June 17, 1999
The University of Kentucky Athletics Association has enteredinto an agreement with University Clubs of America to open TheUniversity Club of Kentucky, an exclusive golf club that will be used byUK Athletics, alumni, donors, faculty, staff, students and fans, UKathletics director C.M. Newton announced today.
Under the long-term agreement, University Clubs of America (UCA) willpurchase The Player’s Club from former UK golfer and coach, DannyMcQueen. The 36-hole course is located 7.7 miles from downtown Lexingtonon Leestown Road. UCA has hired Arthur Hills, who designed ChampionTrace, a local course that played host to the 1993 NCAA Championships,to renovate the 8-year-old club. Total capital expenditures by UCA,which include the planned renovations, will be in excess of $10 million,according to UCA managing director Carl Espy III.
Under terms of the contract, there will be no financialobligation by UK, but the school will receive income from the project.While the site serves as home to the UK men’s and women’s golf teams,the University will receive five percent from membership sales and threepercent from annual revenue.
“This has been a long-time dream for us in UK Athletics,” Newtonsaid. “It’s certainly a win-win situation for the UK community, UKAthletics and the University Clubs of America. It’s good for theUniversity in that it offers a place to golf for faculty, staff,students, friends and alumni. It is a big win for UK Athletics becauseit provides a place for our men’s and women’s golf teams to practice andcompete. And it is a ‘win’ from UCA’s perspective as a businessventure.”
Newton said the deal should satisfy any concerns that citizensmight have had regarding local land use.
“It’s a win-win for everybody and we’re very excited about it,”Newton added.
The transaction to purchase Player’s Club closes Dec. 1, 1999.Renovations will begin thereafter. However, the design phase of theproject will begin immediately and applications for membership will betaken beginning Aug. 1, 1999. UCA will open an office next month inMemorial Coliseum.
To qualify for membership, individuals will be required to give $250annually to one of UK’s donor programs. There will be local, regionaland national memberships as well as faculty, staff and studentmemberships. In addition, there will be a limited number of FounderMemberships. Local membership initiation fees will begin at $5,000, withmonthly dues starting at $185.
The agreement with UCA is for a period of 20 years, with an additional15-year renewal option, Newton said. The contract is subject to UCA’swithdrawal if $1.5 million in initiation fees is not generated within180 days.
“The University of Kentucky has tremendous loyalty from itsalumni and boosters, as well as its faculty, staff and students,” saidLin Johnson, UCA President. “I am certain UCA will be able to market theproject successfully and develop a championship facility worthy of UK.”
Renovations to the facility will include new tee boxes, morebunkers, an expanded clubhouse, and the addition of a training facilityfor UK’s golf teams, including a covered practice facility, locker roomsand a short-game area.
“First, this shows a real commitment by the University forgolf,” men’s coach Steve Smitha said. “And it gives us a chance to bemore competitive both in our district and in the SoutheasternConference. We will now have a place to practice throughout the week andit will give our golfers a place where they can practice on their own.”
UCA is a privately held company dedicated exclusively todeveloping relationships with colleges and universities to build andoperate university clubs similar to the one planned for UK. The companyacquires land and designs, develops and constructs golf courses and clubfacilities tailored specifically to each community and university’sneeds.
UCA, based in Columbia, S.C., opened its first club in 1995, TheUniversity Club of South Carolina. It also plans to open the AuburnUniversity Club this fall and it has license agreements with theUniversity of Tennessee, the University of Alabama and the University ofLouisville. As an extra incentive, there will be reciprocal playingprivileges between the clubs for members.
Tom Heilbron, the founder and developer of Champion Trace, willserve as project developer.
For more information regarding The University Club of Kentucky,University Clubs of America and its other clubs, contact UCA at1-888-301-1414.
