Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics
Mustang Golf Academy Officially Opened with Ribbon Cutting
4/28/2021 9:18:00 AM | Men's Golf, Women's Golf
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- The Mustang Golf Academy at Dairy Creek Golf Course is officially open.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held April 16 at the $2 million facility, located at the golf course off Highway 1 between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay.
"Not many golf programs around the country have access to such an amazing practice facility, let alone one so close to campus," said Cal Poly director of athletics Don Oberhelman. "This will have a positive impact on our golf program for the next generation. I'm so proud of our Cal Poly community for stepping up to support these amazing student-athletes."
The project began with preliminary grading last July and includes 2,400 square feet of floor space. The Mustang Golf Academy, 100 percent funded from private sources, includes two covered hitting bays, coaches' offices, a team lounge and refueling station, club storage space and bathrooms.
"In a round of golf, every shot technically counts for the same. However, there's always one pivotal shot in the momentum of a round or even a career. Today is one of those days in the trajectory of our golf program. It is a clutch day, emblematic of our dreams and team efforts accumulated over many years," Mustang first-year men's golf coach Phil Rowe said at the initial ribbon-cutting.
"Here we stand in a space that makes concrete our ambition and will drive us onward toward making our impact, a stampede heard around the nation as we contend for championships," Rowe added.
"It is an exciting time for Cal Poly golf with the addition of the Mustang Golf Academy," said Sofie Aagaard, who coached the Cal Poly women's golf program to its second Big West Conference championship last week. "We now have a place to call home where our student-athletes can gather before and after practice, and a place to hang in between practice and school work.
"A place like this will help us grow a strong community and family feel within the golf program and between the teams that will both support and challenge us to get better and more successful," Aagaard added. From a student-athlete time management standpoint, this will help us all to be more productive with our weekly schedules by cutting travel time and down time on an everyday basis."
Members of the golf teams like their new home as well.
"As someone who has to study a lot, I am really excited to use this facility, as attending online classes and practicing between them is going to be made a lot easier and efficient," said men's team senior Adil Bir Singh, an electrical engineering student. "This program has grown immensely in terms of competition, belief and infrastructure in the three years that I have been here, and this facility will surely propel it forward to a bigger and brighter future.
"I am sure I represent everyone on my team in saying that we as a group are committed toward getting better grades in the classroom and winning championships on the golf course," Bir Singh added. "Cal Poly has been a symbol of excellence for its academics, and it is time to make it a symbol of excellence for golf. This dream is not far away."
"The Mustang Golf Academy will help us level up both men's and women's teams by providing us a place to practice, have meetings, and study," added business administration major Jensen Jalufka of the women's program. "We are so grateful for this facility and it's going to give us the opportunity to improve our games and win championships for Cal Poly."
The project is the finishing touch on what will be one of the finest golf practice centers anywhere. In 2018, Cal Poly reached an agreement with the County of San Luis Obispo to save three green complexes and a fairway on Dairy Creek Golf Course property, which nearly two years ago closed nine holes due to water issues.
The Nos. 1, 7 and 8 greens have been maintained to provide an outstanding short game practice facility for the teams and public. The seventh fairway has been regrassed out at 200 yards to enable approach shots from various distances to be practiced as well.
In all, there are five practice tees, four green-side bunkers, two fairway bunkers and three chipping/putting green areas. Reconstruction of the driving range tee to include Top Golf's Top Tracer Technology also was part of the project.
"Our students get one of the best educations in the country and, as donors, we should try and provide them with the best facilities that we can so that they can also compete athletically," said Bill Swanson, the project's major donor. "The Academy provides them with a short game course, driving range, hitting bays, state of the art Trackman equipment and a place to study and learn close to campus. This is a facility all Mustangs past, present and future, should be proud of going forward."
The facility at the Dairy Creek Golf Course, will be more convenient for members of the Cal Poly men's and women's golf programs.
"They will save valuable time that was used to travel to other areas in the area to practice," said Swanson. "It will also provide a quiet space to study and learn. For the coaches, it is a perfect area to be able to help our student-athletes perfect their golf games. It will also be a great recruiting tool as other universities will lack what the Cal Poly Mustang Golf Academy can provide.
"It is a place that all of us can call a Mustang Home. It is for our women's and men's golf teams. As donors, we think they are special and deserve the best we can give them to be able to compete at the national level," Swanson added.
Rowe and Aagaard spoke at each of the ribbon-cutting ceremonies.
"Thank you to one and all," said Rowe, "to Don Oberhelman and Cal Poly Athletic Administration, our development staff and then crucially to those who shared in the vision and made today a possibility. Our gratitude to Bill and Cheryl Swanson. We are honored by your investment in us, for your values and legacy that will inspire generations of student-athletes."
Gallery: (4-28-2021) Mustang Golf Academy Construction
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held April 16 at the $2 million facility, located at the golf course off Highway 1 between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay.
"Not many golf programs around the country have access to such an amazing practice facility, let alone one so close to campus," said Cal Poly director of athletics Don Oberhelman. "This will have a positive impact on our golf program for the next generation. I'm so proud of our Cal Poly community for stepping up to support these amazing student-athletes."
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"In a round of golf, every shot technically counts for the same. However, there's always one pivotal shot in the momentum of a round or even a career. Today is one of those days in the trajectory of our golf program. It is a clutch day, emblematic of our dreams and team efforts accumulated over many years," Mustang first-year men's golf coach Phil Rowe said at the initial ribbon-cutting.
"Here we stand in a space that makes concrete our ambition and will drive us onward toward making our impact, a stampede heard around the nation as we contend for championships," Rowe added.
"It is an exciting time for Cal Poly golf with the addition of the Mustang Golf Academy," said Sofie Aagaard, who coached the Cal Poly women's golf program to its second Big West Conference championship last week. "We now have a place to call home where our student-athletes can gather before and after practice, and a place to hang in between practice and school work.
"A place like this will help us grow a strong community and family feel within the golf program and between the teams that will both support and challenge us to get better and more successful," Aagaard added. From a student-athlete time management standpoint, this will help us all to be more productive with our weekly schedules by cutting travel time and down time on an everyday basis."
Members of the golf teams like their new home as well.
"I am sure I represent everyone on my team in saying that we as a group are committed toward getting better grades in the classroom and winning championships on the golf course," Bir Singh added. "Cal Poly has been a symbol of excellence for its academics, and it is time to make it a symbol of excellence for golf. This dream is not far away."
"The Mustang Golf Academy will help us level up both men's and women's teams by providing us a place to practice, have meetings, and study," added business administration major Jensen Jalufka of the women's program. "We are so grateful for this facility and it's going to give us the opportunity to improve our games and win championships for Cal Poly."
The project is the finishing touch on what will be one of the finest golf practice centers anywhere. In 2018, Cal Poly reached an agreement with the County of San Luis Obispo to save three green complexes and a fairway on Dairy Creek Golf Course property, which nearly two years ago closed nine holes due to water issues.
The Nos. 1, 7 and 8 greens have been maintained to provide an outstanding short game practice facility for the teams and public. The seventh fairway has been regrassed out at 200 yards to enable approach shots from various distances to be practiced as well.
In all, there are five practice tees, four green-side bunkers, two fairway bunkers and three chipping/putting green areas. Reconstruction of the driving range tee to include Top Golf's Top Tracer Technology also was part of the project.
"Our students get one of the best educations in the country and, as donors, we should try and provide them with the best facilities that we can so that they can also compete athletically," said Bill Swanson, the project's major donor. "The Academy provides them with a short game course, driving range, hitting bays, state of the art Trackman equipment and a place to study and learn close to campus. This is a facility all Mustangs past, present and future, should be proud of going forward."
The facility at the Dairy Creek Golf Course, will be more convenient for members of the Cal Poly men's and women's golf programs.
"They will save valuable time that was used to travel to other areas in the area to practice," said Swanson. "It will also provide a quiet space to study and learn. For the coaches, it is a perfect area to be able to help our student-athletes perfect their golf games. It will also be a great recruiting tool as other universities will lack what the Cal Poly Mustang Golf Academy can provide.
"It is a place that all of us can call a Mustang Home. It is for our women's and men's golf teams. As donors, we think they are special and deserve the best we can give them to be able to compete at the national level," Swanson added.
Rowe and Aagaard spoke at each of the ribbon-cutting ceremonies.
"Thank you to one and all," said Rowe, "to Don Oberhelman and Cal Poly Athletic Administration, our development staff and then crucially to those who shared in the vision and made today a possibility. Our gratitude to Bill and Cheryl Swanson. We are honored by your investment in us, for your values and legacy that will inspire generations of student-athletes."
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Men's Golf
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