CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.---Now fully functional, the Player Development Complex gives the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's and women's golf teams a special home to hone their games, while taking the programs to new heights.  Women's head coach Colette Murray and her team took it a step further giving back one Saturday morning to the complex that gives them so much on a daily basis.

"It is very important to me that we not take the facility for granted," said Murray.  "Equally important is the ladies learning a valuable lesson about how much goes into taking care of it and adding to the appreciation for how much is invested in their futures."

The Player Development Complex hired Craig McClure as superintendent and he does a great job maintaining it for the programs.

"Craig does a wonderful job," said Murray.  "The ladies learned a lot from him in what goes into preparing a practice facility and ultimately, a golf course.  It was very educational."

The Player Development Complex includes a full range which allows for a comprehensive practice experience with every club in the bag.  Short-game preparation is second-to-none with five close-range greens along with a tee-side bunker to allow for fairway and long bunker work. 

The chipping/putting area covers all aspects of short game prep.  It is an imaginative area where creativity can be applied to practice every shot that may be encountered.  Two full-size greens are key to the facility with the ability to prepare for bent grass and bermuda greens.

The complex also houses three practice holes.  Two par 3s and a par 4 are available with various tees and yardages.  Depending on utilization of tees, the student-athletes can also play a 560-yard, par 5.  The holes build course management shot selection skills, while applying aspects from the various practice areas to the golf course.

Despite enjoying not only learning more about the work that goes into keeping the Player Development Complex in phenomenal shape much like the first-class courses the Mocs play in the area, but also the team-bonding time involved, quick-witted senior Emma de Groot (Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia) summed up another tidbit learned.

She smiled and said, "I know to cross greenskeeping off my list of potential careers."