The recent donation of the Cookeville Golf Club to Tennessee Tech has brought a change of scenery for both men and women’s golf teams. Ironwood Golf Course is no longer the team’s home course.
The Cookeville Golf Club has also been renamed to the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagle Golf Club as Tech has officially taken over the course.
Ironwood Golf Course has been home to Tennessee Tech golf since 1989 when head coach Bobby Nichols took over ownership of the course. Nichols wanted the teams to have more flexibility when it came to practicing and playing. The teams had limited access to the Cookeville Golf Club before this move.
Head men and women’s golf coach Polk Brown has high hopes that the university will take advantage of the donation and work to make it benefit both the teams and the university.
“With the right plans being formulated by those in charge, it can be a huge addition not only to Tech Golf, but to the Cookeville community as well,” said Brown. “The next three to five years are critical in terms of facility upgrades, proper personnel being established, and the university incorporating curriculum that deals with the course such as a turf management program.”
As a senior on the men’s team, Bryce Kendrick won’t get to experience the changes that happen to the course, but said is glad that these changes are going to happen.
“It’s a huge deal that Tech is now going to own this course,” said Kendrick. “Hopefully they will take advantage of the donation, put some money into it, and make it a course where Tech can host a tournament there.”
Freshman golfer Hollee Sadler hopes that in the next three years she is here that Tech will start to make improvements at the course.
“I’m looking forward to all of the opportunities that having this course presents to our team,” said Sadler. “I hope that part of the university’s plan involves putting in a new short game practice facility. I really think that would benefit our team the most.”
Plans for the golf course are still in the developing stages.
