OXFORD, Miss. – Wearing a yellow embroidered sweater, Nell Cochran
addressed the ball. With a solid whack, the 79-year-old University of
Mississippi Golf Course legend was the first player to tee off at the
newly renovated facility.
The dedication ceremony to reopen the course drew nearly 100 people
Wednesday morning, despite temperatures in the mid-50s. With fog still
lifting from the fairway, Cochran and 15 other golfers were honored
during the ceremony as Ole Miss Golf Course legends.
“This means a whole lot,” said Cochran, who has played the game for
more than 40 years. “I’m excited about the reopening, and to tee off
first has been a pleasure.”
The course has been closed for nearly a year, and renovation efforts
include green complexes rebuilt to USGA specifications, fairways
sprigged with 419 Bermuda grass, new cart paths, a fleet of 60 new
electric golf carts, a state-of-the-art 900 sprinkler head irrigation
system capable of pumping out more than 850,000 gallons of water a
night, rebuilt sand bunkers and the addition of back tees on several
holes, pushing the course to more than 7,000 yards in length. Also, the
driving range has been doubled in size. Watermark Golf LLC/Nathan Crace
Design was responsible for the $3.5 million renovation project.
“We’ve been waiting on this day for a long time,” said pro shop manager Gerald Barron. “Now, we are ready.”
Besides the course itself, other items in the renovation effort – to be
completed by year’s end – include a new pro shop with a grill, complete
with a drive-through window and dining area. A new driveway to the
course, short-game putting area, exterior signage and tee and hole
signs also should be completed soon.
Assistant course director David Jumper informed golfers of some changes
on the new course. Instead of one pin placement on 17, the hole has
eight pin placement options, he said. He also offered some tips.
“On 18, don’t be short on your second shot,” said Jumper, as a few
observers snickered. “And watch out for the six new bunkers on 13.
That’s going to be a tough hole.
“This course is something to be proud of. Come May, when we’ve had time
for the turfgrass to take hold, this will be one of the best public
courses around.”
UM men’s golf coach Ernest Ross said that before the renovation, his
team – ranked No. 11 nationally – couldn’t even practice, much less
play the old course: “The course was too short, only 6,670 yards,” he
said. “Now, it’s over 7,000 yards. A top-level, modern course.”
It’s definitely a far cry from the course he played as an Ole Miss
freshman in 1970. Then, a gravel road led to a simple trailer that
served as the clubhouse.
“I’m excited for our team, our university and our town,” Ross said. “This is simply a great day to step forward.”
UM women’s golf coach Michele Drinkard echoed Ross’ remarks, saying the
new course is a first-class facility that will help improve both player
development and recruiting. In her second year as coach, Drinkard said
she was particularly excited about the dedication, in light of her
team’s Tuesday win in the Johnie Imes Invitational in Columbia, Mo. It
was the team’s first tournament victory since 2004.
“To open a magnificent course like this is another step closer to being
a SEC champion,” Drinkard said. “This course will help build our golf
program.”
Chancellor Robert Khayat summed up the morning by noting that for
years, he has listened to people speak highly of the university’s
beautiful campus, only to say, “too bad about the golf course.”
“We’ve made huge changes out here,” he said. “This new course is truly something that Ole Miss can be proud of.”
The Pro Shop is open 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For more information, visit http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/