Artist rendering of the Player Deveopment Complex

Courtesy: GoMocs.com

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The Player Development Complex

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.---The Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Player Development Complex is Wednesday, June 10 at 10 a.m.  Dignitaries from The First Tee of Chattanooga, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the City of Chattanooga will be on hand to celebrate the start of facility construction on complex that will impact the Chattanooga golf community in a variety of ways.

One end of the facility will be a practice area dedicated to the UTC Men’s and Women’s Golf teams.  The other end will be home to The First Tee of Chattanooga.

Phase I of III will include a double-ended driving range, putting and chipping areas.  It will be one of the finest practice areas servicing a collegiate athletics program as well as an elite facility for the children involved with The First Tee.

Phase I of the Player Development Complex is scheduled to be completed in the Fall of 2009.  It will have an immediate impact on the men’s and women’s golf programs at UTC with each coming off 2009 NCAA Finals appearances, as well as the vital work The First Tee of Chattanooga provides to develop golf and life skills with the youth of the area.

Phases II and III will include additional putting and chipping greens, hitting bays, practice holes, learning centers, simulators, along with locker rooms, office and meeting rooms for the Chattanooga golf teams.

Speakers will include Chattanooga mayor Ron Littlefield, UTC Chancellor Dr. Roger Brown, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Rick Hart and a representative from The First Tee of Chattanooga.

Quick Facts

Name:  The Player Development Complex

Opening:  Phase I of III is due to be completed Fall 2009.

Area:  28 Acres

Location:  Site of old Hickory Valley Golf Course in Chattanooga off of Hickory Valley Rd., near Shallowford Rd.

Occupants:  The First Tee of Chattanooga and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga golf teams.

About Chattanooga Mocs Golf

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s and women’s golf programs are committed to guiding, encouraging and supporting its Student-Athletes in their quest for comprehensive excellence – academically, athletically and socially.  The men have won three straight Southern Conference Championships and finished 18th at the 2009 NCAA Finals following a third place finish at the NCAA South Central Regional.  In just two seasons of existence, the women’s team has won six tournaments and finished 21st in the 2009 NCAA Finals after an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Central Regional.

About The First Tee of Chattanooga, Inc.

The First Tee of Chattanooga is 501 c 3 youth development program that has been active in Chattanooga since 2000.  Our mission is to help children from all socio-economic and racial backgrounds assimilate valuable life skills, leadership characteristics and The First Tee Nine Core Values while learning to play the game of golf.

We envision a day when the children who progress through our program will possess the necessary life skills and value system to be the well-rounded, balanced adults who choose to serve their communities as contributing members.

The City of Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department has partnered with The First Tee of Chattanooga and UTC to provide the land on which we are building The Player Development Complex.  The First Tee of Chattanooga will gain flexibility in the way that we offer our program and children enrolled in the program will have a place to practice in an environment that was designed for them.