By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA
Driving ranges come in all shapes and sizes. Some have mats – others grass. Top-of-the-line practice balls versus 20-year-old Stratas that have seen better days. At Inspiration Golf Range & Activity Center in Lyons, New Jersey, these details are important, but the purpose of the place goes far beyond the golf itself.
Opened in 2022 on a VA medical campus, the Inspiration Golf Range is managed by the New Jersey Golf Foundation (NJGF) and its Executive Director, Chris Hunt. This public facility hosts PGA HOPE, Special Olympics and Els for Autism clinics, delivering transformative golf programming for individuals with special needs. Proceeds from the facility support these and other programs at the NJGF, the charitable arm of the New Jersey PGA Section.
Andy Brock, the 2000 New Jersey PGA Section Assistant Golf Professional of the Year and 2014 Section Golf Professional of the Year, is the PGA of America Head Golf Professional, a role he’s had for four years. Brock is a Quarter Century PGA Member and a Past President of the New Jersey PGA Section and the New Jersey Golf Foundation.
Closed under its previous ownership in 2018 and reopened and reimagined in 2022, Inspiration Golf Range has 40 hitting stalls with quality mats – 28 of them are covered for protection from the elements. The range is 120 yards wide and more than 300 yards deep.
“The range faces due north, so you never have to battle the sun,” Brock explains. “It’s one of the best setups I’ve seen at a golf range.”
The facility has a 2,000 sq. ft. artificial putting green that golfers can putt and chip on now, and a 10,000 sq. ft. chipping green that will open later this year.
Brock has a small golf shop on the property where he currently sells balls, gloves and hats, and has plans to expand upon those offerings in the future. He teaches during much of his time on the property – private lessons, clinics and PGA Jr. League help improve the skills of his juniors and provide opportunities to compete. Mike Artigliere, a PGA of America Associate Professional, also teaches full time.
Glenn Hockman and Charlie Wilcox, both veterans, are instrumental to the day-to-day operations of the facility. Hockman manages many of the daily tasks, including staffing, while Wilcox is more hands-on outdoors by picking the range, cleaning balls and ensuring customers have a stellar experience with every visit. Bob Sunday is another facility employee who contributes to an orderly operation by picking the range and keeping balls fully stocked for their busy operation.
“Even with the excessive rain we had last month, we still did better than June of 2024,” Brock boasts proudly. “This is the result of an effective operation and great golf balls. Our golfers rave about our golf balls all the time, and we start each year with 20,000 new range balls.”
They offer high school and college student discounts, as well as discounted rates for active military and veterans who frequent the facility.
Inspiration Golf Range’s programming is extensive. They have PGA HOPE programming every Wednesday from May to October, which often welcomes residents from the VA facility on the property. There is no advance registration necessary for these 90-minute weekly sessions. Brock says many great New Jersey PGA Section professionals will take time from the busy schedules at their own clubs to assist him and his team during these sessions. Brock also runs three 6-week PGA HOPE sessions in the spring, summer and fall.
Brock and Artigliere give many individual lessons during the season and conduct Nike junior clinics during the summer. Brock coaches the facility’s 13U PGA Jr. League team and hosts an Els for Autism six-week clinic as well.
“It was a dream of the NJPGA for so many years to have its own facility,” he says. “I left a club job to apply and interview for the role I have today, and brought a lot of experience and a great love for the game.”
Brock says this job has introduced him to an entirely different clientele than he had in previous positions, “one that he really enjoys serving.”
“Getting to help change the perception of golf is something I’ve been happy to do,” he concludes. “We’ve got a lot of good things going on.”
For more information about the Inspiration Golf Range & Activity Center, check out their website today!
