OKLAHOMA STATE
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 22
GRAA March Practice Rank: 1
Practice Facility: Karsten Creek Golf Club
Designed by Tom Fazio, Karsten Creek Golf Club was built specifically for the OSU golf teams. After opening in 1994 it was named Best New Public Course by Golf Digest Magazine– joining the likes of Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course and Pinehurst Resort (No. 2). It was named in honor of Ping founder Karsten Solheim. An elaborate practice facility used exclusively by the men’s and women’s golf teams features tee boxes that surround the entire landing area to allow players to practice with any wind direction. The short-game area comes complete with three tee boxes to hit 40- to 80-yard shots and three putting greens with varied grass types, allowing players to prepare for a wide range of courses. An indoor practice facility was constructed in the fall of 1997 and is equipped with state-of-the-art video equipment for swing analysis.
NOTRE DAME
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 10
GRAA March Practice Rank: 2
Practice Facility: Warren Golf Course
The Robert and Marilyn Rolfs Family All-Season Varsity Golf Facility, which is located at the Warren Golf Course on the northeast corner of the University of Notre Dame’s campus, opened in 2006. The $2.1 million, 10,333 square foot facility is used by both the Irish men’s and women’s golf programs. There are six hitting stations located within the building that lead out to the Warren Golf Course practice range as well as a 5,000 square foot short game area that allows players to work on their swings from various distances.
OHIO STATE
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 24
GRAA March Practice Rank: 3
Practice Facility: Ohio State University Golf Club
Ohio State University has two golf courses considered by many to be masterpieces in classical golf course architecture. The Scarlet was completed in 1938 and the Gray was finished later in 1940. In 2006, Buckeye legend Jack Nicklaus oversaw a restoration project for the Scarlet course that also included enhancements to the practice range and short-game area. During the winter months, Scioto Country Club, where Nicklaus first learned the game, takes over as the Buckeye practice site – where they have a state-of-the-art indoor practice facility with launch monitors, simulators and a short game area.
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 17
GRAA March Practice Rank: 4
Practice Facility: Charlie Coe Golf Center
The Charlie Coe Golf Center has gained reputation as a model facility for college golf. Funded by private donations, it is located at the south end of the practice range at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club, which underwent a $5 million facelift in 1997. The 7,000 square foot, indoor-outdoor facility allows golfers a place to practice every day. There are three hitting bays that the players can use to practice with or without state-of-the-art video. The center also includes and expansive outdoor practice area designed exclusively for the OU golf teams. The south end of the complex has two satellite chipping greens, as well as a 12,000 square foot bent grass chipping area with seven bunkers to cover a myriad of sand and stance possibilities. There are also bent grass and Bermuda grass putting greens.
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 18
GRAA March Practice Rank: 5
Practice Facility: Blessings Golf Club
The Razorbacks took a giant leap forward in the spring of 2004 with the dedication of the Fred W. and Mary B. Smith Razorback Golf Training Facility at Blessings Golf Club in Johnson, Arkansas. Located on the practice tee of the Robert Trent Jones II designed course, the facility is home to six indoor-outdoor practice bays, an indoor video swing analysis station, office space and men’s and women’s locker room facilities for the Arkansas golf teams.
ARIZONA
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 7
GRAA March Practice Rank: 6
Practice Facility: Sewailo Golf Club
Not only does it feature an 18-hole championship course designed by former PGA Tour player and current Golf Channel analyst Notah Begay, Sewailo Golf Club is also home to one of the finest practice facilities in the state of Arizona. That’s why the Wildcats have called it home since 2013. The team is afforded exclusive access to a separate practice range, which includes bunkering and a pristine short game complex.
IOWA STATE
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 14
GRAA March Practice Rank: 7
Practice Facility: The Golf Performance Center
The Golf Performance Center, home for the Iowa State men’s and women’s golf programs, debuted in the fall of 2013. Located three miles from campus, the 16-acre home for Cyclone golf was built at a cost of $2 million and is used solely by the Iowa State golf teams. Renowned architect Keith Foster designed the complex. Foster and his team have provided renovations to Augusta National, Southern Hills Country Club and Colonial Country Club.
WISCONSIN
NCAA March Madness Rank:No. 5
GRAA March Practice Rank: 8
Practice Facility: University Ridge Golf Course
When the Wisconsin weather permits (aka rarely) the Badgers take their practice outside where they have two 9,000 square foot teeing areas and a bent grass short game practice complex. But most days you can find them honing their skills indoors at the $2.8 million Golf Training Center also located University Ridge.
NORTH CAROLINA
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 15
GRAA March PracticeRank: 9
Practice Facility: UNC Finley Golf Club
UNC Finley Golf Club has a state-of-the-art practice facility with five target greens to shoot at from the 500- foot long grass practice tee or from 42 mats. The range is designed to emulate on-course play, with target green placements that allow golfers to visualize shot shapes. In addition, bunker placements around the greens give golfers the on-course feel.
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 2
GRAA March Practice Rank: 10
Practice Facility: Birdwood Golf Course
With a mature 18-hole golf course that meanders through tall oaks, ponds and scenic terrain, Birdwood Golf Course was ranked by Golf Digestas one of the top-10 collegiate courses in the country. It has a terrific practice facility to boot, featuring a three-tired practice range and the $850,000 Lew Oehmig Short Game Practice Facility.
DUKE
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 4
GRAA March Practice Rank:11
Practice Facility: Duke University Golf Club
Having opened in 1957, it’s no denying that Duke University boast one of the most historic facilities in the country. Even with all of that history, they still have a state-of-the-art practice facility that stretches across more than 20 acres and includes a 20,000 square foot putting/chipping green.
SMU
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 21
GRAA March Practice Rank: 12
Practice Facility: Dallas Athletic Club
Not many college golf teams can claim that their home course was designed by The Golden Bear and has hosted a major championship. But that’s the case with SMU and the renowned Dallas Athletic Club. The club has an eight-acre practice facility with all the plush amenities you’d expect from a top-tier private club in north Texas.
LOUISVILLE
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 12
GRAA March Practice Rank: 13
Practice Facility: University of Louisville Golf Club
A GRAA Top 50 Practice Facility, U of L Golf Club features a 22-acre practice facility with a putting green, two chipping greens with bunkers and a multi-tiered practice range with seven target greens.
WICHITA STATE
NCAA March Madness Rank:No. 13
GRAA March Practice Rank:14
Practice Facility:Wichita State Golf Course Complex
The team has access to eight different golf clubs within 30 minutes of the university. However, most of their work is done on campus at the Wichita State Golf Course Complex. There they have an 18-hole course, two-sided practice range (one side with Bermuda and the other with Bent grass), a 120-yard wedge range, three undulating practice greens, and a heated indoor facility with V1 Pro technology and retractable doors that open onto the range.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 11
GRAA March Practice Rank: 15
Practice Facility: Pheasant Ridge
You have to love it when the best players in the area use the same range as everyone else. That’s what happens at UNI, where the golf teams practice at the most popular municipal golf center in Cedar Rapids – Pheasant Ridge. The team’s head coach, John Bermel, is also the head pro at Pheasant Ridge – where it’s $18 to ride 18 holes.
GONZAGA
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 3
GRAA March Practice Rank: 16
Practice Facility: The Stevens Center
Having just opened in January of 2014, this state-of-theart indoor training facility features a 40,000 square foot golf area, four Trackman launch monitors, a massive chipping and putting green, and team lounge.
KANSAS
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 8
GRAA March Practice Rank: 17
Practice Facility: Alvamar Golf Club
The Kansas golf programs have called the Knapheide Family Practice Facility at Alvamar Golf Club home since 2008 and changes are in the works. The fund-raising process has began to make the facility nearly five times larger with even more all-weather amenities. The current practice facility includes four heated hitting bays, one with a V1 video system featuring a Trackman launch monitor. The bays are part of a climate-controlled facility that allows the Kansas golfers to hit balls out onto the practice range at Alvamar Golf Club, regardless of the season.
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
NCAA March Madness Rank :No. 20
GRAA March Practice Rank: 18
Practice Facility: Twin Rivers & Bailey Golf Center
After a recent change in management, Twin Rivers Golf Club underwent an extensive renovation. The layout opened in 2001 and was designed by PGA Tour veteran Peter Jacobsen and renowned teaching pro Jim Hardy. Most important for the Baylor Bears is the Bill and Roberta Bailey Golf Center, the clubhouse for Baylor’s men’s and women’s golf teams. A highlight of the facility is the indoor practice area with state-of-the-art video equipment for analyzing the player swings.
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 1
GRAA March Practice Rank: 19
Practice Facility:University Club of Kentucky
The 36-Hole University Club of Kentucky features two large putting greens, an expansive practice tee with a huge assortment of target greens, and a full short game practice area with sculpted bunkers.
VCU
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 25
GRAA March Practice Rank: 20
Practice Facility:The Country Club of Virginia
The illustrious Country Club of Virginia (1908) is the home course and practice location for VCU golf teams. In addition, they share a practice facility one mile from campus with The First Tee of Richmond with a 330-yard practice range, a separate short game area, a three hole short loop perfect for practicing wedges from 40 to 80 yards and three practice holes which enable them to create almost any approach shot up to 180 yards. They also have an indoor facility to hit balls out onto the range. There also is an indoor putting green, FlightScope launch monitor, mirrors and V1 video.
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 23
GRAA March Practice Rank:21
Practice Facility: Eight different locations
The Mountaineers practice and compete at eight different home courses: Lakeview Golf Course, Mountainview Golf Course, The Links at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Mystic Rock, Nemacolin Golf Academy, Pete Dye Golf Club, The Pines Country Club and the Arnold Palmer Signature Course at Stonewall Resort. The practice facility at Nemacolin Golf Academy, a marquee site for WVU golf, features TrackMan indoor hitting bays, large putting greens, a short game area and a doubleended practice range.
UTAH
NCAA March Madness Rank :No. 9
GRAA March Practice Rank: 22
Practice Facility: Jeremy Ranch Golf & Country Club
The home course of the Utes, Jeremy Ranch Golf & Country Club, features a classic outdoor practice facility. But what sets them apart is the Trugolf Technique Prestige simulator with E6Golf Software, and the TruTrac Tracking System with an integrated swing analyzer. This simulator features a longer, fairway-style turf between the projector and the screen, creating a more immersive indoor golf experience. It also features more than 50 courses.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 16
GRAA March Practice Rank: 23
Practice Facility:University of Maryland Golf Course
The historic University of Maryland Golf Course (1955) offers an impressive practice facility with more than 40 hitting bays, six target greens, three practice greens and two practice bunkers (fairway and greenside). In addition to being the home course of the Terps, clinics, fittings, demo days and private lessons available to all interested players.
VILLANOVA
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 6
GRAA March Practice Rank:24
Practice Facility: White Manor Country Club and GolfTEC
After a redesign in 2003, White Manor Country Club was met with rave reviews that included being ranked No. 3 in “Modern Design” and No. 14 in the state of Pennsylvania by Golfweek. An all weather practice range with heated bays and covers offers six target greens ranging from 60 to 240 yards. The coolest element is a two-hole short game area with seven bunkers, which allows Villanova players to work on their bunker game from as far as 90 yards. The university also arranged a deal with a local GolfTEC so players can have access to high-speed cameras and launch monitors.
BUTLER UNIVERSITY
NCAA March Madness Rank: No. 19
GRAA March Practice Rank: 25
Practice Facility: Highland Country Club
Located just north of Indiana’s capital city, Highland Golf & Country Club is one of the most historic and prestigious clubs in Indianapolis. It’s tradition of immaculate conditions have drawn the Bulter University golf teams to call it their home course, where they practice near club members on the expansive driving range and short game areas.
