Universities Spend Big Money on Golf

A look into 5 collegiate golf facilities and the money behind them.

September 13, 2021

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Hey Golfers -

Men’s and Women’s collegiate golf is a non-revenue generating sport. That hasn’t stopped universities from spending big money to support their programs. Let’s take a look at five fantastic collegiate golf facilities.

  • Arizona State University

  • Michigan State University

  • University of Illinois

  • Wake Forest University

  • Iowa State University

Arizona State University

Arizona State has long been a national power in collegiate golf, turning out Men’s and Women’s professional golfers left and right.

The Top 5 ASU Sun Devil PGA Tour Career Earnings entering the 2021 PGA Tour Season:

  • Phil Mickelson: $92,107,252

  • Paul Casey: $31,750,123

  • Pat Perez: $26,557,345

  • Jon Rahm: $22,069,889

  • Billy Mayfair: $20,303,642

Arizona State lists 17 players that have cashed checks on the PGA Tour in the lifetime of their program, remarkable.

In 2018, the Sun Devils moved into their new facility at Papago Golf Course. The Sun Devils received significant donations from the Mickelson family and The Thunderbirds. And they needed it; the cost of the facility was a staggering $10 million.

Highlights of the facility include:

  • 7,000 indoor square feet

  • 3,000 square foot patio

  • 22,000 square foot practice range

  • 5,600 square foot tee area with three different types of grass

  • Six-acre range

  • Four-acre short game facility

  • 40,000 square feet of practice greens

  • Men’s and Women’s locker rooms

  • Fitness center

  • Kitchen

  • Academic rooms

  • Golf lab

Michigan State University

Michigan State has dominated the Big Ten in women’s golf, winning six conference championships since 2011, including 2021. The women’s program has put 15 women into the PGA Tour.

Michigan State unveiled the Lasch Family Golf Center in 2016, and it is a masterpiece. At the cost of $6 million, the facility was funded by two primary donors. The Lasch family donated $2 million, and the Skandalaris family donated $3 million.

Highlights of the facility include:

  • 15,000 indoor square feet

  • 5,000 square foot indoor practice area

  • 20,000 square foot outdoor putting green

  • Men’s and Women’s locker rooms

  • Video room

  • Weight room

  • Kitchen

  • Lounge

University of Illinois

The Illinois Men’s golf team continues to dominate under the direction of Mike Small. Illinois consistently turns out PGA Tour players and competes for Big Ten Championships, winning a staggering eleven Big Ten Conference Titles since 2009.

Illinois has had two recent NCAA Individual Champions:

  • Scott Langley - 2010

  • Thomas Pieters - 2012

Illinois debuted its indoor practice facility in 2007 at the cost of $5.2 million. In 2015, Illinois made significant additions to their practice facility with a massive project of an outdoor facility for $2 million - Illinois has invested more than $7 million into their golf facilities.

Highlights of the facility include:

  • 24-acre outdoor practice facility

  • Multiple grass types

  • 55,000 square feet of practice greens

  • 56,000 square feet of practice tees

  • 18,000 square feet of fairways and greenside bunkers

  • 14,000 indoor square foot facility

  • 6,300 square foot indoor practice facility

  • Six heated hitting bays

  • Men’s and Women’s locker rooms

  • Equipment repair room

  • Team lounge

  • Academic area

Wake Forest University

Wake Forest has been a consistent competitor in Collegiate golf throughout the years, producing PGA Tour stars.

  • Jay Haas

  • Scott Hoch

  • Billy Andrade

  • Bill Haas

  • Webb Simpson

  • Will Zalatoris

Wake Forest opened the Arnold Palmer Golf Complex in 2010, with significant renovations coming in 2016. The state-of-the-art golf facility had a price tag of $4.5 million.

Highlights of the facility include:

  • 10,000 square foot indoor facility

  • 17 acres of Bermuda grass

  • 5 practice greens

  • 24 practice bunkers

  • 3,500 square-foot learning center

  • Men’s and Women’s locker rooms

  • Player’s lounge

Iowa State University

An under-the-radar facility is Iowa State University. Some may not associate Iowa State with strong Men’s and Women’s golf programs compared to the national powers, but they have had plenty of success in both programs. Sporting multiple individual titles and Regional appearances.

Iowa State debuted the Golf Performance Center in 2013 at the cost of $2 million.

Highlights of the facility include:

  • 16 acres

  • 400-yard practice range

  • 360-degree tee stations

  • 2 fairways with multiple grass types

  • Practice bunkers with multiple sand types

  • 9 practice greens

  • Men’s and Women’s locker rooms

  • Player lounge

  • Four heated hitting bays

  • Hitting and putting studio

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Have yourself a Monday, talk to you next week!

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