By Design - Winter 2014

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JANE AND WALT DENNIS GOLF PERFORMANCE CENTER
A n institution with a rich
golfing history, The Ohio
State University’s men’s and
women’s teams has won a number
of national titles in the last 30 years.
The university is also home to the
Scarlet course, designed by Alister
MacKenzie and regarded as one of
the best collegiate courses in the U.S.
Wanting their players to stay
sharp throughout the winter, the
university’s teams are now also
benefiting from a new $6.3 million,
state-of-the-art indoor facility, which
included design contributions by Dr.
Michael Hurdzan, ASGCA Fellow,
and his son and business partner Dr.
Christopher Hurdzan.
The Jane and Walt Dennis Golf
Performance Center is a unique
facility that allows players to practice
the entire range of short game skills
from 60 yards and in. The center
also features an undulating green
and bunker complex, a putting
surface divided into sections to
accommodate different Stimpmeter
speeds, and a hydraulic putting
‘floor’ which is equipped with
computerized technology which
allows players to analyze putting
techniques and practice sidehill lies.
Located to the north of the Scarlet
Course clubhouse and beside the
eighteenth fairway, the 20,000 sq
ft facility is also features players’
lounges, locker rooms, a weight
training and conditioning area and a
club-repair room.
A separate building built on the
practice range includes five heated
driving bays that are equipped with
video and tracking technology,
helping to provide golfers with
immediate feedback on aspects of the
play such as swing and ball flight.
Location:
Columbus, Ohio
Architect:
Michael Hurdzan, Ph.D., ASGCA Fellow
Hurdzan Golf Design
Project summary:
Hurdzan Golf Design helped
develop a unique indoor practice
centre, which includes artificial
turf and real sand bunkers, at The
Ohio State University close to the
institution’s famed Scarlet Course.
The result is a facility with large tee
areas, fairway, collar, green, rough
and bunkers, elevation changes up
to eight feet, slopes up to 2:1 and
green speeds commonly found on
bermuda and bentgrass.
14 | By Design