To Golf, Watford

The world's first interactive driving range

What is Top Golf?

Top golf is a really fun point scoring golf game played at an interactive driving range.

Who is Top Golf for?

The game is suitable for golfers and non golfers, children and adults.

Do I have to be a member to play?

In a word yes, but this doesn't matter. You can just go along to any top golf to join and take out an annual membership. You do not need ID to do this, you just need to give a few basic details such as name and address to register. You will be issued with a membership card which will ne printed for you as you join.

Do I need to pay for membership?

Yes you do, this costs about a fiver for basic membership. With this you get a free game of top golf. This applies every year you renew your membership. You can also opt for either Leisure membership or executive membership. These are more expensive £15.00 and £30.00 for an adult. You do get more free games included in the price, can book bays much further in advance and get money off local golf courses etc.

How much do games cost after I have played my free one?

It is not as simple as how much is one or two games. It is based on credits. You buy credits to play and at different times of the day it is a different amount of credits to play. However, to make it a bit easier to understand if you play top golf at the weekend or during the evening then you are going to pay just under £5.00 per person per game. There are ways to get cheaper games. Frequently top golf will run special offers where you can buy a large amount of credits for say £50.00 or £100.00, this may seeem like a lot of money but means that each game you play is costing you a lot less. The great thing about these offers is that you can split the credits between cards so that four people can club together and pay £25.00 each for a £100.00 offer and really benefit from cheaper games and credits that will last for ages.

Are the clubs and balls provided?

Yes all of the balls are provided, they need to do this as each ball has a special microchip insisde them. You can use your own golf clubs or borrow some from top golf. They have a range of different clubs to borrow and cater for children as young as five years old. You do not need to pay for hire of clubs or balls.

I've joined top golf, what do I do if I want to play?

If you think it might be busy you need to book a bay. For a person with standard membership you can only phone the same day to book. As long as you phone a few hours before you want to get a bay you will always be able to get a bay based on my personal experience. You can just turn up and hope. Most of the time you will be able to get a bay, but you may have to wait a while.

What are the bays like?

The bays are on two levels ground floor and first floor. The ground floor bays give a more realistic experience of playing golf and the first floor ones well are just a bit of fun really. On the first floor bays there is ample netting to ensure that you do not fall over the edge, but if I had small children with me I would still opt to play at the bottom.

There are also a few outdoor bays which I like to use in the summer (you can see these bays in the pictures I have included in my review).

The bays themselves have seats, tables, your playing screen, the mats to play off and your rubber golf teas (you can obviously play left or right handed).

The bays excluding the outdoor ones are all under cover so you can still play if it is raining, it can get a bit cold though, so heaters are provided.

You can also play in the dark as everywhere is well lit and their is flood lighting across the course.

I've booked my bay and have arrived what next?

If you have credits on your card you can go straight to the bay. If you have not go to the reception area where you can pay for your games and collect golf clubs if you need them.

I've got enough credits on my card and have my clubs, what next?

The first thing you need to do is collect you balls. Remember these balls have clever microchips and are registered to your card and your name. All you have to do is grab a basket and take it to the ball dispensing machine. Hang your basket onto a little hook at the bottom and insert your card into the ball dispensing machine. A coloured screen will show you how many credits you have remaining on your card. Select the number of games you have booked and the machine will dispense the correct number of balls into your basket. If you have played before the screen will then show your highest score, your handicap and a line graph showing your progress or digress since you have joined.

Got my balls, what next?

Go to the bay number you have booked, the staff member will have told you this over the phone or when you payed for your game? There will be a screen in each bay and you will notice that it will show that the bay has been reserved for you, or whoever it was that made the booking.

Now the fun bit, playing the game!

Ther person who booked the bay needs to play first they do this by registering their ball across a small sensor near the golf tea. A red led will flash to indicate that the ball has been read and the players name will come up on the screen.

The player then needs to take their shot. You can choose to play of of the mat which is made from an astro turf and has the option of a thick piece or a smooth piece. You can also play off the tee which is of

Pictures of To Golf Game Centre, Watford

In one of the outside bays

a rubbery construction and can be lowered or highered depending on your preference.

Okay so then you need to hit the ball. Take your swing and aim for one of the many targets. There a range of different holes you can aim for. Some of which are very close by and others which are hundreds of yards away. Targets further away give you more points and the closer you get to the centre of any target will also gives you more points. Hopefully you will have managed to get your ball in a target and if so you can look at the screen to see how far you have hit the ball and how many points you got for that shot.

It is then the next person's turn, they register their ball in exactly the same way and take their shot. Each further person playing takes their turn untill all of their balls are used up.

There are 30 balls in a game. At the end of the game your scores will flash up on the screen and will show how you have scored compared to all of those who have played top golf that day. It will show these in catagories such as children, women and overall.

Ball number 11 at top golf is a bonus ball. If you get a whole in one using this ball you can win £500.00, if it is near the centre you can win a free game and if it is in a shaded area you can get extra points. The shaded areas are indicated on a board next to each bay.

Through out the game you can also get double points. To get these you must first hit the ball into a shaded area and then on your next turn you will get double points. The screen tells you all of this as you play.

At the end of the game the player with the most points wins!

Can I take lessons?

Yes you can, you can book lessons to take place at top golf. These vary in price so check with your loacl top golf the cost of these. You can buy lessons for someone else as a gift. The lessons are carried out on the bays and can be video recorded so you can watch back your swing etc and listen to the advice from the pro.

What other facilities are there at top golf?

There's quite a lot here really. There is an aracade, pool tables, a cafe, a bar and a golf shop. All set out in an open plan layout. There is also an indoor putting green and an outdoor adventure crazy golf. You do not need to be a member to play crazy golf.

Can top golf organise events?

Yes they do, they can organise birthday parties and corporate events. They are number of different options for this and they will put on food and birthday cakes etc etc. You can talk to a representative in person or over the phone about your requirements.

What do I think fo top golf?

I love top golf. I go there often- even in the winter. I tend to load up my card with credits so that it is cheaper to play. I describe the experience of playing top golf similar to going bowling in the way that is interactive and you score points and they come up on a screen. I had never played golf before I went to top golf for the first time and I really enjoyed myself. I have got a bit better now and am always trying to beat my top score.

The game really is suitable for all people and you often see families taking their children there, couples, mates, a whole range of people enjoying the experience together.

You do not need to be great at golf, but will certainly get better the more you go. People are not so great can still play against those who are better as they can aim for the closer targets to score points and in doing so can get closer to the centre and get more points than those just pelting the ball and missing the targets all together.

This really is a fun activity and as you get better there are a number of different types of games you can play. The more experience golfer may like to play a game where on each shot they have to aim for a different target and score points accordingly. This isn't for me however, I just try to hit my ball straight and in the air!

It's good exercise and good clean fun, suitbale for all the family.

I like the sound of it, can I play anywhere else?

You can play in Addlestone, Chigwell and of course Watford.

Have fun!