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Natomas Golf Center
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
5 reviews for Natomas Golf Center
Pros: real grass tees, seriously. Plenty of tees. Putting green available. Some kinda weird half-assed miniature golf set-up.
Cons: pricey, no shade whatsoever (!), no alcohol allowed, no demo clubs, some kinda weird half-assed miniature golf set-up.
Sac is in serious need for some golf-i-cation. Serious need. In any case, this place is the closest driving range to midtown which sucked as the I-5 was being made uglier than it was before for the last two weeks and what would've been a 10 min drive to this place became a 20 min drive. Well, I took the very first opportunity to go here and see how it was as the I-5 opened today.
So first off, it's pricey. $14 for a large bucket (~110 balls). $17 for a jumbo (180 balls). $12 for a medium (80) as I remember it, give or take a dollar. Secondly, there is absolutely no shade whatsoever for the majority of the tees so prepare to sweat your swing.
On the other hand, there are real bona-fide grass tees for your enjoyment and the golf balls are Nike. The hours (8-10 pm) are also generous as well although i can't vouch for how it is at night. And while I do list the lack of demo clubs and outlawing of alcohol as cons, I guess I can't blame the guy who owns this place b/c knowing Sac, god knows what would happen if he allowed both to occur.
So, is it worth the 10 min commute? Too bad that's a dumb question as you have no choice, but as choices go...you could do worse.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
Smallish range, maybe 30 stalls (1/3 covered).
One of the pluses of mom-and-pop driving ranges is usually their value. But in this case, the cost was comparable (or slightly higher) than Haggin Oaks: 90 balls for $9.50. Also, the grass tee area (another plus) was so hacked up it was almost all dirt (and it was worse after I finished, believe me!) And there is a "short game" area, but there is a charge to use it (and you're supposed to use your own balls. WTF?)
The setting is pretty nice, I'll give it that: On the day I was there you could see the mountains off in distance. But for driving range value, it's sub-par.
The place is a little beat up but has all the necessities:
Lots of rows for hitting on the range - some covered, some not. One complaint - no fake tees on the turf for your use. So bring some.
Nice putting green. MINI golf course - for practicing your short game NOT running around with friends on - no moving windmills here.
We got 3 big buckets for $12 - not bad. Watch out for the wind off the freeway.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (3)
Since my son is just getting started its nice to go to a place that isn't inundated by Tiger Woods-John Daly wannabes. The owner is a cool guy, well maybe not the first time we went, but after subsequent visits he's really opened up and become quite chatty. Nothing wrong with that in my book, I'll always support the small-business owner before the big guys.
Since its getting cooler now the lack of shade is not so much of an issue and its never really crowded the times that we go (mon-fri - 3 - 5pm). No one really sweats that my pre-schooler is knocking golf balls all over the yard.
The one major con - since you are surrounded by corn, grape, onion fields there is always the sound of small, automated explosions that the farmers use to scare away the birds. It sounds a bit like a war at first, again it takes some getting used to.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
Pretty good value. They also have practice areas for putting and chipping.
