University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gopher Golf Facilities
5/30/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Golden Gopher Golf Facilities
TWIN CITIES GOLF ONE OF THE NATION’S TOP GOLF AREAS |
The Gopher Golf Team has two home 18-hole championship golf courses:
Les Bolstad University of Minnesota Golf Course
- Hosted the Big Ten Championships nine times, most recently in the spring of 1999.
- Located on campus
- Site of the men’s and women’s golf team practice facility
In August of 2007, the practice facility underwent a half million dollar renovation. Former Gopher Tom Lehman re-designed the facility with the intent on giving the players a place to practice and test all aspects of their short game.
Designed to focus on short game (inside 120 yards), the team practice facility has six separate putting surfaces. Lehman designed each green to be styled differently and present players with different types of shots to play. There is a Pinehurst style green and Winged Foot style green as well as traditional and modern U.S. styled greens. The facility is designed to allow players to hit from many different areas to each of the greens.
The facility also includes two large tee boxes for hitting balls and a wedge fairway equipped with yardage markers to work on distance control up to 120 yards.
Scheduled to open in the spring of 2008, the team area at the Les Bolstad Golf Course will be the finest collegiate practice facility in the country.
Click here for pictures (coming in 2008)
Tournament Players Course (TPC) of the Twin Cities
- Photo Album
- Host of the Champions Tour 3M Championship is located 20 minutes north of campus.
- Designed by Arnold Palmer and former Gopher Tom Lehman
In July of 2002, the University of Minnesota golf programs and the Tournament Players Club of the Twin Cities announced plans for the TPC of the Twin Cities to become the new home for Golden Gopher golf. The Gophers will have special access to the Club including practice and play privileges during the fall and spring seasons. The teams will have access to the back end of the practice area and special short-game area for privacy.
In addition, the Senior PGA Tour’s 3M Championship, held annually at the TPC of the Twin Cities, has pledged $150,000 to support the Gopher golf team and is working on a scholarship endowment for future years.
“The University of Minnesota golf team displayed incredible resilience and determination during a very difficult time,” PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said. “We are pleased to be able to offer our support to Coach Brad James and his national championship team through the use of our Tournament Players Club and the financial commitment of the 3M Championship.
“This is yet another illustration of how the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour support the communities in which they play,” Finchem added. “We also believe strongly in the importance of collegiate golf programs and the powerful impact they have on developing future Tour members and leaders within the golf industry.”
The use of the TPC of the Twin Cities will be particularly important to the continued success of the team, James said.
“This is the greatest thing that can happen for our recruiting efforts at the University of Minnesota, to have a world-class practice facility like the TPC of the Twin Cities,” said James. “This is a great opportunity for the University of Minnesota and the TPC of the Twin Cities to form a long-lasting relationship, and I look forward to working with the TPC in the future.”
“The members and staff at the TPC of the Twin Cities are very excited about adding the University of Minnesota Gopher golf teams to our facility,” said Ken Lane, General Manager and Director of Golf at the TPC of the Twin Cities. “Local residents and companies have another proud reason to enjoy membership at the TPC.”
The Tournament Players Club of the Twin Cities is a private golf club that opened in June 2000 as Minnesota’s first and only PGA Tour golf facility. The championship golf course, designed by Arnold Palmer along with PGA Tour player consultant and former Golden Gopher All-American Tom Lehman, is located approximately 20 minutes north of the University of Minnesota’s downtown campus.
Tournament Players Club of the Twin Cities
11444 Tournament Players Parkway
Blaine, MN 55449
Phone: 763/795-0800 Fax: 763/795-0840
From Minneapolis:
Take 35W North to Exit 32, 95th Avenue. Turn right and follow Radisson Road (County Road 52) for 3.1 miles passing through the intersection of 109th Avenue. Continue .8 miles from the intersection of 109th Avenue to Tournament Players Parkway (Deacon's Walk Residential Community) and take a left. Follow the parkway for .4 miles to the TPC Clubhouse on the left.
From St. Paul:
Take 35E North to 694/10 West, bearing right on Highway 10 to 35W North. Follow 35W North to Exit 32, 95th Avenue. Turn right and follow Radisson Road (County Road 52) for 3.1 miles passing through the intersection of 109th Avenue. Continue .8 miles from the intersection of 109th Avenue to Tournament Players Parkway (Deacon's Walk Residential Community) and take a left. Follow the parkway for .4 miles to the TPC Clubhouse on the left.
From Mpls/St. Paul Airport:
Take Highway 5 East toward St. Paul, Exit on 35E North and follow the St. Paul instructions above.
From Western Suburbs:
Take Highway 169N to Interstate 694E to 35W North. Exit on 95th Avenue (exit 32) and turn right. Follow Radisson Road (County Road 52) for 3.1 miles passing through the intersection of 109th Avenue. Continue .8 miles from the intersection of 109th Avenue to Tournament Players Parkway (Deacon's Walk Residential Community) and take a left. Follow the parkway for .4 miles to the TPC Clubhouse on the left.
OR:
Take Highway 169N to 610 East over the Mississippi River. Exit on Central Avenue (Hwy 65). Turn left onto Central and follow to 109th Avenue. Take a right onto 109th and go 1/2 mile to Tournament Players Parkway (Deacon's Walk Residential Community). Take a left and follow the parkway approximately 1 mile to the TPC Clubhouse on the right.
