For my birthday this year, we decided to spend the weekend in the city, staying at a hotel up near Central Park. I decided to use the opportunity to finally check a major item off my golf bucket list: a session at the Golf Club at Chelsea Piers. I managed to slip out of the hotel incredibly early, long before the kids were even awake. It was a bit of a hike to get all the way down to the river from the park that early in the morning, but there is something magical about getting to a place like that when the bays are completely empty—just me, the freezing air, and the sound of the ball compressing. By the time I finished and made the trek back uptown, the rest of the family was just starting to stir, making it the perfect quiet start to the day.
The setting itself is surreal. You have likely seen this spot in videos before—it was actually featured in an excellent “Golf vs. Snowboarding” segment with Shaun White and Chris Como—but standing there in person is a different experience entirely. The complex is an architectural marvel built directly on top of Pier 59, one of the historic fingers of Manhattan jutting out into the Hudson River. There is a lot of history here; this was actually the pier where the Titanic was scheduled to dock when it reached New York. Today, it has been transformed into a four-tiered “super-range” with 52 hitting bays. You are effectively launching drives into a massive net-enclosed fairway that stretches 200 yards out over the water, with the icy river churning below and the skyline as your backdrop.
It was undeniably cold, with snow still piled up on the ground and covering the netting, but the heated bays did their job perfectly. It was comfortable enough to swing freely without needing five layers of outerwear. I was also pleasantly surprised by the cost; because I went during the off-peak hours, I took advantage of their early bird winter pricing, which was very reasonable given the location and the quality of the facility.
While the view was a distraction, I was there to work. The lesson gave me a few things to focus on, though like everything in this game, it is definitely a work in progress. We focused heavily on trying to keep my lead elbow straight and extended well post-impact to eliminate my tendency to cast or “chicken-wing” the club. The instructor gave me an auditory cue to help with the timing—trying to hear the “whoosh” of the clubhead after the impact zone, rather than before it. It didn’t fix everything overnight, but hearing that audible swish out in front of the ball gave me a different feel to grind on for the next few weeks.
Beyond the swing thoughts, I spent a good amount of time analyzing their tech setup. They utilize the Inrange tracking system, which is fantastic for ball data, but I was most interested in their camera rigging. They use Velbon tripods to mount high-speed cameras for stable, dual-angle views. Being able to see my swing from down-the-line and face-on simultaneously was helpful for spotting where things break down. I am definitely planning to steal this idea for my home simulator. I have already started looking into sourcing some Velbon tripods to set up a similar dual-camera feedback loop in my basement.
If you can brave the travel, I highly recommend making the trip, especially if you can get there early. Hitting balls into that snow-covered, river backdrop while the city woke up was a unique experience I won’t forget anytime soon.
David is an avid golfer who loves walking Connecticut’s courses and playing alongside his family. He’s passionate about golf course architecture and one day hopes to play at Pebble Beach.
