Golf on the rise
Tennis used to be pretty popular at Fort Sill, a U.S. Army base near Lawton, Okla., and the base’s three courts were in constant use. However over the years the number of tennis players has steadily declined while those interested in golf has seen a pronounced increase.
Shane Dunlevy, Fort Sill’s recreation manager studied the situation and found that even though the base had revamped the golf club layout, more area for teaching and practice was sorely needed. There were more golfers and golfing families than the club could handle so Dunlevy found a unique solution.
Convert the seldom used tennis court into a golf learning center.
He turned to Adventure Golf Services of Traverse City, Mich. who designed and built a golf learning and practice center to fit on a tennis court.
Dunlevy said the space has seen plenty of use since it was installed in just under a week. Branded by Adventure as the GolfCourt, it is the latest in a number of upgrades to the base recreational facilities including a planned youth center that will use it as part of its program.
There are five full swing stations, six contoured chipping stations, a bunker, a 1,300-square-foot contoured putting area and open space for group instruction. For safety there are retractable net separators and an overhead ball containment net plus a golf simulator, launch monitors and bleachers.
Dunlevy and Ernie Altic, Fort Sill’s golf professional, have been proactive in filling a need and bringing new players into the game.
