DeBell Golf Club in Burbank recently upgraded a key element of its facility by improving its driving range, which opened in early January after the project began last November.
“We put in new irrigation [and] almost three acres of sod for the golfers to hit on and enjoy,” former DeBell Golf Club General Manager Jeffery Hastings said. “This was one of the areas we wanted to improve and it was very high on the list.”
To celebrate the project’s completion, DeBell hosted a reopening event where guitarist Robby Krieger of The Doors performed with a small group of musicians, including singer-songwriter Haley Reinhart. The two have been playing shows together for about eight years.
Golfers and music fans alike were excited to watch them perform up close and also tested out the new driving range.
Krieger shared his history with the club and hit the ceremonial first drive.
“I couldn’t believe how good I hit it,” Krieger said. “I’ve been in a few golf tournaments, you know, celebrity-type golf tournaments … I remember a couple of those really hitting a horrible shot in front of the crowd … So I was happy, hit a good shot today.”
The public course has 63 years of tradition, including the ringing of the bell on the 12th hole, which serves as a signal to players who can’t see the green from the tee of the blind-shot par 3. The bell also pays homage to Joseph A. DeBell, the man who donated the land the course sits on to the city.
The updated driving range compliments the 18-hole regulation course and the 9-hole par 3 and disc golf course.
“We’re happy that this is gonna be a community staple for everybody here in Burbank and Southern California for years to come,” Hastings said.
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