These three terms get used interchangeably, and they shouldn't be. They're three different facilities for three different jobs - and if you turn up at the wrong one, you'll either be hitting into a net when you wanted to play holes, or vice versa. Here's the quick version.
Driving range: practice, no holes
A driving range is for hitting balls, full stop. You buy a bucket, you stand at a stall, and you work on your swing - usually the full swing, often with every club in the bag. There are no holes to play and no score to keep. Many BC ranges add covered bays, grass tees, or Toptracer on top. It's where you go to groove a move or warm up before a round.
Pitch & putt: real holes, two clubs
A pitch and putt is a genuine little golf course made of very short holes - most under 100 yards, plenty under 60. You play actual holes and keep score, but you only need a wedge and a putter. BC, and Vancouver especially, has a deep pitch-and-putt tradition; they're cheap, walkable in an hour, welcoming to beginners and families, and brilliant for the part of the game that actually decides your score: the short stuff inside 100 yards.
See the pitch & putt courses we list across BC.
Par-3 course: a step up in length
A par-3 course is also all short holes - every hole is a par 3 - but the holes are longer than a pitch and putt, often stretching from 100 up past 200 yards. That means you're pulling mid-irons and hybrids, not just a wedge. Think of it as the bridge between a pitch and putt and a full-length course: real shot-making and club selection, without the four-hour commitment or the full green fee.
Which should you go to?
- Working on your swing or warming up: driving range.
- Sharpening your short game, or new to golf: pitch & putt.
- Want to play real holes and practice iron play in under two hours: par-3 course.
All three live in our directory - you can browse every facility in BC and filter by type to find the right one near you.
Updated June 2026 · DrivingRangeGolf.com