The installation of Inrange’s advanced ball-tracking technology at the driving range at Bethpage State Park has transformed one of America’s most iconic public golf facilities, attracting more visitors, increasing utilisation and broadening the appeal of the range to golfers of all abilities.
Traditionally, like many municipal facilities, Bethpage’s driving range experienced peaks at weekends but struggled to maintain consistent usage during quieter periods. However, just three months after introducing Inrange’s interactive radar-based system, the 24-bay range is recording around 750,000 balls hit every month, making it one of the busiest municipal practice facilities in the world.
The installation has enabled Bethpage to cater to a much wider audience than traditional practice facilities. Serious golfers benefit from highly accurate shot-tracking data and detailed performance metrics, while beginners, juniors and casual players are drawn to interactive games and entertainment features that make practice more engaging. Families and social groups have also embraced the venue, with multiplayer games helping to create a more relaxed, social atmosphere.
Unlike conventional range technology, Inrange’s radar network tracks every shot from impact to where the ball comes to rest, regardless of distance or weather conditions. Players can access detailed shot data either through in-bay touchscreens or via the InRange mobile app, allowing them to monitor their progress over time.
For Kelley Brooke, Managing Partner overseeing Bethpage Black, Harbor Links and Montauk Downs, the technology’s greatest value lies beyond the player experience. By combining Inrange’s operational insights with management platforms including SelectPi and Cover the Tees, Bethpage has been able to identify underused bays, monitor demand throughout the day and make informed decisions that maximise range occupancy.
“Everyone assumes a public facility just doesn’t have the demand,” Brooke said. “What I found at Montauk Downs, and then again at Harbor Links, is that the demand was already there, we just couldn’t see where it was going unused. Inrange gave us that visibility, bay-by-bay, hour to hour. Once you can see it, running a public range isn’t that different from running any other business. You fix what’s empty.”
With similar success already achieved at Montauk Downs and Harbor Links, and a fourth installation planned at Pine Ridge Golf Club later this year, the results at Bethpage demonstrate how Inrange’s data-driven technology is helping public golf facilities increase participation, attract new audiences and generate stronger commercial performance from existing infrastructure.