Fairfield Golf Commission To Increase Fees At Driving Range

FAIRFIELD, CT — Going to Fairfield's golf driving range to work on better hitting your woods and irons will get a little bit more expensive later this summer.

Next month, the driving range, located at 500 Hoydens Lane in Fairfield, is slated to undergo a major renovation, which will include a cover above the 25 bays and the installation of Toptracer technology, which can track the flight of a ball and offer players useful data points about their stroke.

Other improvements coming to the range include new protective netting, lights, and new chipping and putting areas.

As a result, the Fairfield Golf Commission this week unanimously approved new rates at the range, which will take effect once the renovations are complete in August or early September.

Currently, a bucket with 42 balls costs $6, and the commission approved raising the price to $10 for 55 balls. A "warm up bucket" of 22 balls will cost $5.

The commission, in an effort to avoid "sticker shock" among players, agreed with Bob Bigonette, head pro at the town's H. Smith Richardson Golf Course, to provide more balls in a bucket, and a second less expensive option.

"We're probably still going to be about 40 percent cheaper than anywhere else," Bigonette told the commission.

According to the Toptracer website, there are nine golf facilities in Connecticut that use the ball tracking technology, but some of those, such as the Patterson Club in Fairfield and Aspetuck Valley Country Club in Weston, are private, members-only venues.