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While practice doesn't always make perfect-it can be everyday fun!
By Marilyn L. Gordon

It usually begins for me about a month after I've played my last golf game outside - last year that was in mid-November, but usually it's sometime in October. In Michigan, however, a hot mid-summer day or rainy spring afternoon can provide the perfect invitation for practicing golf in one of the metro area's golf domes or covered tee areas. There are many practice ranges in the metro area that are available for those avid golfers like myself who need to swing even when Mother Nature is queuing the clubs for storage.

Following are my four choices for practicing golf during Michigan winters and seasonal 'off' days:


The Arbor Golf Dome

This is one of my favorite places to practice golf. There's usually a practice tee open, it's a low-key environment and the price is right. Occasionally, a pro might be giving a lesson in the corner, but you can focus easily on practice time. There are two levels, but noise is not bothersome and even though it's covered, you don't feel "closed in".

Plus: Price of buckets is great.
Minus: Dome prevents you from seeing travel distance of long balls
The Particulars: Arbor Golf Dome 3727 Morgan Rd., Ypsilanti
Phone: 734/434-3663
Hours: Open-November through late April, hours vary
Price: Based on bucket size: $3 for 33 balls, $6 for 66 balls, $9 for 99 balls

Miles of Golf

Miles of Golf

This is another practice area I frequent. In addition to a variety of practice areas, there is a huge pro shop with some very good buys if you're willing to shop around a little. The staff is very helpful, too. Miles of Golf offers covered, heated tees and when weather permits, golfers can also hit from the grass. You can also try out clubs you're interested in purchasing.

Plus: Love the warmth on a cold day; shade mid-summer.
Minus: Heaters don't always do the trick
The Particulars: Miles of Golf 3113 Carpenter Rd., Ypsilanti
Phone: 734/973-9004
Prices: Based on bucket size: $7-small, $8- medium, $10-large
Hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Saturday.


The Golden Bear Golf Center At Oasis

This is a very popular and busy covered driving range. I've never been when I haven't had to wait for a spot to hit. The one thing that jumps out when you enter this dome is the noise factor - lots of people talking, hitting balls, etc. This indoor driving range has a unique feature- the dome disappears in the summer and all of a sudden, there are plenty of places to hit from the grass.

Plus: It's the place to be seen as a week end golfer in the winter
Minus: Hard to focus with all the "white" noise
The Particulars: The Golden Bear Golf Center At Oasis 39500 Five Mile Rd., Plymouth

Phone: 734/420-4653
Prices: Based on time in winter, buckets in the summer: $ 9 for 45 minutes, after 4: 30 p.m., Monday-Thursday and weekends. $7 all day Friday and after 4: 30 p.m., Monday- Thursday


Carl's Golfland/Plymouth

Like its original location on Telegraph in Bloomfield Hills, you can spend a whole afternoon at Carl's. This location has a very large Pro Shop and offers all the amenities of the original Carl's - trying out clubs, helpful staff, and plenty of merchandise to choose from. Oh, that's right, we're here to practice our golf swing - well, there are plenty of heated tees to hit from, although on nice winter days, I've had to wait 15-20 minutes for an empty tee.

Plus: This Carl's is located right next door to St. John's Golf Course-you can practice and then, in playable weather, go and play the game.
Minus: Possible lengthy waits on weekends
The Particulars: Carl's Golfland/Plymouth 44135 Five Mile Rd., Plymouth
Phone: 734/354-9274
Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Monday -Saturday, 9 a.m. -9 p.m., Sunday
Price: Based on buckets: $4-small, $6- medium, $8-large

There are numerous other golf ranges around the state - and this is just a small radius sampling. We're lucky in Michigan to have golf ranges that change with the weather as well. Although practice doesn't make perfect, practice can be fun and can never be too much! MG


June 2002 Issue Table of Content
HomePage | Courses & Resorts | Course Reviews | Golf Architects | Golf Business | Destinations
Golf Travel | Lodging | Golf Guides | Michigan Golf History | Tournaments | Michigan Golf Real Estate
Golf Academies & Schools | Warm Weather & Out of State Golf | Calendar of Events

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