After the women’s golf team won their second conference championship last spring, the Sam Houston State University golf program is reaping the rewards of their success. This summer, construction began on a new state-of-the-art training facility that will become the first of its kind in the Southland Conference.
Scheduled to be completed by the end of September, the new complex will house an indoor-outdoor training facility including two bay areas with putting greens and video equipment that will allow the golfers to review and analyze every aspect of their game.
“Now we will be able to play rain or shine. There will be no days we can’t teach,” Head men and women’s golf coach Mike Dirks said.
According to Dirks, the facility will be comparable to similar complexes at schools in the Big XII and will be the first of its kind in the Southland Conference.
In addition to helping the current Bearkat golfers improve their game, Dirks hopes the new facility will also attract potential new players to the program.
“We’re already getting better players,” Dirks said. “The kids are excited about it. I think this will definitely help.”
According to Nate Nye, PGA Head Professional at Raven’s Nest, the facility will be used first and foremost by the golf program but will also be available for use by the PGM program.
“It (the golf facility) will definitely add value to the team’s ability to learn and train,” Nye said. “It’s all state of the art and cutting edge.”