By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA
San Angelo Country Club in the Northern Texas PGA Section recently underwent an extensive renovation that enhanced the course and the club’s practice facilities.
PGA of America General Manager Alayne White was an assistant professional at San Angelo from 2015 to 2020, and earned the 2023 Southern Texas PGA Section Assistant Golf Professional of the Year honor while at Austin Country Club.
White returned to San Angelo last spring to take on the GM role. With 430 golf members, 600 total members and upwards of 80 employees, White already has much on her daily plate. Add to that a course renovation, and we’re talking trial by fire for this award-winning PGA of America Golf Professional who recently married and is expecting her first child in early February.
They redid the tees and fairways with TifTuf Bermudagrass and the greens with 007XL Bent Grass. They also redesigned all the greens and bunker complexes.
“We closed incrementally from July through October of 2024,” White explains, “and enjoyed our grand opening this past October that was commemorated with a huge member-appreciation gala and grand opening ceremonies.”
On the practice facilities, they took an existing chipping green with one bunker and redesigned that space into a three-hole short course that offers three tee boxes and three pin locations per hole, enabling members to play different shots and experience a variety of chips and putts. With several options of where to tee off, all holes play at 90 yards or less, creating an ideal learning venue for juniors and beginners and a fun social opportunity for members of all ages and skill levels.
“There are five bunkers in this practice area with a couple of different types of sand that provide a unique golfing experience for members as they strive to improve their vital short game and bunker skills,” White adds.
They also have a designated chipping green and a designated putting green that members use to practice, and they doubled the size of their all-grass driving range, which has six target greens and allows for shots up to about 340 yards. Member feedback has been overwhelmingly positive on the whole project, as they realize they have something extra special at the club they call home.
