by Fred Seely
Editorial Director
Six years ago, John Brooks went to his boss and asked for two things:
1. That his University of North Florida golf team apply to play in the NCAA Division 1 — the big boys. No problem, said then UNF president Adam Herbert. One men’s sport can move up and golf is the logical choice.
2. That UNF build a million-dollar golf training center.
“It got real quiet,” said Brooks, the UNF coach. “He thought a minute and then said, ‘I don’t have money for that.’ ”
But Herbert had a deal: he would give the land as long as Brooks raised the money to a) build what he wanted and b) maintain it in perpetuity.
Today, Brooks officially opens his $2 million dream. It’s on 38 acres of the UNF campus and was funded by an angel, who gave $950,000, plus a matching sum from the State, plus a grant from The First Tee, plus a generous arrangement with McCumber Golf.
The angel is former EquiCredit Corp. owner John Hayt, who had sold his company, was obviously flush with cash and who wanted to do something that would be a benefit to everyone. Brooks outlined his dream and Hayt and wife Gerri didn’t take long to sign on.
“He’s a peanut butter-and-jelly type guy,” said Brooks. “He’ll come out and help us pick weeds, if we need him. He goes on road trips with the team. If you need him, he’s there, and he doesn’t ask for anything.”
Hayt got something, though — it’s the Hayt Golf Learning Center, and that sign is on the 8,000 square-foot clubhouse that sits just behind the UNF University Center. It will be dedicated today with appropriate ceremonies.
Here’s what’s at the Hayt Center:
• A three-hole course which opens with two par 3s and finishes with a double hole— multiple tees, one fairway, then two routes to different greens. You can play it either as a par 3, 4 or 5. The only time you’ll see civilization is on the first tee, which is next to the putting green, and the second tee, which backs up to Butler Boulevard.
• A lighted public putting and chipping area with two bunkers.
• A lighted range that’s about 500 yards deep and has room for 50 people hitting at the same time.
• A practice area for the UNF team that’s at the end of the range and includes a 19,000 square-foot putting green. (That isn’t a typographical error: that’s a “19” followed by three zeros.)
• A large practice tee for irons and another, smaller tee farther back for drivers.
• A feeling that you’re out in nature and you are. Of the 38 acres, at least half are wetlands. “We’re maxed out on uplands,” said Brooks. “If it doesn’t have grass now, it never will.”
And, it’s open to everyone.
“We’ll have different fee schedules,” said Brooks. “Students are free. Alums, faculty and staff pay one amount, outsiders pay another. It’s all one fee: you pay and you can play and hit balls all day, if you wish.”
But be prepared to get some exercise — no carts.
“It gives us two things,” said Brooks. “One is a great facility for the community. The other is a great place for a young golfer to come and play Division 1 golf.”
It’s impossible to compare golf facilities across America but there are few which would surpass this one. In addition to the practice areas (and the 2,500 Pro VI balls donated by Titleist,) there’s a large locker room with showers, a team room with a computer for studies, and a clubhouse for relaxing.
“This is the icing,” said Brooks. “What we have already is the cake. That’s 7-day access to the TPC Stadium Course, our annual tournament at Sawgrass, play at the best area courses. We already had a lot going for us. Now, we have the last thing we needed.”
The formal opening will be the last week of this month and then it goes into full operation. McCumber Golf, which donated the last hole and the maintenance area, has a 20-year management contract and has installed Blair Gibson as head pro. He’s a veteran assistant in the area and the brother of Keith Gibson, the GC of Amelia pro, and Geoff Gibson, the Jacksonville Beach assistant.
It will be available for meetings, clinics (there will be three First Tee sessions annually at no charge to area kids) or just relaxing — yes, you can buy a beer there.
In fact, there’s a little “nightclub” talk now. At UNF, buildings are numbered (not all are named) and right next to the Hayt Golf Learning Center sign is the number 48.
“I think people might call it ‘48 Hayt’,” said Brooks. “Sounds like a nightclub, eh?”