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.
The new Crimson Reserve golf training facility at the University of Alabama. (Gary Cosby Jr./Tuscaloosa News)Trophies are displayed from the various championships by both the men and women in the new…A bay that opens onto the range allows golfers to hit even on rainy days at…This is a view of the driving range at the new Crimson Reserve golf training facility…Jay Seawell shows a cold tub in the men’s locker room inside the new Crimson Reserve…This is a view of the driving range at the new Crimson Reserve golf training facility…Coach Jay Seawell talks about the zen putting green that allows coaches to set up breaks…Forrest Schultz, assistant men’s coach, sets up the Zen putting green that can simulate breaks for…The men’s side features a different paint and color scheme but with a similar design to…The women’s lounge features a similar design but different color scheme to the men’s inside the…Each golfer has his name and hometown on a placard above his locker in the new…The lockers are the men’s side are of identical construction to those on the women’s side…The women’s lockers are of the same design and build as the men’s but feature a…Justin Thomas’ bag is on display in the new Crimson Reserve golf training facility at the…Trophies are displayed from the various championships by both the men and women in the new…Artwork created from photographs features current and past golfers in the new Crimson Reserve golf training…A wall of photos of Alabama’s female All American golfers is displayed in the new Crimson…Trophies are displayed from the various championships by both the men and women in the new…The new Crimson Reserve golf training facility at the University of Alabama. (Gary Cosby Jr./Tuscaloosa News)Trophies are displayed from the various championships by both the men and women in the new…The new Crimson Reserve golf training facility at the University of Alabama. (Gary Cosby Jr./Tuscaloosa News)Alabama men’s coach Jay Seawell shows off some of the artwork on the men’s side of…Justin Thomas, one of Alabama’s more famous golf alums, is among the champions names on the…Athletics Director Greg Byrne talks about the new Crimson Reserve golf training facility at the University…Alabama women’s coach Mic Potter shows off the women’s lounge in the new Crimson Reserve golf…
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