Friday, January 16, 2009
An avid golfer, Michael MacGregor likes to play whenever he gets a chance.
MacGregor, St. Louis freshman, golfed during winter break, but with below freezing temperatures it has been hard to continue golfing outdoors.
In the new expansion of the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center, a Full Swing Golf Simulator allows students to work on their golf game indoors.
Cody Chaplin, Wichita senior, lines up his shot on the new golf simulator at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center, Thursday morning. The addition also includes a longer track, basketball courts and a roller hockey rink.
Users can hit the ball into a Kevlar screen, which will simulate the result.
Rick Rosenstengle, associate director of Recreation Services, said that with more space, universities were always looking for opportunities to diversify their recreation centers.
“There may be people who are only interested in playing golf and that is the only reason they come into the rec center,” Rosenstengle said. “They need to be represented here like anyone else.”
MacGregor thought his simulated experience was as close as it would ever get to his real game.
“It definitely takes a little getting used to,” MacGregor said. “It will catch any swing flaw and make it worse than it really is.”
On the $62,000 simulator, students can choose from different turf options and 33 courses. Rosenstengle said most of the courses replicated places that held the U.S. Open or another professional golf tournament.
With a quick call to the recreation center, students can make 90-minute reservations up to 24 hours in advance to virtually golf at Pinehurst, Torrey Pines, Pebble Beach, St. Andrew’s and even Prairie Dunes, which is located in Hutchinson.
A full set of men’s and women’s golf clubs is available for checkout at the recreation center.
MacGregor said he thought it would catch on quickly.
“Golf is actually a lot bigger at KU than most people think,” MacGregor said. “Whenever I go out to Alvamar Golf Course, I always see students out there.”
Max Padrid, Chicago senior, and Collin Owings, Overland Park junior, reserved the simulator Wednesday. They said that although they weren’t the best golfers, they both agreed they would take advantage of the indoor golfing opportunities.
“It’s great because it’s the winter and I just got back from playing golf in Florida for a couple of days and now I can keep playing,” Padrid said.
Kansas men’s golf coach Kit Grove said he heard about the simulator but was curious about the accuracy of the technology.
“I want my guys playing where they can see the ball flying and where it falls rather than technology,” Grove said.
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