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BLACKSBURG – When the cold of winter invades Blacksburg in January, the Virginia Tech men’s and women’s golf programs will have a new place to get out of the elements. Work has begun on a new men’s and women’s golf center to be housed on the ground floor of Cassell Coliseum.

Construction began a month ago on the 2,600-square foot facility. It is being built in the same space that previously served as the home of the Hokies’ wrestling program before that group moved to its new facility on the third floor of the football locker room building.

“This new facility is a tremendous addition for both of our golf programs,” Director of Athletics Whit Babcock said. “This will allow for an on-campus practice and skills development area, with state-of-the-art equipment that is close to academic support, nutrition, sports medicine and strength and conditioning. This facility will help in recruiting and greatly enhance the Virginia Tech experience for our golfers.”

The new facility, when completed in time for second semester, will include two locker rooms, two head coach offices and two assistant coach offices. In addition, a conference room, a chipping and putting area and two state-of-the-art golf simulators are a part of the project.

Total cost of the project is approximately $600,000, and all money is in place through private donations. Reynolds Architects, Inc., of Blacksburg designed the facility, and Snyder and Associates General Contractors of Blacksburg is handling the construction.

“Our indoor facility will be a great addition to our program in many ways,” head women’s golf coach Carol Robertson said. “It will be a home on campus for both teams since it includes locker rooms, coaches’ offices and a team meeting room. Most importantly, we will have two simulators, plus a putting and chipping area that will be vital after Christmas break. None of this would be possible without the help of our generous donors.”

The simulators are Foresight Sports’ GC2 launch monitors. Both will have HMT head measurement systems attachments. These top-flight simulators are much more accurate indoors and allow for better evaluation of players’ games. Players also will be able to play simulated games on a wide variety of prominent courses nationwide to sharpen their games during inclement weather and at night.

"The addition of the new indoor practice facility, featuring simulators, a short game area, and locker rooms gives the players instant access to a state-of-the-art practice facility on campus,” head men’s golf coach Jay Hardwick said. “Coupled with our Virginia Tech Golf Team Complex located at the Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech – the eighth-ranked campus course in the country (according to Golfweek) – we now have one of the most complete practice facilities in all of college golf. Thanks to the generosity of our golf team supporters and donors, our players will have locations both on and off campus at which to practice."

This facility will allow more practice and instruction during winter months and inclement weather. The location of the facility is also advantageous in its proximity to nutrition, sports medicine, strength and conditioning and student academic support.

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