Best driving ranges for golf in the Triangle and Raleigh area
The U.S. Open is returning to Pinehurst and the summer is nearly here.
It’s the second of three PGA Tour events in North Carolina in 2024.
If you’re getting the urge to golf, you may want to visit a driving range first before playing 18 holes.
Here is a look at some of the top driving ranges throughout the Triangle and Raleigh area.
Public facilities
Knights Play Golf Center
Address: 2512 Ten Ten Rd, Apex, NC 27502
Phone: 919-303-4653
Hours: 8 a.m. to late (weather permitting)
Knights Play offers a 60-station driving range. Each bay is lighted with both grass and mats.
A small bucket of balls (about 45) costs $6. A large bucket of balls (about 90) costs $11.
Knights Play also offers range cards with a $70-$130 value.
The range also offers a bucket of balls, sandwich and a soft drink for $12.50 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Triangle Golf Complex
Address: 12201 Leesville Rd, Raleigh, NC 27613
Phone: 919-838-7200
Hours: TriGolf’s driving range is currently closed, according to its website.
The new center for Youth Development will include a learning center, driving range, 2,500 square feet Himalayas-style putting green, outdoor pavilion, kids playground and a par-3 course all designed by golf course designer Gil Hanse.
When the driving range is open, buckets range from $7-$15.
Lonnie Poole Golf Course
Address: 1509 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606
Phone: 919-515-6527
Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Golfers can hit a small bucket (about 35 balls) for $9 or a large bucket (about 70 balls) for $15.
The practice tees on the NC State Centennial campus offer a nice view of downtown Raleigh.
The par-71 course will list nine par four holes, five par threes and four par five holes, measuring 7,350 yards from the championship tees
A practice green is also available.
Hedingham Golf Club
Address: 4801 Harbour Towne Drive, Raleigh, NC 27604
Phone: 919-250-3030
Hours: Monday through Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
It costs $10 for a large bucket of balls.
Hedingham’s driving range is not open once the sun goes down. It does not have lights.
Hedingham does offer a putting green next to the first tee and a chipping green between the clubhouse and hole No. 10.
The clubhouse has a shop and offers sandwiches, sports drinks, snacks and draft beer.
If you’re bringing children, there is also a free “Golden Tee” video game machine.
Heritage Golf Club
Address: 1250 Heritage Club Avenue, Wake Forest, North Carolina 27587
Phone: 919-453-2020
Hours: 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Heritage is renown for its facilities.
“Golf Digest” rated Heritage 4.5 stars as of one of the best places to play. It is just 10 minutes north of Raleigh in Wake Forest.
Hillandale Golf Course
Address: 1600 Hillandale Road, Durham, NC 27705]
Phone: 919-286-4211
Driving range bucket rates:
- Small $5
- Medium $8
- Large $12
Hillandale’s driving range features:
- Turf mat teeing area
- Practice green for putting
- Wedge practice area
- Short range with bunker
- PGA golf instructors for the top of the line instruction
- Demo days to try out the latest technology
- Club fittings to provide you the right equipment
Hillandale Golf Course offers a 71 par 18-hole golf course. Amenities include a driving range, putting green, full pro shop, club repair and club fitting,
High-tech driving ranges
Topgolf
Address: 4901 Topgolf Way, Durham, NC 27703
Phone: 984-666-4096
Hours: Monday through Sunday: 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.
The three-level venue opened in April. It includes more than 100 climate-controlled, outdoor hitting bays, in addition to a restaurant and sports bar.
Every Tuesday, game play is half-price.
To rent a bay for two hours, it ranges from $52.50 to $141.
The Durham location is Top Golf’s third entertainment venue in North Carolina. There are two locations in the Charlotte area.
Drive Shack
Address: 6901 Play Golf Wy, Raleigh, NC 27607
Phone: 984-329-8229
Hours: Sunday through Thursday: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to midnight
It costs between $30 and $55 per hour to rent a bay. There are 96 bays total.
Drive Shack mixes a high-tech golf driving range and games, with an upscale sports bar atmosphere.
There are several golf games offered, including:
- Darts: Have great aim? Prove it with a classic game of darts. The first to reach 0 points claims victory. Golf games mixed with a pub favorite.
- Monster Hunt: To put it simply: Monsters to destroy. Baby dragons to save. Points to earn. No time to waste!
- Shack Jack: Is it luck or is it skill? Maybe both. Aim at the cards and build a hand close to 21. Just don’t go over. This game is golf with a little casino flair.
- Pro Range: Keep track of your swing speed, ball speed, apex height, spin rates and distances with Drive Shack’s golf driving range technology.
- Hot Shot: Hit any target and score points. Hit farther out and closer to the middle of a target and score more points. Simple enough, right? So swing away, hot shot.
Sully's Golf and Gather
Address: 2311 Timber Drive, Garner, NC 27529
Phone: 984-220-6282
Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sully's offers state-of-the-art golf simulators:
- Falcon simulator bay: The overhead launch monitor is 15.5 feet by 10 feet. It is designed for up to eight people.
- $40 per hour off peak
- $55 per hour peak
- GC3 simulator bay: This bay features a 14-foot-by-8.5-foot screen with seating for two people. It is designed for smaller groups. Each bay is designed for either right- or left-handed golfers.
- $20 per hour off peak
- $25 per hour peak
There is an indoor driving range, expert instruction and dining options.
Private facilities
The following facilities are private. They require membership or to go with someone who is a member.
Raleigh Country Club
Address: 400 Donald Ross Drive, Raleigh, NC 27610
Phone: 919-231-5501
Raleigh Country Club was founded in 1948. It’s the last golf course designed by legendary architect Donald Ross.
It includes three chipping greens, a 17,000 square foot putting green and a large driving range with six target greens and bunkers all built to USGA specifications.
A small putting green next to the first tee allows golfers a chance to test the speeds of our fast greens before play.
The Raleigh Country Club underwent a renovation in 2020.
McConnell Golf offers its members access to a collection of properties with pure golf, legendary service, and vibrant amenities, each a distinct icon in their locale. Its portfolio of 16 properties spans North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
MacGregor Downs Country Club
Address: 430 St Andrews Ln, Cary, NC 27511
Phone: 919-467-0146
The driving range has an adjacent putting green along with a separate short-game facility with two large bunkers.
Wakefield Country Club
Address: 2201 Wakefield Plantation Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
Phone: 919-488-5100
Established in 2000, there is an 18-hole course and a 9-hole course.
The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation’s practice tee includes target greens for true golf course simulated situations while hitting with Titleist NXT golf balls. Also, the area's largest teeing ground ensures you are always hitting off of grass.
For your short game, our 9,000 square-foot putting green compliments the 5,000 square-foot chipping green complete with two practice bunkers.
Note: Did we miss any driving ranges throughout the Triangle that we should include in this guide? Email Mark Bergin at mbergin@wral.com if we did!
