Driving Range I can reach with Public Transit

[SandroGianella]

Hi all,

I just moved to Toronto and am wondering where I can find a driving range or a golf course that is reachable by public transit. I live downtown but do not have a car.

Thanks so much for your help,

Sandro

[going2B_a_pro]

beachfairway.com (http://www.torontogolfnuts.com/beachfairway.com), good driving range, also donvalley golf course yonge & yorkmills station

[goshawk]

Hi all,

I just moved to Toronto and am wondering where I can find a driving range or a golf course that is reachable by public transit. I live downtown but do not have a car.

Thanks so much for your help,

Sandro
I'm not sure if the Docks range is near the subway, but I'm pretty sure there's a bus that will get you there.
The only one I know of that is close to the subway is Beach Fairway. It's on Vic Park, just south of Danforth and 5 mins walk from the Vic Park subway station. The mats are ok, balls a little beat up but serviceable. The grass tees at the back are really chewed up.
www.beachfairway.com/ (http://www.beachfairway.com/)

[hogannut]

Not totally sure about the docks either by public transit, but it is pretty desolate around there, not sure if I would want to walk there, but I guess it would be OK. When the weather breaks Beach Fairways is 5 minutes from VP station. Decent range, although some of the worst balls I have ever hit. I guess the owners figure there will always be customers because of their location, but I live 5 minutes from Beach's and went there twice last year because the balls are so bad.

[goshawk]

When the weather breaks Beach Fairways is 5 minutes from VP station. Decent range, although some of the worst balls I have ever hit. I guess the owners figure there will always be customers because of their location, but I live 5 minutes from Beach's and went there twice last year because the balls are so bad.
I only went to Beach's a few times last season as well, and only to do some lessons. I don't think I'd go there ver often if I lived in that area, at least not until they changed the rangeballs.

[SandroGianella]

Thanks for the info guys.

I've been to the Docks once, and its a pain to get there without a car.

I checked the website for the range near Vic park, thanks for the info. It looks good and is sure close to the subway and there is also a par-3 course nearby, right? I guess I have to hope that they'll replace their balls for the 2008 season.

Are these the only options?

For courses, is Don Valley the only one? How is the course?

[going2B_a_pro]

It's nice track, but very busy I played there 2 times after work (9 holes) and never finished both times if you go on the weekend bring a lunch and a 6 pac it will take about 6 hours

[hogannut]

I play DV about 4-6 times per year, and last year I had one round that was over 5 hours. DV has really cleaned up its pace of play. 6 hour rounds really don't happen anymore at DV. However it is over 5 hours. I find a "normal" round there about 5 hours and 15 minutes. It is a decent track for a muni course and is very scenic. THe front 9 you don't even know you are right beside Canada's busiest highway and you could easily think you are playing a course in the Muskoka's with all the trees around you.

Thanks for the info guys.

I've been to the Docks once, and its a pain to get there without a car.

I checked the website for the range near Vic park, thanks for the info. It looks good and is sure close to the subway and there is also a par-3 course nearby, right? I guess I have to hope that they'll replace their balls for the 2008 season.

Are these the only options?

For courses, is Don Valley the only one? How is the course?

Unfortunately I would not hold your breath about the balls. I have lived in this area since the range has opened and the balls have not gotten any better in the 5 years they have been there.

[Big Shooter]

Nintendo Wii? :D

[MP33]

NO transit required. Just walk to the DT golf town. Pick out 4 drivers and pretend you are interested in buying them. Tell the guy you want to hit a few in the simulator and Viola! You have a driving range. It's actually better. It's free, the balls are unlimited and you get to hit balls with as many new clubs as you like. Kinda like a pro on the range at a PGA event.

May sound a little sarcastic but this happens every Saturday at the Markham store. Especially when I legitimately want to try something as I am about to buy it. Why not start the trend DT!!:rofl:

[Leftygolfer30]

There is a range that is about a 5-10 min. walk from the Scarborough GO station at St. Clair and Midland. You can get there by taking the subway to Warden station and then a bus but the GO station is the closest and fastest. I haven't been there in a few years but they always had half decent balls and a fairly good grass tee area.

[Nocean]

There is a range that is about a 5-10 min. walk from the Scarborough GO station at St. Clair and Midland.

Golf Etc.? Long gone..

[Leftygolfer30]

Golf Etc.? Long gone..

Really? Wow, I guess it's been longer than I think since I've been in that area. Oh well, I tried...

[imAnewbie]

Really? Wow, I guess it's been longer than I think since I've been in that area. Oh well, I tried...

Yeah it sucks cause I live near that place, that's where I started hitting them balls. :( too bad, now I have to go to Vic Park or If I can borrow the car go to Markham and Steeles :( For the Docks, its a lot of hassle going there by Public Transpo. So I'd say Vic Park is the best range to go to coming from TTC

[nearace]

Golf Etc.? Long gone..condos are coming soon,great spot to invest imo.

[Golden Bear]

Geez, I golf at Don Valley, I live nearby, and I had no idea there was a range I could use. Shows how much I pay attention. What are the prices like?

[goshawk]

Did I miss something? Where on the property is the range? I've played there lots of times and never even heard of anyone there talking about a range.

[Leftygolfer30]

Did I miss something? Where on the property is the range? I've played there lots of times and never even heard of anyone there talking about a range.

Me either. I've never seen a range at Don Valley, not even a practice net...

[corchard]

The range is for lessons only. The recently lengthened it to 160 yards. It is to the right of the first tee heading towards the highway.

[VBall]

The range is for lessons only. The recently lengthened it to 160 yards. It is to the right of the first tee heading towards the highway.

My company had a beginners lesson held at Don Valley a couple of years ago and from I've heard from co-workers is that there wasn't a range. Maybe they are mistaken.

[goshawk]

The range is for lessons only. The recently lengthened it to 160 yards. It is to the right of the first tee heading towards the highway.
160 yards? I guess hitting wedges is better than nothing. But the grass tee area must be reeeeeeeeally chewed up by mid season.

[corchard]

160 yards? I guess hitting wedges is better than nothing. But the grass tee area must be reeeeeeeeally chewed up by mid season.

Mats only.

My company had a beginners lesson held at Don Valley a couple of years ago and from I've heard from co-workers is that there wasn't a range. Maybe they are mistaken.

If it was a beginner lesson they might spent all of their time on the putting surface or in the driving cages.

"Range" may be a bit of an overstatement. There is a cut out of the native forest that is 160 yards long and 50 yards wide and goes down hill. There are no man made targets so it just looks like an open area. There was a bunker near the mats in 2006 but they did a bit of digging in the fall of 2006 and I don't remember from last year whether it was still there.

[Big Shooter]

I have lived around the corner from Don Valley for a long time, there's NO RANGE, and I would hardly qualify the 'teaching area' as a "Range" :cookoo:

[Golden Bear]

Upon further review, it looks like no one actually said it had a range. The first response in this thread made a reference to DV that I took as a reference to a range. Sorry for causing confusion. I am now enrolling in remedial reading courses.

[SandroGianella]

Thanks so much for all the response. I think Don Valley is pretty much the only alternative for someone who lives downtown and has to rely on the TTC (writing it out is actually frightening.... as if anyone could ever rely on it...)

Whats the best time for playing? I suppose during the week in the morning?

[nearace]

try the Find Playing Partners (http://www.torontogolfnuts.com/forumdisplay.php?f=11) section of this forum,I live near the warden subway station and will take you golfing allmost any time we can hook up,are you looking to play soon?lol shoot me a pm or post I am sure you will get some partners.

[Nocean]

Does anyone know why the city doesn't just turn the DV practice area into a cash-cow range? That range down at City Place used to rake it in (charged by the minute) and I would image a mid-town range would clean up. I know there are environmental/residential concerns and all, but with a little work I'm sure it could be done. It would probably pay for itself in the first year. I love the course and all, but really, it would be a great service to golfers throughout the city.

[SandroGianella]

Yes I completely agree with you. I remembered when I first visited Toronto a couple of years ago I went to the range at Spadina and it was great.

Now there's nothing downtown, except maybe the docks, but it pretty much blows from my perspective.... hitting balls on asphalt just isn't the same...

[corchard]

Does anyone know why the city doesn't just turn the DV practice area into a cash-cow range?

There isn't enough space to make it suitable for more than 10 people.


That range down at City Place used to rake it in (charged by the minute) and I would image a mid-town range would clean up...pay for itself in the first year.. .

I doubt both comments. If they were raking it in why did they bull doze it down to the ground to build condo's after spending all that money on the chip and putt course, driving range nets, carpets, club house...

[Golden Bear]

I doubt both comments. If they were raking it in why did they bull doze it down to the ground to build condo's after spending all that money on the chip and putt course, driving range nets, carpets, club house...Raking it in with a driving range doesn't even come close to how much you can earn selling that land to condo developers. I don't doubt for a second that CityPlace was extremely busy and successful as driving ranges go ... but we're talking about a completely different ballpark.


Now there's nothing downtown, except maybe the docks, but it pretty much blows from my perspective.... hitting balls on asphalt just isn't the same...

There is one other range that's only open winter months -- the Waterside golf dome near Lower Sherbourne and Queen's Quay. It's easier to get to than the Docks, and in fact I've walked the distance from the subway station many times (though the short bus ride is a better bet).

Drawbacks:

1) it's a dome,

2) it's only open for short hours -- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends. Count yourself lucky if you get a mat downstairs ... or if you get any mat without having to wait a few minutes first. It's extremely busy.

3) The balls are just filthy. I've never seen range balls that are so dirty! On the plus side, though, it's like having contact tape on your club. You can always look for the dirt to see where you hit the ball on your clubface. And I'm NOT exaggerating.

[hogannut]

The owner of the Golf Etc at St Clair and Midland also owns Grey Wolf (I think that is the name) in Lindsay about 15 minutes away from Olivers Nest. His name is Dave Clayton and I don't know for sure, but his plan was to eventually move to the Lindsay area and get rid of the range.

[ebaj1]

Me either. I've never seen a range at Don Valley, not even a practice net...

The practice net is located at the west side of the parking lot, adjacent the putting green just before you go down to the proshop.:)

[nearace]

there are two nets at dentonia beside the putting green.

[swingeasyguy]

By the way the range mentioned at Midland and St. Clair is no longer there. Another range I used to teach at bites the dust! Don Valley: they just put that in last summer and only for Mr. Johnson's private lessons, and I think it's less than 160 yards. You might look into Vic Hadfields at HWY 427 and Eglinton, see how TTC accessable that one is.

Swing Easy Guy