What do top recruits think of Alabama golf’s new practice facility?
“We hear the word ‘sick’ a lot,” cracked UA men’s golf coach Jay Seawell, referring to teenager-speak to describe something wildly impressive. So what’s so sick about Crimson Reserve, a $47 million project off that was constructed in under two years? Outdoors, the Crimson Tide men’s and women’s teams will have a 9-hole course and a large practice area for driving, short-game and putting. Indoors, the men and women will have separate lounges and locker rooms, hitting bays, swing technology and more.
UA Director of Athletics Greg Byrne, Seawell, women’s coach Mic Potter and other UA officials led a tour of the facility on Friday.
“It’s the talk of college golf,” Byrne said.
The indoor facility is 18,000 square feet, and houses coaches offices, workout facilities, and various areas for players, including hitting bays with swing technology, and mechanical putting greens controlled by a tablet that can be contoured different ways for slope effect. Garage-style lift doors open indoor hitting bays to the outdoor range, which will allow players to stay dry while hitting in rain or other weather conditions. Potter and Seawell both said it’s very uncommon for college programs to have a dedicated facility that isn’t shared with a country club or municipal club.
“Exclusive use doesn’t happen very often,” Potter said.
“It’s the greatest practice facility in the world, and I don’t think there’s a close (second),” Seawell said. “There’s a good place down in Augusta that wishes it was more like this.”
The walls are covered with photos of former Alabama golf greats, as well as group photos of championship teams. According to Seawell, some of those greats, including 15-time PGA Tour winner Justin Thomas, helped design the facility. Seawell said Thomas hasn’t seen the finished construction yet, and is looking forward to giving him the tour.
