Your first hour at a driving range is far simpler than you might fear: you arrive, get a basket of balls, pick a bay, and hit at your own pace with nobody judging a single swing. At The Hertsmere in Elstree, that means one of 26 floodlit bays with Toptracer technology tracking every shot for you, open until 10pm, with over 250 free parking spaces outside. Here is what actually happens, minute by minute.
By The Hertsmere team4 min read
The driving range is where almost every golfer starts, and for good reason. There is no tee time to book, no playing partners to keep up with, and no scorecard. You pay for a basket of balls, you hit them, and you go home when you feel like it. It is the lowest-pressure way into the game, and at The Hertsmere it comes with a few extras that make a beginner's first visit genuinely enjoyable rather than merely survivable.
Before you arrive: you need less than you think
Comfortable clothes and a pair of trainers are absolutely fine for the range. You do not need golf shoes, a glove, or a full set of clubs to hit your first balls. If you do not own any clubs yet, just say so when you arrive and the team will point you in the right direction. We are 20 minutes from London, inside the M25, and with more than 250 free parking spaces you will not spend your first ten minutes circling for a spot.
Your first ten minutes: bays, balls, and a screen that helps
Once you have your balls, pick any free bay. Each of our 26 bays is covered and floodlit, so rain and dark evenings are not a problem, and the range stays open until 10pm. In front of you there is a rubber tee and a mat, and a Toptracer screen that tracks each ball you hit, showing its flight, distance, and direction. For a beginner this is quietly brilliant, because instead of squinting into the distance wondering where your ball went, the screen simply tells you. It also has games and targets, which turn practice into something closer to a night at the bowling alley.
What to actually do with your hour
There is no set routine you have to follow, but a loose plan stops you swinging yourself into a sweaty heap in the first fifteen minutes. Something like this works well:
- Start with small, gentle half swings using a short club, just brushing the ball off the mat.
- Pick a target on the Toptracer screen rather than hitting aimlessly into space.
- Hit one ball, step back, breathe, and reset. Rapid-fire hitting teaches bad habits.
- Take a break halfway through. Nobody hits their best balls tired.
- Finish with one of the Toptracer games so your last memory of the session is fun.
Expect a mix of results. Some balls will scuttle along the ground, a few will fly beautifully, and one or two will miss the mat entirely. Every golfer who has ever lived has been through exactly this stage, including the ones striping drives in the bay next to you.
Nobody is watching you, honestly
The single biggest worry beginners have is being judged, and it is the most misplaced one in golf. Everyone at a driving range is absorbed in their own game, usually mid-battle with their own swing. Golf has a reputation for gatekeeping, and it is one we work hard against at The Hertsmere. Turn up in trainers, top your first twenty balls, and laugh about it. That is what the range is for.
Want a head start? Your first lesson is on us
If you would rather not figure it all out alone, book a free 30-minute coaching assessment with our team. A coach will watch you hit, tell you what to work on, and save you months of guesswork.
After your hour: coffee, food, and what comes next
When your basket is empty, wander over to Script Restaurant and Bar, our Modern British restaurant open seven days a week from 7:30am, with a balcony looking out over the course. It is dog friendly too, so the whole household can come along. And when the range starts to feel comfortable, the 18-hole Donald Steel parkland course is waiting whenever you are ready, with pay-and-play green fees and the best rates always available online.
