For years, the Aggies have fielded two consistently high-ranked teams in the men’s and women’s golf programs. Now, UC Davis looks to continue to improve as they open the John and Diane Watson Short Game Training Center at the El Macero Country Club.
The new facility offers the ability to practice just about any shot, featuring multiple types of grass, a deep and pot bunker and two large putting greens. Bruce Summerhays Jr., Head Golf Professional at the El Macero Country Club, stated the training facility offers all of the different shots that players can try.
The new training course cost $250,000, which was raised mainly by donations from alumni, family and friends of the UC Davis golf program. The project has been in the works for well over eight years, culminating in the opening on Sunday.
UC Davis men’s golf head coach Cy Williams played up the importance of the facility, both for El Macero and the Aggies’ golf programs.
“Our members and teams are going to get to practice on a facility that other clubs don’t have.” Williams said.
Williams also stressed how the new training facility will affect recruiting efforts at UC Davis, saying that the team had already brought a few recruits out and had received rave reviews.
“It’s also a wonderful resource and recruiting tool for our golf programs in our ever-continuing efforts to maintain a level of excellence with our golf program,” Williams said.
For years, the Aggies have stood out among their elite competition for not having the same access to professional-level training courses, which is something that has changed with the opening of the new training facility.
In addition to the short course training facility, El Macero now boasts an area in the back of the course that gives golfers the chance to calibrate the distance of their wedge shots. David Knox, the PGA General Manager of the club, stated this would attract strong golfers both to the club and the UC Davis golf program.
UC Davis golf is currently off for the winter, but will return to play in February with some practice on their new facility under their belts.
