I have been a seasonal member at Joshua Creek Golf since 2015 and I practice here every day in the…read moreafternoon as long as it does not rain and I average about 20-30 rounds on course playing each year during the Canadian golf season. I am not a scratch golfer, my best score was 76 at Red Crest, hence I am not a professional golfer. If I have to make a living by playing golf, I would be starved to death a long time ago, but I do enjoy the game of golf and also as a challenge to myself.
With all due fairness, if you ask me to count out the top 5 driving range locations (not simulators) in my humble opinion within the GTA, Joshua Creek Golf would be in my ranking for many reasons.
Nowadays with all the inflation and poor economy in our country be reminded, a Large Bucket (105 balls) is $17 tax-in and the golf balls are in good conditions.
If you go up north, the driving range, I wish not to mention names, on Leslie St. and Highway 7 Markham, a Jumbo (105 Balls) is $27. Further up north at Bloomington Rd. and Bayview, the golf course's driving range will set you off by $19 for a bucket of 70 balls, but the 8 out of 10 golf balls are worn out to the point some of them you do not even see the dimples anymore. If you check Real Estate Pricing, Thornhill, Markham, Richmond Hill housing price are similar to Oakville, this means the cost of the land is similar but the other places are charging more.
Unfortunately I do not practice off mats so I cannot comment on the condition of the golf mats, however, the grass condition is better than your $27 driving range since the line where you practice on gets moved almost every day so there are a lot less divots.
Staff are knowledgeable and respectful. One thing perhaps I wish to remind folks, or at least the golfers, please treat the staff the way you want to be treated back. Respect is mutual if someone comes to your venue and right off the bat being demanding and entitled, I do not believe you will be entertained anywhere, period. I did read some of the comments left here before mine, and it seems people get upset for getting reminded not to pick-up the balls after they rolled away. Well, years ago I played on course and I got hit by a golf ball right in the chest and it hurts. So now my question to those patrons would be, do you have that much of a trust on the other players near you, when you go pick up the balls, you trust them enough not to shank their shots and not hitting you? Golf balls are hard, club head speed gets up to, well at least 80 MPH, so it is to your own safety not to pick up the balls. The driving range is here for everyone, also for the folks who runs it and make a living. Perhaps put yourself in their shoes for one quick moment, if they allow someone to hit the balls and then pick them back up and re-hit, there's no viable business models and the folks lining up behind your tee box waiting for you to finish your bucket would not be appreciating neither. There's a reason why Golf Domes in Markham are charging by the hour with unlimited amount of balls. It's a different business model. I guess all I'm asking for from other patrons is, to be considerate, it's not too difficult.
Ok enough talking, time to go fix my slice. Cheers.
