The Bellevue Golf Course is getting a positive amount of play at its newly opened double-decker driving range, which replaces the original from 1968 with a technological flourish.

The driving range is part of an $11.3 million enterprise facility improvement project at the Bellevue Golf Course, and included in the city’s 2013-19 capital investment program plan. A portion of the project was paid for by borrowing from the parks capital fund, which will need to be paid back over the next several years. Construction started in September and was completed earlier this month, ahead of an April 18 opening.

“You just have a beautiful view of where you hit the ball,” said Bellevue Golf Course superintendent Randy Leifer of the upper level of the 46-stall double-decker driving range.

Golfers had been waiting 45 minutes to hit a few at the old asphalt-and-gravel range, said head professional and general manager Troy Rodvold. The new range has 36 covered stalls — 13 of those with overhead heaters on the lower level — and 10 open stalls on the upper deck. He added rainy weather and a lack of lighting is no longer a problem.

“Once they start golfing season, they’re golfing,” Rodvold said.

The driving range is also wired with fiber optics, with plans to provide golfers with Wi-Fi in the future. Golfers can purchase buckets of balls at machines, using a code from the club store or a prepaid card, which gives users a discount. The balls are run through a machine that disperses the balls through tubes up to the machines.

With the expanded space and range distance, Rodvold said more golf clinics can be added without disrupting the public’s use of the facility. A number of summer events are still being strategized.

The Bellevue Golf Course is managed for the city by Premier Golf Center, LLC. More information about the course can be found here.