University of Arizona opens clements golf center

TUCSON, ARIZ. – It’s a practice facility nearly three decades in the making. While being recruited to the University of Arizona as a student-athlete, now-Head Women’s Golf Coach Laura Ianello was shown blueprints of a shiny new practice facility.

Those blueprints became a reality when the University of Arizona opened the doors to The William M. “Bill” Clements Golf Center. Named after a philanthropist and Tucson icon, the facility is situated on the south side of Tucson Country Club; the project was approved with a near-unanimous vote by membership and broke ground in May 2023.

Ginny L. Clements cuts the ribbon at the unveiling of the William M. "Bill" Clements Golf Center- named after her late husband (Photo by Brandon Genson)

“This golf center is really game-changing for our men’s and women’s golf program,” Ianello said. “It’s going to continue to elevate our teams, help to bring in the best talent and really in ways we can give back to the community, it’s monumental to our program.”

Among the facility’s features are an indoor, laser-guided putting green, a driving range and short-game area- all equipped with technology to give student-athletes immediate feedback on their swings and strokes. The indoor-outdoor facility also features a number of amenities, including gathering and work spaces, kitchen, patio and locker room.

When visitors enter, they are immediately met with an ode to the Wildcats’ rich golf history. To the left, a wall of trophies highlighted by four NCAA Championship trophies. Down the hall to the right, signage and photography showcasing a legacy of All-Americans and future professionals who have come through the program.

(Photo by Brandon Genson)

Head Men’s Golf Coach Jim Anderson expects that the facility will be a game-changer for recruiting.

“We have great weather, we recruit to a great university, we play a great schedule and get to enjoy a variety of different golf courses here. But when you don’t have an anchor facility and now you get to bundle that in with your offerings, I think it completely legitimizes the entire operation,” Anderson said. “It really demonstrates the commitment the coaches have, that the community has and the support that the department and university has and making sure that we have a nationally competitive team.”

The outdoor seating area and driving range outside of the William M. "Bill" Clements Golf Center (Photo by Brandon Genson)

For Ianello, the facility is more than a recruiting tool and place to practice; it signifies a home for her student-athletes. Rather than driving from course to course, storing clubs in their trunks and hustling from the basketball arena (where their locker room formerly resided), student-athletes can dedicate more time to their game and academics and strengthen the bond with their team.

When senior Gilë Bitë Starkute was recruited from Lithuania, she had no doubts about the program. But she did have doubts about moving to another country and her ability to play college golf; she says that having a facility like this at the time would have curbed some of those hesitations.

“When I committed, it was all about the team and the coaches, even seeing the golf courses I would get to play here. But right now, this (facility) would probably eliminate some of the doubts that I had. I always knew that this was the correct place to go,” Starkute said.

(Photo by Brandon Genson)