I have recently visited the golf course coffee shop, sipping latte, having freshly made breakfast sandwiches with tatter totes, enjoying the view, chatting with a friend. After we had a very pleasant time, we left without realizing that I left my purse behind. It was 2 days before I discovered that I didn't have my wallet in my possession. I activated Tile app and it showed that my wallet/purse is at the golf course. I was very happy that golf shop kept it and everything was intact. It was rare these days to find such honest people. I felt extremely lucky. I think that they deserve a mention and I will definitely go back. read more

I've been playing golf at Griffith Park for my entire golf life. That says a lot when I'd come here for high school tournaments back in the early 90's when Jerry Barber Sr. was still alive and running everything. When he was around, it seemed like everything was good. Years and years after his son and I think grandson took over, the driving range went to crap. Now fast forward to 2017. The City of LA has taken over the driving range, put in new driving range mats, a tons of new range balls and simplified the range ball machines. It's a good start. The range itself still needs a lot of TLC...but that'll take some work. The old Barber golf shop has also changed ownership. As of 8/2017, the remodeling and reconstruction of the golf shop is in progress. Hopefully it'll be nice. I'm excited for the city to take over. Griffith Park driving range is really close to my house, been coming here for over 25 years or so with my pops, now I bring my son out to hit balls. I'm looking forward to a revamped city owned driving range. Crossing my fingers. Come for Wilson and Harding courses also. And don't forget the beer and chicken wings at the little restaurant. read more

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I bought Matt B. a pack of golf lessons at the Griffith Park Golf Shop for Christmas back in 2015 or so, when we lived in Los Feliz. They were expensive, I forget how much because the golf shop didn't do things like email, but let's say somewhere in the neighborhood of $500 for six half-hour lessons for the two of us with a private instructor. We took exactly one lesson before getting straight-up stood up by our teacher for our second one (I still have the extra golf ball token in my purse somewhere). He was a very spotty guy, and we had a hard time getting him to respond to messages and set dates for our lessons. The one time he saw us, he was friendly and good at teaching, but that didn't really matter when he was impossible to pin down. Anyway, we lost our enthusiasm for a while (OK, maybe like two years) before finally deciding we should redeem our five remaining lessons. When I called to schedule, I learned that the golf shop had changed ownership, and we were just shit out of luck, hundreds of dollars down the drain, no can help. This seems like bullshit, but what am I gonna do, sue? From what I remember, the golf shop and driving range were pretty nice, and I liked the location in Griffith Park. If we ever do figure out how to golf, this would be a good place to practice, and the golf course seems like an accessible, low-pressure place to play a few holes. I'll just never stop feeling like the Griffith Park Golf Shop owes me money. read more

We played Wilson today for first time in a while. Fairways were very rough and bumpy, bouncing all the time in the car. They placed all the pins in very difficult spots, all of them! He must have been angry this morning when he did it. It was not a good experience when you're out to have a good day. It slowed down the round. read more

Love and hate. It's been over a year since I came here and since, owners have changed. The city of Los Angeles now owns it. My range key with over a $100 is no longer valid here now. Though, their computer's can still see my cash balance on the key. I wrote 3 different emails to management/Chuck Ruiz and no reply. I like the golf range here, I find it nice and relaxing...and serene. Ways away from the city lights and traffic. Absolutely love the putting greens! read more

This pro shop isn't always bad. But one bad apple can spoil the bunch. If you see the guy with the slicked back hair and tattoo sleeve behind the desk, heads up, he's easily overwhelmed, won't help you, and will legitimately be rude to you. I couldn't have been more polite to him. Witnessed him be blatantly rude to not only me but anyone that walked in that door. They seem to be understaffed. Maybe he's having a really bad day, but I just don't love being talked to that way when I'm trying to give you my money and am being kind. read more

The dude that works there is not trust worthy. I came there inquiring about clubs and told him I was a beginner. Telling me they have the best price which they clearly don't. Then for my first golf set he told me I should have my clubs fitted, and his uncle is best fitter in town. I don't care if Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson are fitting my clubs. If I'm beginner, I need a golf swing, I need lessons, I don't need custom fitted clubs. Not personal here at all. Very golf snobby attitude. When it's family run and hold a monopoly in the area, you tend to forget CUSTOMER SERVICE on an INDIVIDUAL basis. Oh and by the way I got a set of Taylor Made R9s about $200 less at Golf International in Pasadena. Check them out. read more

The pro shop employee was nice to me when I called on Saturday Feb. 26, 2011. I asked whether it is raining over there and how long the driving range is open. I got direct and courteous answers to each. read more

Try calling this number to ask for the first tee-off of the day (something everyone at the course might know?), and you're going to get some SERIOUS attitude. And if you call them with any other question, the same thing will happen. read more

Nice driving range! Practice your short game and chipping here. I've been here 3 times and its always almost full. But I always find a spot.

Some of these other reviews really don't ring true for me, though I think sometimes we get the service we deserve. I cannot say enough nice things about our experience at the pro shop. I dropped by with my boyfriend to pick out a couple of clubs for his birthday. We really took our time, but that was no problem to Mike, who was working that day. Mike was extremely helpful, but not pushy or condescending. No snobbery at all. Not only did he offer tailored suggestions and tips to my boyfriend who has an injury that affects his foot and balance, but he also helped us find the RIGHT club, not the most expensive one. Every time we've been to the driving range, he's been helpful and funny. While they may not be the largest shop, I would recommend this pro shop to anyone. The knowledge of the staff is unparalleled and frankly, the service was stellar. read more

i'm a single digit handicapper, and GP is my home course and i practice there all the time, so i'm pretty knowledgeable on this subject. to truly review the griffith park golf shop you have to understand exactly what it is. first, it's a strange situation because the golf shop and the range are leased under a city contract. it's a public course, but the shop/range is run by a private business. second, the starters window (covered by city employees) is in the golf shop. also, because of a strange situation with the phones, the barber shop gets tons of calls for the starter windows. they don't fix it because the barber shop (owner) thinks it will lead to business, but all it leads to is frustration by the employees and the customers. the barber shop is run by the barber family and has been for years. the barbers are a serious LA golf family, starting with jerry barber, a pga champion (i think in '62). jerry was famously cantankerous and some of his progeny that work in the shop have carried on that tradition (with the exception of tommy). one in particular, i'll call him "shorty", has enough attitude to compete with a BET awards show (but from what i understand, he's a great guy if you get to know him . . . yeah) so, let me break this up: the range: there is always parking. it's cheap. two days a week you can buy six medium buckets for around $20. it's a two tier range with around 80 stalls. it's huge, but i've never not found a spot, although, maybe not the spot i want. the balls are shite. the mats aren't much better, the targets are shite. it's uphill a bit and the back fence is 250 but plays a bit longer. the setting is great. it's beautiful. you are in the middle of the largest city park in the nation. during the summer, they have misters on the bottom row (and shade). if your a serious golfer on a budget, this is a great place. it'd be damn near perfect if they had better balls, targets and mats. p.s. they have an inPractice swing analysis machine which is awesome for affordable video swing analysis. p.s. II -- practice here and you'll get to know korean personalities whether you want to or not . . . chipping/sand practice area: the good is that they have one, and it's free. it's large, has two greens and four pins and a large bunker. it's often crowded with people that think it's okay to use a full bucket of range balls to chip with, despite others using the area. (unfortunately, the people who do this probably can't read this post, how do you say "fix your divots" and "the greens are not your ashtrays" in korean?). the grass is thick and gnarly, a lot of crab grass. if you can chip here, you probably will do really well on a nicely maintained course. the sand traps are useless. they are so overfilled that they don't simulate a course sand trap. shop inventory: it's a tiny little shop. they don't have a good selection. they can't compete with the inventory of a roger dunn or any other big golf shop. i'm amazed that they don't do tons of club fittings, and demos and/or court the korean clientele that dominate the course. it seems like they are missing a huge opportunity. but here's the one good thing: where else can you buy gear and have a guy who has played on a nationwide tour event or won a mini tour event or shot in the mid-60's on wilson give you advice? (see below) so, if you do buy there, you will get the advice of someone who knows golf. of course, they are there to make money, so don't expect them to always tell you the truth--if you want to get better, spend 9/10 of your money on lessons, not equipment. staff: the golf instructors work the shop, so you get guys who seriously, seriously know golf. if you are going to buy clubs, i'd take a lesson from al, borris, or tommy (i know who the others are and these are the only i recommend . . .) and let them get a look at your swing. it'd be well worth $50. as mentioned above, there is some serious attitude in there, but also some seriously nice guys too. instruction: i've taken lessons or know someone who has taken lessons from every instructor there, and i recommend boris, al and tommy. i currently take lessons from tommy. he's super enthusiastic, super positive and he tells it how it is. he's a stick--he's played on the nationwide tour and has made it past the first round of q school and comes from a line of pros. you have to find someone that matches you. if you're real casual and want to break 100 on the weekends, i'd try out al or borris. if you are trying to go low, i'd go for tommy. but again, they're all good. It's a personality thing. long and straight . . . 2015 ADDENDUM: turns out shorty is a nice guy, but you might not know it unless you get past the rough exterior turns out there are some real nice korean golfers. i've met a couple. but i still want to know how to say 'fix your divots and rake the bunkers' in korean. read more