University Club of Kentucky
features two 18-hole courses, one named the "Wildcat" and the other "Big
Blue." Renowned golf course architect Arthur Hills is supervising the current
redesign of "Big Blue."
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Sept.
22, 2000 – (Lexington, Ky.) – Representatives
from the University Clubs of America together with University of Kentucky officials broke
ground Thursday on the golf course facilities at the new University Club of Kentucky. The
rolling, 300-plus acre site is located at 4850 Leestown Road, just over seven miles from
downtown Lexington. “We
are delighted to be associated with the University of Kentucky in this wonderful
venture,” said Paul Degenhart, managing member of the University Clubs of America.
“Our goal is to provide a first-class golf environment where old friendships will be
renewed and new ones created.”
The
University Club of Kentucky features two 18-hole courses, one named the
“Wildcat” and the other “Big Blue.” Currently, world-renowned golf
course architect Arthur Hills is supervising the redesign of the “Big Blue”
layout. The “Big Blue” course is expected to be seeded later this fall and
opened for play by the late summer of 2001. Meanwhile,
University Club members can play right now on the existing 18 holes of the
“Wildcat” course. Hills’ design firm is also planning future renovations to
the “Wildcat” layout.
“The
University Club of Kentucky provides UK alumni, faculty and staff, friends and supporters
the opportunity to enjoy two top-flight golf courses, together with an outstanding
clubhouse and other facilities,” said UK President Charles T. Wethington Jr. “It
is important to point out that no public dollars are being spent on this project,”
Wethington said.
UK
Athletics Director Larry Ivy said the University Club of Kentucky will be the official
home of the Wildcat men’s and women’s golf teams. “This gives a tremendous
boost to our golf program,” said Ivy. “For the first time, our student-athletes
will have a true home course for
practice and tournament competition. This will greatly help our golf coaches, Steve Smitha
and Bettie Lou Evans, in recruiting and developing outstanding individuals and
teams.”
Ivy added that the championship caliber of the golf courses would enable UK to
seriously contend as host school for future Southeastern Conference and NCAA
Championships.
In
addition to the golf course improvements currently underway, plans call for the expansion
and renovation of the existing clubhouse facility.
Membership
is open to anyone. A person does not have to be a graduate of the University of Kentucky,
nor a member of the UK faculty or staff. The University Club of Kentucky is a private,
members-only club licensed by the University of Kentucky.
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