Indiana University Dedicates The Pfau Course at Indiana University
8/16/2019 1:03:00 PM | Men's Golf, Women's Golf, Varsity Club, Capital
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie presided over the dedication of The Pfau Course at Indiana University Friday afternoon. Designed by world-class golf course architect Steve Smyers and two-time major winner and Hoosier native Fuzzy Zoeller, The Pfau Course is a premiere, championship golf facility that not only rivals any layout in the state, but is among the best public golf courses in the Midwest.
McRobbie and Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass led this afternoon's dedication ceremony, which took place at the new George Thomas Clubhouse overlooking the new course. Other speakers at the event included project benefactor Norman "Ned" Pfau, women's golf coach Clint Wallman, men's golf coach Mike Mayer, senior women's golf team member Emma Fisher, and senior men's golf team member Jack Sparrow.
The course will officially open in the spring of 2020.
"The new Pfau Course at Indiana University will benefit the university, its outstanding student athletes and the general public for many decades to come," said IU President Michael A. McRobbie. "This beautiful and long-anticipated course will challenge IU golfers to strengthen their skills, and it will help IU recruit the next generation of outstanding young golfers. Indeed, it will serve as a rigorous test for championship-level players from IU and around the Big Ten, while also serving as a highly playable and enjoyable course for passionate golfers from our city, our state, and the Midwest region.
"We are deeply grateful to Ned and Sue Pfau for their wonderful gift and for their longstanding support of IU and of IU Athletics. We also want to extend the university's most sincere thanks to IU alumnus George Thomas Jr. and his family and to the project's founding donors. Without their support, the construction of this course would not have been possible."
The Pfau Course at Indiana University is named after IU alumni Ned and Sue Pfau in recognition of their major gift to the Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign for Athletics. This is the latest gift from the Pfau family, who have an incredible history of support and service for IU Athletics and its student-athletes.
"This day has been a long time in coming, and we are tremendously grateful to Ned and Sue Pfau and their family, George Thomas, and our other donors for making it a reality," said IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass. "Thanks to them, we now have a first-class golf course worthy of the Indiana University name. I am most proud that The Pfau Course at Indiana University has improved the environmental impact and sustainability of the golf course, enhanced its economic viability, and preserved its accessibility to students, faculty, staff and the public.
"It is a beautiful and welcomed addition to the IU Athletics, Indiana University and Bloomington communities."
The Pfau Championship Golf Course is on the same eastside Bloomington property previously occupied by the IU Championship Golf Course since the 1950s. But other than its location, everything about the Pfau Course is different from its predecessor. The new course provides the IU golf programs with one of the nation's best golf facilities, and all golfers with a new must-see, must-experience destination golf course just minutes from the Indiana University campus.
Smyers' design offers a unique, world-class layout that is set in the natural beauty of southern Indiana. Smyers utilized the area's natural topography in designing the course, while also highlighting the combination of forest, open space and forest edges that result in both breathtaking views and a wonderful golfing test.
It's a venue worthy of hosting not only Big Ten Championship golf, but also regional and national amateur and professional championship events. It rivals any of the others that Smyers has designed over a professional career that stretches more 40 years and includes designs in six continents.
"It reminds me of the quote of the famous golfer Bobby Jones – he said the more he studied it, the more he loved it. The more he loved it, the more he studied it. I think that's true for my feelings about this property here at IU. It's a fantastic place for golf," Smyers said.
Indiana University's new home golf course is also environmentally friendly. The course features Meyer zoysia fairways, a slow-growing dense grass that prevents weeds from penetrating the surface. Zoysia is also a warm-weather grass that is both heat and drought-tolerant, another net plus for the environment with the course's regular maintenance. The first cut of rough, meanwhile, is blue grass, which will extend 8-10 yards off each fairway. The second cut of rough is a fescue blend - Irish links - which has a wispy look and frames each hole. The final area of rough is a second native grass – IU Links – a mixture of all types of grass. Neither the Irish Links nor the IU Links areas will require irrigation or mowing, another environmental benefit.
The course will also be economically sustainable without any need for subsidy by the Athletic Department or the University, even though there will be discounts for IU students, faculty and staff.
The course will offer the opportunity for a supreme golfing test for championship-caliber players. The Par-71 design features 147 bunkers and measures 7,715 yards from the championship tees. While those attributes make it appealing to elite players, its design also focused on playability and accessibility. There are seven tee options starting at 4,586 yards, and there are only two holes with forced carries into the greens, making it playable for all skill levels.
In addition to the 18-hole layout, the golf facility will also include a world-class practice area. The driving range will offer the opportunity for players of all ages and skill levels to work on their swings from either grass tees or mat surface areas. A short-game area adjacent to the clubhouse, meanwhile, will allow players to work on other aspects of their game, including putting, chipping and bunker play. The driving range will also include concession areas, managed by Upland Brewery. While the menu is not finalized, beer and hot sandwiches will be among the available items.
The final component of the new golf facility is the George Thomas Clubhouse. Located immediately south of the IU Foundation off the IN-45/46 Bypass, this facility offers all the amenities one would expect with this caliber of course, including breathtaking views out of its east windows. Like the new driving range, the George Thomas Clubhouse will include a concession area managed by Upland Brewery and will offer a variety of food and beverage items, including beer. The Pro Shop, meanwhile, will feature a wide selection of apparel for women, men, juniors as well as a full line of clubs, balls, shoes and accessories.
The end result is a course and golf facility that offers a supreme test to the championship golfer, while also being economically accessible to the high-handicapper or casual golfer. It's a wonderful addition to IU's world class athletic facilities, and an equally important addition for the Indiana golfing community.
For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign is taking place on all IU-administered campuses including IU Bloomington, IUPUI, IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend and IU Southeast. The campaign will conclude in June 2020 to coincide with IU's bicentennial year celebration. To learn more about the campaign, its impact and how to participate, visit forall.iu.edu.
McRobbie and Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass led this afternoon's dedication ceremony, which took place at the new George Thomas Clubhouse overlooking the new course. Other speakers at the event included project benefactor Norman "Ned" Pfau, women's golf coach Clint Wallman, men's golf coach Mike Mayer, senior women's golf team member Emma Fisher, and senior men's golf team member Jack Sparrow.
The course will officially open in the spring of 2020.
"The new Pfau Course at Indiana University will benefit the university, its outstanding student athletes and the general public for many decades to come," said IU President Michael A. McRobbie. "This beautiful and long-anticipated course will challenge IU golfers to strengthen their skills, and it will help IU recruit the next generation of outstanding young golfers. Indeed, it will serve as a rigorous test for championship-level players from IU and around the Big Ten, while also serving as a highly playable and enjoyable course for passionate golfers from our city, our state, and the Midwest region.
"We are deeply grateful to Ned and Sue Pfau for their wonderful gift and for their longstanding support of IU and of IU Athletics. We also want to extend the university's most sincere thanks to IU alumnus George Thomas Jr. and his family and to the project's founding donors. Without their support, the construction of this course would not have been possible."
The Pfau Course at Indiana University is named after IU alumni Ned and Sue Pfau in recognition of their major gift to the Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign for Athletics. This is the latest gift from the Pfau family, who have an incredible history of support and service for IU Athletics and its student-athletes.
"This day has been a long time in coming, and we are tremendously grateful to Ned and Sue Pfau and their family, George Thomas, and our other donors for making it a reality," said IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass. "Thanks to them, we now have a first-class golf course worthy of the Indiana University name. I am most proud that The Pfau Course at Indiana University has improved the environmental impact and sustainability of the golf course, enhanced its economic viability, and preserved its accessibility to students, faculty, staff and the public.
"It is a beautiful and welcomed addition to the IU Athletics, Indiana University and Bloomington communities."
The Pfau Championship Golf Course is on the same eastside Bloomington property previously occupied by the IU Championship Golf Course since the 1950s. But other than its location, everything about the Pfau Course is different from its predecessor. The new course provides the IU golf programs with one of the nation's best golf facilities, and all golfers with a new must-see, must-experience destination golf course just minutes from the Indiana University campus.
Smyers' design offers a unique, world-class layout that is set in the natural beauty of southern Indiana. Smyers utilized the area's natural topography in designing the course, while also highlighting the combination of forest, open space and forest edges that result in both breathtaking views and a wonderful golfing test.
It's a venue worthy of hosting not only Big Ten Championship golf, but also regional and national amateur and professional championship events. It rivals any of the others that Smyers has designed over a professional career that stretches more 40 years and includes designs in six continents.
"It reminds me of the quote of the famous golfer Bobby Jones – he said the more he studied it, the more he loved it. The more he loved it, the more he studied it. I think that's true for my feelings about this property here at IU. It's a fantastic place for golf," Smyers said.
Indiana University's new home golf course is also environmentally friendly. The course features Meyer zoysia fairways, a slow-growing dense grass that prevents weeds from penetrating the surface. Zoysia is also a warm-weather grass that is both heat and drought-tolerant, another net plus for the environment with the course's regular maintenance. The first cut of rough, meanwhile, is blue grass, which will extend 8-10 yards off each fairway. The second cut of rough is a fescue blend - Irish links - which has a wispy look and frames each hole. The final area of rough is a second native grass – IU Links – a mixture of all types of grass. Neither the Irish Links nor the IU Links areas will require irrigation or mowing, another environmental benefit.
The course will also be economically sustainable without any need for subsidy by the Athletic Department or the University, even though there will be discounts for IU students, faculty and staff.
The course will offer the opportunity for a supreme golfing test for championship-caliber players. The Par-71 design features 147 bunkers and measures 7,715 yards from the championship tees. While those attributes make it appealing to elite players, its design also focused on playability and accessibility. There are seven tee options starting at 4,586 yards, and there are only two holes with forced carries into the greens, making it playable for all skill levels.
In addition to the 18-hole layout, the golf facility will also include a world-class practice area. The driving range will offer the opportunity for players of all ages and skill levels to work on their swings from either grass tees or mat surface areas. A short-game area adjacent to the clubhouse, meanwhile, will allow players to work on other aspects of their game, including putting, chipping and bunker play. The driving range will also include concession areas, managed by Upland Brewery. While the menu is not finalized, beer and hot sandwiches will be among the available items.
The final component of the new golf facility is the George Thomas Clubhouse. Located immediately south of the IU Foundation off the IN-45/46 Bypass, this facility offers all the amenities one would expect with this caliber of course, including breathtaking views out of its east windows. Like the new driving range, the George Thomas Clubhouse will include a concession area managed by Upland Brewery and will offer a variety of food and beverage items, including beer. The Pro Shop, meanwhile, will feature a wide selection of apparel for women, men, juniors as well as a full line of clubs, balls, shoes and accessories.
The end result is a course and golf facility that offers a supreme test to the championship golfer, while also being economically accessible to the high-handicapper or casual golfer. It's a wonderful addition to IU's world class athletic facilities, and an equally important addition for the Indiana golfing community.
For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign is taking place on all IU-administered campuses including IU Bloomington, IUPUI, IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend and IU Southeast. The campaign will conclude in June 2020 to coincide with IU's bicentennial year celebration. To learn more about the campaign, its impact and how to participate, visit forall.iu.edu.
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