You’re standing on a platform built into the bleachers. The air smells like stale beer and history. Below you, the emerald grass of Fenway Park—the same patch of earth where Ted Williams once stood—is dotted with glowing white targets. You take a breath, adjust your grip, and realize you’re about to aim a pitching wedge directly at the Citgo sign. This is Upper Deck Golf Fenway. It’s weird. It’s loud. It’s expensive. Honestly, it’s one of the most polarizing sports experiences in Boston right now.
Most people see the Instagram ads and assume it’s just Topgolf with a different view. It isn't. Not really. At Topgolf, you’re in a climate-controlled bay with a chicken wing in one hand and a driver in the other. At Fenway, you’re at the mercy of the New England wind, swinging from a cramped platform, and you can’t bring your own clubs. You get a bag of specialized balls, a few wedges, and a tee time that moves faster than a pitch from Brayan Bello.
What is Upper Deck Golf Fenway exactly?
Basically, the stadium transforms into a giant, multi-level driving range for a few days. The organizers, a company called Upper Deck Golf that partners with MLB and NFL stadiums across the country, set up hitting bays throughout the upper levels of the park. You aren't hitting from the dugout or the pitcher's mound. You are way up there.
The "course" consists of nine holes, but you aren't walking anywhere. You stay in your bay for your allotted time. Each hole corresponds to a target on the field. If you hit the target, you get a par. If you land it in the inner circle, that’s a birdie. Miss completely? That's a bogey. It’s a scoring system that feels more like a carnival game than a round at TPC Boston, but that’s sort of the point.
Fenway is a tiny ballpark. It's intimate. This means the targets feel incredibly close yet deceptively difficult to hit because of the extreme downward angles. You're hitting from the "Upper Deck" (hence the name), which creates a vertical drop that messes with your internal yardage clock. A 100-yard shot doesn't play like 100 yards when you're sixty feet in the air.
The Gear and the "No Bag" Rule
Don't show up with your Titleist bag. Seriously. They won’t let you bring it in.
Upper Deck Golf Fenway provides all the equipment. You’ll find a selection of wedges (typically 52, 56, and 60 degrees) at each station. This is a point of contention for actual golfers. If you’re a 4-handicap who relies on the specific weighting of your Vokey wedges, you’re going to feel like you’re playing with toys. The clubs are standard-issue, often provided by sponsors like Cleveland Golf. They’re fine. They do the job. But they aren't your clubs.
The balls are different, too. You aren't hitting Pro V1s into the bullpen. They use a specific type of limited-flight ball. Why? Because if someone caught a pure strike with a real ball, they’d launch it right onto Lansdowne Street and potentially through a windshield. These balls feel a bit "clicky"—a little harder and less responsive than a premium ball—but they’re designed to react predictably to the targets on the grass.
Is the VIP package a total rip-off?
This is the question everyone asks in the group chat before booking.
Standard tee times get you the round and access to the "clubhouse" (usually one of the stadium's concourse bars). The VIP ticket, which usually runs about $50 to $75 more than the standard $80ish entry, adds a few perks. You get extra balls. You get "free" drinks (vouchers, really). You get access to more exclusive areas of the park.
If you just want the photo of yourself swinging with the Green Monster in the background, skip the VIP. Just do the standard. But if you want to spend three hours milking the experience and you plan on having three $16 beers anyway, the VIP math actually starts to make sense. Fenway is expensive on a Tuesday in July; it’s even more expensive when it’s turned into a boutique golf course.
The Reality of the "Wait Time"
Here is the part the marketing emails won't tell you: you will wait.
The event runs on a strict schedule, but golf is inherently slow. Even with limited balls per person, groups get backed up. You might find yourself standing on a concrete ramp for twenty minutes waiting for the group ahead of you to finish their "nine holes."
The vibe, however, makes the wait tolerable. There's music pumping through the stadium PA system. There are challenges. Sometimes they have a "closest to the pin" contest with actual prizes. It feels less like a quiet day at the links and more like a tailgate party where someone happened to bring golf clubs. If you're looking for the "sanctity of the game," you are in the wrong place. This is "bro-golf" at its peak, and I say that with some affection.
Navigating Fenway’s Weird Geometry
Hitting a golf ball at Fenway Park is a geometry lesson.
The targets are placed strategically. Some are near the 420-foot mark in deep center. Others are tucked near the foul poles. Because the seating at Fenway is notoriously cramped and angled toward the pitcher's mound, your "tee box" might be at a 45-degree angle to your target.
- The Wind Factor: Wind off the Charles River can do funny things inside the bowl of the stadium. It swirls. One minute it’s at your back, the next it’s pushing your ball toward the Pesky Pole.
- The Elevation: You have to aim short. If the target is 110 yards away, and you're 40 feet up, that ball is going to fly. A lot of people sail their shots over the targets because they forget about gravity.
- The Mat: You're hitting off high-quality turf mats. They’re forgiving. You can’t really "fat" a shot here; the club will just bounce off the mat and into the ball. Great for beginners, slightly annoying for those who want to spin the ball.
Comparing Fenway to Other Stadium Snatches
Upper Deck Golf isn't the only player in this game. Topgolf Live does similar events. However, Fenway is special.
I’ve seen these events at modern stadiums like SoFi or Jerry World. They’re flashy. They have giant screens. But they lack the soul of a place like Fenway. There is something genuinely soul-stirring about walking through the tunnels of a 100-plus-year-old park when it’s mostly empty. Seeing the shadows stretch across the infield while you're holding a sand wedge is a bucket-list item for a Red Sox fan, even if they never pick up a club otherwise.
The "stadium golf" trend is growing because it solves a problem: baseball stadiums sit empty for 280 days a year. This is a way for the Fenway Sports Group to monetize the dirt. For us, it’s a way to get inside the gates without paying $150 for a seat behind a pole.
Common Misconceptions and Frustrations
Let's clear some things up.
You do not get to walk on the grass. Don't even try. The grounds crew at Fenway treats that grass like a holy relic. If you so much as dip a toe off the designated paths, security will be on you faster than a New York minute. You are restricted to the concourses and the designated hitting bays.
Also, it is not a "quiet" event. If you’re the type of golfer who gets annoyed by someone coughing during your backswing, stay home. There will be people shouting, music blaring, and the occasional "Yankees Suck" chant for no reason other than muscle memory. It’s Boston.
Finally, the "scoring" is mostly honor system. There aren't caddies out there measuring your distance to the pin with a laser. You see where it lands, you and your friends argue about whether it stayed in the circle, and you move on. It’s low-stakes.
How to actually get tickets
They sell out. Fast.
Upper Deck Golf Fenway usually operates on a "waitlist" system. You sign up for an alert, they send an email with a presale code, and the prime Saturday afternoon slots vanish in about twenty minutes. If you want to go, you need to be ready to pull the trigger on a Thursday morning when the links go live.
If you miss the primary sale, keep an eye on secondary markets, but be careful. Tickets are often tied to specific names or time slots, making third-party transfers a bit of a headache compared to a standard game ticket.
Is it actually a "Golf" Event?
Not really. It’s an "Experience."
If you’re a serious golfer looking to work on your game, this is a waste of money. You can’t track your data. The balls don't fly true. The clubs are generic.
But if you’re someone who loves the Red Sox and wants a unique memory, it’s incredible. It’s about the view. It’s about the novelty of seeing Fenway from an angle few people ever do. It’s about that one shot where you perfectly arch a ball and watch it fall right into the bullseye in left-center field.
Actionable Tips for your Tee Time
If you’ve managed to snag a spot, don't just wing it.
First, show up early. Parking around Fenway is still a nightmare even when there isn't a game. The "Clubhouse" opens about 30 minutes before your first "hole," and it’s worth getting a drink and soaking in the atmosphere before you start swinging.
Second, dress in layers. It’s Boston. Even if it’s sunny, the wind inside the stadium bowl can be chilly, especially when you’re standing still in a hitting bay. Wear comfortable shoes; you’ll be walking plenty of stairs and concrete ramps.
Third, take the photos early. Once your "round" starts, the pace is brisk. If you spend five minutes trying to get the perfect lighting for your TikTok, the marshal is going to start nudging you to move. Get your stadium selfies on the way to the bay.
Fourth, check the rules on "extra balls." Usually, you can buy extra bags of balls at the event. If you’re having a rough hitting day, buying another 10 balls for $20 is often the difference between a frustrating 15 minutes and a great hour.
Lastly, don't overthink the swing. You’re hitting off a mat into a giant field. Just swing easy. The people who try to "crush it" are the ones who shank it into the empty seats in the row below. A nice, easy 75% swing is all you need to reach every target on the field.
You're there to have a beer and hit a ball in a place where legends play. Keep it simple.
- Check the Weather: If it's a total washout, they usually have a rain policy, but light drizzle usually means the event stays on.
- Check the App: Often these events use a digital scorecard. Download whatever they recommend in the confirmation email before you get to the gate.
- Invite Non-Golfers: This is one of the few golf events where your friends who don't play will actually have a blast. The targets make it accessible for everyone.