The fall of 1998 gave the LSU golf teams a course to call home and this semester they received a new clubhouse and practice facility. Prior to the building of the facility, team members had to get dressed elsewhere and had no place to store equipment, conduct team meetings or practice in inclement weather.
The 4,000 square feet facility cost approximately $850,000 to build. Private donations collected through the Tiger Athletic Foundation financed the building of the new facility. The facility features office space for coaches, men and women’s locker rooms, two indoor hitting bays, audio/video equipment for swing analysis and a putting surface.
“So far as helping their game, we’re just basically giving them everything in the world they need to be competitive in the NCAA arena,” said LSU women’s golf head coach Karen Bahnsen.
Players are most excited about the indoor hitting bays, which allows them to practice in any kind of weather. They can either hit from the bays onto the driving range or close the doors and hit into a net. Players can hit off tees from the indoor bays or straight off the ground.
“It’s helped us be able to practice when we wouldn’t be able to have it,” said junior women’s golfer Devon Day.
While hitting from the indoor bays and greens, the players are filmed by audio/visual equipment, allowing coaches to instantly instruct players on their swing. It also has technology that superimposes any player’s swing over the actual swing of an LSU golfer. The players then can adjust their swing to be more like successful golfers with similar styles.
“It provides a state-of-the-art opportunity for them to improve their golf game,” said TAF executive director Rick Perry. “It will greatly enhance the golf programs.”
The golfers agree and are excited it will improving their game.
“I consider myself very lucky to be a freshman as the building was finished,” said freshman Rachel Overstreet. “I will be able to use it all of my time at LSU.”
The facility combined with the existing golf course at the University Club should help the golf teams in recruiting.
“It’s real impressive,” Day said. “It’s one of the nicest in the country.”
The men’s golf team will compete in the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championships Monday and Tuesday.