Ellerslie Driving Range: A Complete Guide to Golf Warehouse’s Practice Facility

Golf Warehouse Ellerslie is one of Auckland’s busiest golf practice venues, bringing a 40-bay automated driving range, a short nine-hole course, several alternative ways to play, club fitting and a full retail store together on a single site beside the Ellerslie Racecourse. This guide explains what the facility offers, how its technology-equipped range works, the different courses and practice areas, and the practical details — hours, location, access and booking — you need before you visit.

What is Golf Warehouse Ellerslie?

Golf Warehouse Ellerslie is a combined golf retail store and practice-and-play facility in the Auckland suburb of Ellerslie, roughly 10 kilometres south-east of the city centre. It sits on the inside of the Ellerslie Racecourse and is reached from 16 Derby Downs Place. The venue packages together several things that are usually spread across different businesses: a large driving range, a short golf course, novelty formats such as FootGolf, a dedicated short-game practice zone, PGA coaching, custom club fitting and a shop stocked with clubs, balls and apparel.

The site is run by Golf Warehouse, a New Zealand golf retailer that operates 15 stores nationwide. Ellerslie is the flagship Auckland location because it pairs the shop with practice and play facilities, so a visitor can hit balls, play a quick nine, get fitted for clubs and buy gear in one trip. A food and drink offering from The Nineteenth Co. was added more recently, meaning you can eat on site before or after a session.

How big is the driving range and how does it work?

The driving range has 40 fully automated bays, each fitted with Toptracer Range ball-tracking technology. “Automated” means the range delivers balls to you rather than you filling a basket by hand: the tee resets itself after every shot, so you keep swinging without bending down or walking to collect balls. The system is sometimes described as “touch-free” because, once you have started a session, you do not handle the balls at all.

How do the touch-free bays work?

To start, you press the start button in your bay and choose a tee height. A ball then rises onto the tee automatically, and a fresh ball appears after each swing. This setup keeps the pace quick and removes the usual range chores, which makes it easier to focus on repeating a swing change or warming up efficiently before a round. Because the bays are covered, the range stays usable in Auckland’s frequent showers.

What is Toptracer Range and what can you do with it?

Toptracer Range is the bay-based version of the shot-tracing technology used on televised professional golf, and it is owned by Topgolf. A screen in each bay traces the flight of every shot and reports data such as carry distance, total distance, ball speed and shot shape, giving instant feedback instead of you guessing how far a shot travelled. Golf Warehouse Ellerslie was one of the first two New Zealand venues to install the system, alongside Remuera Golf Club, when it arrived in the country at the end of 2018.

Beyond plain practice, the screen offers interactive game modes. You can play simulated rounds on famous courses, aim at virtual targets for points, or compete with friends and on local leaderboards. Downloading the free Toptracer app and linking it to your bay lets you save your shot history, review club-by-club distances over time and compare your results. These modes make the range approachable for beginners and juniors, not only for players grinding on technique. If you want to compare technology-led practice options around the city, our guide to driving ranges in Auckland sets Ellerslie alongside the alternatives.

What is the 9-hole Par 3 course like?

The on-site course is a nine-hole Par 3, meaning every hole is a short one designed to be reached from the tee with a single shot. Hole lengths run from roughly 80 to 135 metres, so the course rewards accurate iron play and sharp short-game skills rather than long driving. A Par 3 layout like this is ideal for a quick game when you do not have time for a full 18 holes, and it is a low-pressure place for newer players to experience real on-course golf.

What is the difference between standard cups and Big Hole Golf?

Each hole offers two cup sizes so the course suits different skill levels. The standard cup is the regulation 4.25 inches (about 108 mm) used on every golf course worldwide, which is what experienced players will want. “Big Hole Golf” uses an 8-inch (about 203 mm) cup instead — nearly double the width — so putts drop more easily. The larger hole is aimed at beginners, children and anyone who wants a more forgiving, confidence-building round. You choose which target you play to, so a mixed-ability group can share the same course.

What is FootGolf and can you play it at Ellerslie?

FootGolf is played on the same nine-hole layout and blends football with golf: instead of hitting a golf ball with a club, you kick a standard football toward an oversized hole and try to complete each hole in as few kicks as possible. The FootGolf holes are much larger than golf cups — about 21 inches (roughly 52–53 cm) across, the internationally recognised size — and the course has the familiar golf features of tees, fairways, bunkers and hazards, usually over shorter distances.

The format works for pairs, threesomes or groups of four and needs no golf experience, which makes it a popular choice for families, social groups and younger players. It is one of the “alternative” ways the venue uses the same ground to appeal to people who may not play traditional golf at all.

What does the members’ short-game practice area offer?

The members-only short-game area is built around the parts of golf that decide most scores: chipping, pitching and putting. It features five greens for putting and chipping and three bunkers, including a deep “pot” bunker that recreates a genuinely difficult sand shot. The variety lets players rehearse realistic situations — different lies, slopes and distances — rather than hitting the same shot repeatedly.

This area is reserved for holders of Ellerslie’s Short Game Membership, and range balls are sold separately so members can choose how they practise. The short game is where many amateurs lose strokes, so a dedicated space for it is genuinely useful; if you want to understand the technique side, our guide to reading greens and putting covers the skills this area is designed to build. Non-members can still work on the short game on the main range and course.

What about club fitting and coaching?

Golf Warehouse Ellerslie runs free custom club fitting in two indoor, air-conditioned fitting bays inside the retail store, using Foresight Sports launch-monitor technology. A launch monitor measures exactly how the ball and clubhead behave at impact, so a fitter can match the shaft, head and specifications to your swing rather than selling you an off-the-shelf set. The fitting is free to book and is carried out by trained club fitters.

On-site PGA professionals also offer lessons for players at every level, from first-timers to experienced golfers fine-tuning their technique. Because the fitting and retail side of this venue is a substantial topic in its own right, we cover it in depth in a dedicated guide to custom fitting and club services at Golf Warehouse Ellerslie, and in our overview of Golf Warehouse as a national retailer. If you are weighing indoor practice against the range, see our guide to indoor golf simulators in Auckland.

What are the opening hours and where is it?

Golf Warehouse Ellerslie is open 8:00 am to 9:00 pm Monday to Friday, and 8:00 am to 8:00 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The venue is at 16 Derby Downs Place, Ellerslie, Auckland 1051, and the phone number is 09 522 GOLF (09 522 4653). The driving range and course do not require a booking, so you can turn up and play, though club fittings are booked in advance.

How do you get there and park?

Access is the one detail worth planning. Derby Downs Place is strictly for vehicle and bicycle access only and is not open to pedestrian foot traffic, so you cannot simply walk in off the street at that point. All visitor drop-offs must be made in the designated car park. If you are being dropped off or arriving on foot, confirm the correct pedestrian entrance when you book or call ahead, as directory listings sometimes show different access points around the racecourse. Hours and access can change on event days at the racecourse, so a quick phone call before a special trip is sensible.

What does it cost and what should you bring?

Prices at Golf Warehouse Ellerslie are set per activity rather than as a single entry fee, and they change over time, so the venue or its website holds the current rates. In broad terms you pay for range balls by the basket or by time in a Toptracer bay, pay a green fee to play the Par 3 course or FootGolf, and pay a separate membership for the short-game area. Custom club fitting is free to book. Because older third-party listings quote out-of-date figures, treat any price you see elsewhere as indicative only and confirm before you go.

You do not need your own equipment to get started. The venue caters to walk-up visitors and beginners, so hire clubs and balls are available, and FootGolf needs no golf gear at all. If you do bring clubs, a glove and golf shoes make range sessions more comfortable, though the covered bays mean you can practise in ordinary trainers. For a quick game on the Par 3 course, a few irons, a wedge and a putter are enough — you will rarely need a driver.

How does Ellerslie compare with other Auckland practice options?

Ellerslie’s main distinction is breadth: few Auckland venues combine a large Toptracer range, a playable Par 3 course, novelty formats and a full retail store on one site. A pure practice-focused alternative is JK’s World of Golf, a well-known Auckland range; our guide to JK’s World of Golf explains how a dedicated range-and-coaching centre differs from a combined retail-and-play venue like Ellerslie.

The trade-offs are straightforward. If your only goal is to hit a large bucket of balls as cheaply as possible, a simpler range may suit you. If you want technology feedback, a short course to actually play, somewhere to take beginners or children, and the option to shop or get fitted in the same visit, Ellerslie covers more ground. Indoor simulators are a better choice on wet winter evenings or for data-led lessons, while a full-length course is what you need once you have outgrown Par 3 golf.

What mistakes do visitors commonly make?

The most common mistake is assuming you can walk in via Derby Downs Place — it is vehicle and bicycle access only, so plan drop-offs and pedestrian access in advance. A few other points trip people up:

• Expecting to book the range. The range and course are walk-up; only fittings and lessons need a booking, so there is no reservation to make for a casual practice session.
• Treating range numbers as course distances. Toptracer carry figures are useful, but range balls and conditions differ from the course, so use the data for relative comparisons rather than exact gapping.
• Ignoring the short game. Many visitors spend the whole session hitting driver; the Par 3 course and short-game area are where most scoring improvement actually happens.
• Turning up on a racecourse event day without checking. Access and parking can be affected, so confirm hours by phone before a special trip.
• Assuming prices online. Ball, green-fee and membership prices change, so check current rates with the venue rather than relying on older third-party listings.

Who is the facility best suited to?

Golf Warehouse Ellerslie suits a wide range of visitors because it bundles several uses together. Complete beginners and families benefit from Big Hole Golf, FootGolf and the forgiving game modes on the range. Improving club golfers get the most from the Toptracer data, the Par 3 course and PGA coaching. Buyers who want new equipment can combine a free fitting with a practice session, and committed local players can join the short-game membership for focused chipping and putting practice. It is less relevant if you are specifically after a championship-length 18-hole course, which this venue does not provide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need to book the driving range at Golf Warehouse Ellerslie?

No. The driving range and the nine-hole course are walk-up and do not require a booking, so you can arrive and play during opening hours. Only custom club fittings and coaching lessons need to be booked in advance.

What are the opening hours?

The venue is open 8:00 am to 9:00 pm Monday to Friday, and 8:00 am to 8:00 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Hours can occasionally be affected by events at the neighbouring Ellerslie Racecourse, so it is worth calling ahead for a special trip.

How many driving range bays are there and what technology do they use?

There are 40 fully automated bays, each equipped with Toptracer Range ball-tracking technology by Topgolf. The system traces every shot and reports distance, ball speed and shot shape on a screen, and it includes games, simulated courses and a companion app for saving your data.

What is the difference between the Par 3 course, Big Hole Golf and FootGolf?

All three use the same nine-hole layout. The Par 3 course is standard golf played to regulation 4.25-inch cups; Big Hole Golf uses larger 8-inch cups to make putting easier for beginners; and FootGolf replaces clubs and balls with a kicked football aimed at oversized holes about 21 inches wide.

Where is Golf Warehouse Ellerslie and how do you get there?

It is at 16 Derby Downs Place, Ellerslie, Auckland 1051, on the inside of the Ellerslie Racecourse, and the phone number is 09 522 GOLF (09 522 4653). Derby Downs Place is for vehicle and bicycle access only, and all visitor drop-offs must use the designated car park, so plan your access before you arrive.