Utah Tech University’s men’s and women’s golf teams are teeing off to new heights with their “world-class” practice facility at Black Desert Resort this coming fall.
“Facilities is one area that we can, as an institution, be top of the league or close to the top,” said Ken Beazer, executive director of athletics during his acceptance speech March 31, 2022.
Brooke Gelinas, a freshman dental hygiene major from Bonney Lake, Washington, said it is amazing to see a young, Division I program making these improvements for the golf teams at Utah Tech.
Head women’s golf coach Lindsey Stucki said, “We currently have great golf courses to practice here in St. George, but a dedicated practice facility is going to be a game changer in helping our student-athletes’ development.”
The new golf facility will include two, full-size chipping greens and a putting green. The athletes will also be able to hit shots up to 140 yards along with additional sand bunkers and hitting areas.
“One of the things that is very exciting is that the practice facility will be maintained just like the golf course, so the players will have tournament conditions every single day to practice,” said head men’s golf coach Brad Sutterfield.
Sutterfield said there are plans to include more facilities such as locker rooms, a workout area, an indoor hitting bay, coaches’ offices, a kitchen and a study area for the student-athletes.
Gelinas said she is looking forward to spending more one-on-one time with her team in the facility and with the coaches.
Not only will the facility help current athletes enhance their game, but it will also help with recruiting future athletes.
“Recruiting has already been helped tremendously even though the facility is not done yet,” Sutterfield said. “We already have one of the best recruiting classes we have ever had coming in next year, and the fact that our facility will be done by then was a huge factor in our recruits’ decisions.”
Both the men’s and the women’s golf teams will have a place to work on their putting, wedges and short game to help the team ultimately compete at a higher level.
“Black Desert Resort has been an unbelievable partner for us and has built this practice area that will be unmatched in the area,” Sutterfield said.
The new facility is set to be completed and ready for athletes to excel, learn and hone their golf skills Sept. 1.
