Forest have a short game area? They have 9 short holes but IIRC, they used to have a great short game area to rent where you could get space up to 50 yards long or so.

 

P.S. When tees are up at TR, it's not so much about irons only. It's that they want you to limit club selection to 230 yards. Lots of people still hit driver on those days depending on how far up the tees are.

[1t2golf]

IIRC, they had signs stating irons only. Of course my memory could be faulty.

 

I was only at lake forest once. Don't recall what their short game area was like since I didn't use it.

[johnrobison]

If I get a chance I'll check out LF and report back. Many years ago I was told they had a great short game area so would be nice to know.

 

TR signs say "Please limit club selection to 230 yards". I've only been there for 7 years so could have said irons only prior.

[1t2golf]

Being a true WRXer, limiting to 230 yards is irons only.

 

 

[johnrobison]

Being a true WRXer, limiting to 230 yards is irons only.

Yes. That's a very astute observation! 5i and under, I'm sure.

[Ranchobob]

I think I need to retract my positive comments about Costa Mesa. The last couple times I've been there and hitting off the grass, it's been really pretty poorly conditioned. Unless you were practicing hitting out of the rough.

[johnrobison]

I think I need to retract my positive comments about Costa Mesa. The last couple times I've been there and hitting off the grass, it's been really pretty poorly conditioned. Unless you were practicing hitting out of the rough.

Seems to me that pretty much all of them have been hit or miss, lately. Even Oak Creek, which has always been the better place to practice, was a total wreck when I was there last weekend.

[millerlitenice]

I'm working hard on some issues with my game and am wondering where the better driving ranges are.

 

To me, if you're hitting off mats the range is off the list. Grass only. A free short game facility is nice, but not required. Free is better, but for a quality one I'll pay for a tube of balls and practice (e.g., Oak Creek). The quality of the balls figures in as well. Hitting balls with no dimples doesn't teach me much.

 

I've practiced at these ranges and here's my thoughts:

 

Meadowlark: Mats only, though they do seem to replace the balls on a semi-reasonable basis. They give you a bucket and you can fish balls out of two bins, so if you're really OCD you can pick through for the newest balls. Only two sizes of buckets, which is unfortunate. I don't need a large and a small isn't enough. They do sell a range membership, but I don't recall the cost.

 

Costa Mesa CC: Mats and grass, with grass costing a few bucks more. The balls don't seem to get replaced as often as at Meadowlark, but you can't have everything. The grass rotates through three sections of the range and when the tees are forward the grass is irons only. That's generally ignored, though if there are folks taking lessons at the other end of the range it doesn't take a big hit to bring them into range. I don't think I've ever seen anyone get told to quit hitting a wood, but you can always move to the mats for driver work if you want. They do have a chipping green that's free and two very large putting greens.

 

Mile Square: Mats only. I don't play nor practice here often, so I'm way out of touch on the conditions of the balls, short game facility if any, etc.

 

Recreation Park 18: Mats only and the mats are sloped enough that they emphasize my *cough* draw. Maybe that's not the case for all the mats, but the ones closest to the clubhouse have that issue. They do have a strong short game facility and a large putting green. The balls are mostly OK, but not fabulous.

 

That's all I know.

 

Any other places I should be looking at?

 

You can hit off grass every day of the week in Long Beach...Heartwell and Skylinks have grass during the week and El Dorado has it on the weekends.

[Circaflex]

For me its Oak Creek as my first choice (fairly large complex, grass all the time, better than your average range balls, I think they are nike practice) and i never seem to have a problem finding an open spot. Second choice would be Tustin Ranch, but its only grass on certain days.

 

 

Coolest thing about oak creek is that they have lights now and stay open until 10:30. Buckets are $9 after 8:30 as well.

 

Have to agree! Love getting out there at night now.

[Duke of Hazards]

 

 

Super Sports Range (I think that's what it's called) next to the Arena Soccer park behind the Orange Mall has a small grass section and is one of the more affordable places around. Balls are decent - not great but I've seen worse. No short game area.

 

 

 

Not true. Super Sports has a fairly large putting green as well as a small chipping green with bunker on the south end, just past the grass hitting area.

[johnrobison]

Super Sports Range (I think that's what it's called) next to the Arena Soccer park behind the Orange Mall has a small grass section and is one of the more affordable places around. Balls are decent - not great but I've seen worse. No short game area.

 

 

 

Not true. Super Sports has a fairly large putting green as well as a small chipping green with bunker on the south end, just past the grass hitting area.

Yes indeed, you are correct! Not sure how I completely overlooked that fact.

[kekoa]

For me its Oak Creek as my first choice (fairly large complex, grass all the time, better than your average range balls, I think they are nike practice) and i never seem to have a problem finding an open spot. Second choice would be Tustin Ranch, but its only grass on certain days.

 

 

Coolest thing about oak creek is that they have lights now and stay open until 10:30. Buckets are $9 after 8:30 as well.

 

Have to agree! Love getting out there at night now.

 

Quick update. the $9 deal was only for July. I was out there last night and price jumped back up to normal- Even the $13 member pricing is a bit steep. I mean you are hitting off of turf that has been beat up for the whole day. Right before closing they will move the ropes back to open up fresh grass.

[johnrobison]

For me its Oak Creek as my first choice (fairly large complex, grass all the time, better than your average range balls, I think they are nike practice) and i never seem to have a problem finding an open spot. Second choice would be Tustin Ranch, but its only grass on certain days.

 

 

Coolest thing about oak creek is that they have lights now and stay open until 10:30. Buckets are $9 after 8:30 as well.

 

Have to agree! Love getting out there at night now.

 

Quick update. the $9 deal was only for July. I was out there last night and price jumped back up to normal- Even the $13 member pricing is a bit steep. I mean you are hitting off of turf that has been beat up for the whole day. Right before closing they will move the ropes back to open up fresh grass.

Totally agree! Both OC and TR prices for balls are getting crazy. And the difference in conditions from morning to evening is huge at both places.