Feb. 12, 2007
NORMAL, Ill -
The Illinois State High School Association's (IHSA) Board of Directors has announced that the Illinois State University Golf Course will serve as one of its locations for the boy's golf state finals from 2007-2011. The ISU Golf Course will begin as IHSA golf tournament host in 2007, and will join Bloomington-Normal area golf courses The Den and Prairie Vista in welcoming high school golfers on October 12-13, in the newly created three class system.
ISU Golf Course Associate Director and 15-year PGA Professional Laura Provost is thrilled to have the IHSA State Golf Finals back at the ISU Golf Course.
"I'm really excited to renew our relationship with IHSA golf," said Provost. "We look forward to having the boy's event here at Illinois State University Golf Course, and we believe that the golf course will prove to be a challenging test to the state tournament competitors."
ISU Golf Course first hosted an IHSA Golf Tournament in 1975, when it was the location for the Girl's State Finals. The course continued to host the event periodically for the next 22 years, last hosting the event in 2002. ISU Golf Course has also been the host to NCAA and Missouri Valley Conference championships, Illinois Amateur and United States Amateur qualifiers, as well as important community fundraising events, while still accommodating approximately 30,000 public rounds per year.
A golf-focused facility designed by golf architect Robert Bruce Harris and opened in 1964, Illinois State University Golf Course is one of the most beautiful facilities on campus. Its tree-lined, park-like, 6,750-yard, par-71 course challenges the `risk-reward' shot-making player. Under the direction of Provost, the course underwent a $1.7 million renovation in 2000 for the new millennium, which was designed by Illinois State alum and PGA Tour Professional D.A. Weibring.
Popular and accessible, ISU Golf Course plays a key role in what Golf Digest magazine rates as one of America's best communities to play golf.
IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman is also excited to be bringing the IHSA State Golf Finals back to ISU Golf Course, feeling that the course is an exceptional facility.
"We are excited to have found another home for our Boy's Golf Tournament at Illinois State University." Hickman said. "The University Golf Course has always worked hard to maintain a standard of excellence that attracts events such as ours. We're glad to be back."
For more information on the Illinois State University Golf Course, please call (309) 438-8065, or visit ISUGolf.com. ISU Golf Course is located at 800 W. Gregory Street in Normal, Ill.
