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Randalls Island Golf Center
Rating Details »
- Nearest Transit:
-
125th St (4, 5, 6)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
15 reviews for Randalls Island Golf Center
Last night I had made plans to have dinner with a few people. Unfortunately, everyone and their mother bailed on me. So with just my associate and I left to fend for each other, I came up with a most genius idea: BATTING CAGES AND MINI GOLF!!!!!
So off to the FDR Drive I drove. Can I just say that even years later, the road sucks on the FDR, particularly driving past 96th Street? It's worse than four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire but I digress. Here's a tip for those driving: if you have EZ-Pass take the left-most lanes because the exit for Randall's Island is on the left past the tolls. And if you are paying cash, get on the left-most CASH ONLY lane because you're going to have to bob and weave towards the exit ramp on the left.
Now I have been to Randall's Island a few times to catch shows, concerts, have picnics, what have you. But I had never been here for the Golf Center, and I must say I liked it a lot. The batting cages cost $3.00 for about 15 balls, and the speeds range from Softball slow to Baseball fast. Being the hunk of studly man that I am, I went with softball slow. Maybe I'm not a real man, because afterwards my hands hurt. My suggestion: wear batting gloves.
The mini golf was fun too. $7.00 gets you 18 holes and it takes about 30-45 minutes to go through the course. Granted, it's a no-frills mini golf course, so there are no windmills, no farm houses, no statues of animals. But there is a nice waterfall as you're going from, I believe, the 8th to the 9th hole.
As most everyone has pointed out, driving there is probably the best way to get there. But if you do not have access to a car, there is a shuttle service which picks people up along 3rd Avenue on the Upper East Side, and it costs $14 round trip. And the cool thing is that there is an announcement every half hour, stating that a shuttle is about to leave back to Manhattan.
One more thing: the food stand closed up at 7pm but the bar was still serving drinks till 8pm. And the Golf Center closes at 11pm so please plan to eat and get drunk wisely.
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See my blog for photos
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Mini golf really works for nine year olds. I can say that because the kids had a great time. Even though this mini gold course was a dump. Literally and figuratively. We went to the Randalls Island Golf Center. Literally because Randalls Island is built from landfill.
But figuratively because the mini golf course coulda used a little (or some) maintenance. Their web site shows nice pictures of fountains and waterfalls, but not-so-much. Just a lot so standing water. The trash pails had not been emptied in a week (Unless we just missed a drunken early Monday morning party.)
We also took a "shuttle van" to get there. Kinda fun. But I would have rather taken the city bus, but I could not figure out how the bus route and the golf course overlap. I did not want go exploring with three Nine-Year-Olds an island that has a Maximum Security Mental Hospital.
This is a fantastic find in the city!! What a fun way to spend an afternoon with friends and family, or even alone for that matter!
Easily accessible by car with ample parking. There is also a shuttle with specific pick up points (check the web site for details...how convenient is that for those without a car??).
There are batting cages for both baseball and softball...fast and slow pitch...take your pick! They also have not one, but TWO 18 hole mini golf courses. Fabulous! The driving range has an upper and lower deck with a fantastic view towards the Bronx with the Triborough bridge popping out over the trees.
This place can also host events (there was a birthday party going on). Also a bar and grill, golf lessons, pro shop, etc etc etc.....
I think I may actually go out and buy some golf clubs because the driving range is SO MUCH FUN!! Fantastic hidden gem in the city!
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If you don't want to pay an arm and a leg for the driving range at Chelsea Piers, the alternative is Randalls Island Golf Center. The prices are good, and I have never had to wait for a stall.
The downsides? You will need a car to drive there. Apparently, there is also a shuttle from Manhattan, but I have never taken it. The only other downside I can think of is that it can get really hot upstairs on the second level when the sun is beating down on you.
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There was a recent renovation (1-2 years) due to the new management. A lot of great things to like about this place. Here are a few:
- Can host events
- Small miniature putt for the family
- If you're an avid golfer, I recommend you purchase their bulk driving range buckets
- Batting cage practice
- Bar & Grill
- Pro Shop
- Golf Lessons
- Golf fitting (I had my clubs fitted and they gave me a great price on Ping G10 Irons)
- Heated stalls in the winter
- Friendly staff
- Shuttle service from Manhattan
And of course, there are a few things to dislike about the place:
- If you're driving, you have to pay the toll (currently $5, will be raised to $5.50 with the mta price hike) so it needs to be factored in to your budget.
- the short game practice area needs an overhaul. It's not real grass and it's not worth practice putting on as it's probably a 15 on the stimpmeter and very uneven. Not undulating uneven, but awkwardly uneven like the ground moved from underneath. There is no real sand either.
- Very poor yardage markers at the range. They should have big huge signs like they do at new hyde mark. The colored-markers are often difficult to see and requires a printed reference that usually doesn't exist at your stall.
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the only real think to put on my yuppie list is that i love hitting golf balls.
this place is secluded, never crowded, they give you like, 150 balls in a bucket for about $10 and they have a bar here. a bar that serves a decent burger & fry platter.
four!
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I've never really considered myself a girly-girl. I don't wear a lot of makeup, I don't own a blow dryer, am not into frilly pink things, perfume or sororities.
But when the first ball in the Randall's Island batting cages came shooting out at 749,000 miles an hour flying right at my face, I shrieked like a banshee and cowered in fear. And when, after gathering enough courage to actually try to hit the ball, and finally making contact, I cried out in pain like a 6-year old who'd just been beat up by her big brother. Who is this person?
After our time in the torture chamber--ahem, I mean batting cage--was up (note: half an hour is a LONG time to be in the batting cage, even if you are not girly man or woman), I convinced the boys to head to something a little more my speed, mini golf. OK, I suck at mini golf too, but at least it doesn't hurt, and does not involve dodging evil projectiles. The course, while laudable for being a full 18 holes, is in really bad shape, and in general pretty lame--the challenge mostly comes from navigating turns and bumps, not to mention several cases of torn-up turf. Where's my lighthouse, dammit??
In the middle of our heated game, we heard them announce something on the loudspeaker, but couldn't hear. As it turns out, they were announcing the last shuttle back to Manhattan. We were less than pleased about this, as it was only 10:30 and the website had said that the last shuttle would leave at 11, but they actually had the van come back and get us, and we got to hit a free bucket of golf balls while we waited! I'm sure it comes as no surprise to you now to hear that I'm rubbish at the driving range as well.
The shuttle was $14 round trip from the UES, which seemed pretty high given that you've still got to shlep to the UES, and which they didn't tell us until they'd already dropped us off at the center. Sneaky! But still, a really fun and hilarious evening out. Hooray for summer!
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Yeah I know I gave it 5 stars, but don't go here. I don't want anyone taking up my space at the driving range.
One of the reasons why I had barely touched a golf club in the last 4 years was because Chelsea Piers was so ridiculously expensive. Then I heard about the range on Randalls Island. It's ridiculously well priced ($12 for a large bucket, about 120 balls) and the range area is very well maintained. There's also a solid pro shop with clubs and other accessories for sale. And even if you don't have clubs, you can go, when you buy a bucket they had a bag full of clubs you can use on the range if you want.
There are also two different miniature golf courses you can play for $6 and a good number of batting cages. When you're done swinging various sticks at various sized balls, there's an outdoor grill area where you can get a burger and a beer.
The only small problem is getting there if you don't have a car. There is a shuttle in Manhattan, but I"m not sure paying $14 for a round trip shuttle is worth it when you are paying $12 for your bucket of golf balls. Coming from Queens, it's particularly annoying. It's either walking across the Triborough (not bad if the weather's nice) or taking the M60 bus across the bridge (going RIGHT BY the Randall's Island exit) to 125th St. and then taking the M35 back to Randall's Island. In the end, getting there is annoying but it's more than worth it.
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A really fun day trip for Manhattan-ites! Get back to your roots with put put put and then get scared as a little girl with the "medium" speed in the batting cages.
Everyone gathers around to watch all the guys who used to play little league miss! It's fun!
And make sure to take the scenic route, over the foot-bridge and past the Manhattan Psychiatric Institute. (But only if you're a walker--it's pretty far).
I can't write the food, but the golf is quite an adventure.
The spring time is really the best people watching / driving range experience you can have in New York. With two floors of tees, 300 yards in the front looking at the Triboro, a mental institution out back and a prison a little farther who woulda thunkit?
On a Sunday afternoon it's Joey, Vinnie, Sammy and Paulie in velour track suits, robust Cubans and Buds from the cooler. Deals are getting done, balls are sliced, hooked and cursed at..... but the sun is shining and it's a great day to be alive!!!
And - it's a fraction of the cost of Chelsea Piers -
Side note: There is a golf shuttle that picks up at Modells on 86th and 3rd on the hour and takes you direct to the range so you dont have to take PT.
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Its my happy place, as long as y'all don't raise the prices...
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Let me say up front that I'm addicted to golf and that to be a golfer living in New York (in the city) youve got to really WANT it. For example, i live on Roosevelt Island which is just about the most inconvenient starting point for a golf outing in the city.
That being said, the driving range on Randall's island is a hidden gem for golf-o-philes living in the city. Unless you live south of midtown, getting to Chelsea Piers is a pain in the butt...and its mad expensive. This place is cheap, wide open and, seemingly, rarely crowded. And, its not a bad view from the upper deck with the upper east side/harlem right across the river. The BEST part is the shuttle which picks up in front of the Modell's at 86th and 3rd starting at 3pm i believe and running every hour until dark. Its like $5 one way to ride the shuttle, which is an easy fee to pay seeing as how the only other way to get there is either to walk over the Triboro Bridge or take a cab.
If you want to work on your game while living in the city just accept the fact that its going to be a pain to get to a range...and this one is MUCH more convenient than Chelsea Piers.
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HURRAH! An affordable alternative to Chelsea Piers! I like golf, I own a set of clubs, but I don't have the time nor the $$$ to play as often as I like. That's where this place comes in... I'm not a pro, but this is a nice, relaxed driving range to use for some much-needed practice swings. If you go to to the roof deck, you also get some views of the city. Beginners need not feel intimidated here.Randalls is easy to get to -- especially if you have access to a car -- it's just right over the Triborough Bridge. Rumor has it that there's a free shuttle from Manhattan, too... If you're brave, my guy friends swear that the Ronnie burgers rock!!!
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nice and cheap - pain in the bum to get to.
five stars for the burger, which i think is the tastiest burger in NYC. summertime they set up a grill outside and a guy that looks like the dude from the big lebowski operates the grill. he throws a fat ball of ground beef onto the grill. they have bud in the fridge inside the pro shop, so you can sip that while you wait.
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