University of Idaho Golf Course

Golf Course
Club information
Coordinates 46°43′24″N 117°01′01″W / 46.7232°N 117.0169°WCoordinates: 46°43′24″N 117°01′01″W / 46.7232°N 117.0169°W
Location 1215 Nez Perce Drive
Moscow, Idaho
Established 1937 (9 holes) [1]
1970 (18 holes) [2]
Type Public
Owned by University of Idaho
Operated by University of Idaho
Total holes 18
Website uidaho.edu/golf
Designed by Francis L. James - 1936
Bob E. Baldock - 1968 [2][3]
Par 72 - (37 out, 35 in)
Length 6,637 yd (6,069 m)[4]
Course rating 72.4 [5]
Slope rating 136 [5]
University
  of Idaho
UI GC
Location in the United States

The University of Idaho Golf Course is an 18-hole public facility on the campus of the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho.

Set in the rolling hills of the Palouse of north central Idaho, a mile (1.6 km) east of the border with Washington, the par-72 course is at an average elevation of 2,650 feet (810 m) above sea level. The back tees measure a moderate 6,637 yards (6,069 m), but the significant elevation changes, terraced fairways, and often breezy conditions contribute to make it a challenging track. The slope rating is 136, with a course rating of 72.4; the white tees are at 6,154 yards (5,627 m), with a slope of 131 and a course rating of 70.3.[5]

The course is open eight months per year, March through October, and is located on the western end of Nez Perce Drive, directly south of the Kibbie Dome stadium and the century-old Shattuck Arboretum. The newer UI Arboretum borders on the east, along and below the 17th & 18th holes. The President's House (now Executive Residence) is across the street, northeast of the 18th green.

History

The first nine holes were opened in 1937[1] on the southwest edge of campus, designed by Englishman Francis L. "Frank" James (1877-1952).[6][7] At the time a Portland resident, he had designed over a hundred courses,[1] including the other two 9-hole courses in the area: the Moscow Elks course east of town in the late 1920s,[8] and the reconstruction of the original WSC course in nearby Pullman, Washington in 1934.[9][10] James became the course manager, resident professional, and UI golf coach.[11] Following his death in 1952, the original clubhouse of 1936 was named for him.[12]

The original order of play, using the current hole numbers, was 1, 2, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 9.

The second nine holes (four east (# 10, 16-18) and five north & west (# 3-7) of the original nine) were constructed from 1968–70, designed by golf course architect Bob E. Baldock, and the current clubhouse was built in 1969.[13] A former professional golfer from Newport Beach, California, Baldock designed hundreds of courses in the West, including Hangman Valley south of Spokane, Sun Willows in Pasco,[14][15] Crane Creek C.C. in Boise, Meadow Creek in New Meadows, and the Lewiston Country Club.[16]

All 18 holes at the UI course opened for play in August 1970 with some minor modifications to the original nine.[2] The front and back nines were switched in the 1990s, and both nines contain original holes and newer ones. The course was formerly par 71, as the 7th hole (formerly #16), currently a downhill par-5, was a par-4 prior to the addition of new tee boxes and the greenside pond.[17] The greenside ponds on the current 1st and 7th holes were added in the mid-1990s.[18][19][20]

The course was originally owned and operated by the Associated Students of the University of Idaho (ASUI), the student government. The university took control of the course in 1986,[21] and the lounge was remodeled in 1990.[22]

Vandal Golf & Professional Golf Management

The UI Golf Course is the home of the Vandal golf teams, which compete in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) of the NCAA. Idaho was formerly a member of the Big West (1996–2005), Big Sky (1963–96), and Pacific Coast (1922–59) conferences.

The university offers a bachelor's degree in Professional Golf Management, a five-year program in the College of Business and Economics. Launched in 2002, it is the only PGA-accredited college program in the Northwest and one of 20 in the nation.[23][24]

Scorecard

University of Idaho Golf Course
Tee Rating/Slope 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Blue 72.4 / 135 3861563905561714915263752903344 37540640050422735138323241532936637
White 70.3 / 131 3551393765261474734913342763117 30239137748420229536520438230376154
Red 73.5 / 132 3231233254321084594472802582904 27637535346513528134917737228665770
Par 4 3 4 5 3 5 5 4 4 37 4 4 4 5 3 4 4 3 4 35 72
Handicap 11 15 9 1 17 5 3 7 13 18 10 14 2 8 16 12 4 6

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Vandal course ready in spring". Spokane Daily Chronicle. July 6, 1936. p. 12. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Missildine, Harry (August 23, 1970). "New Idaho course is handsome". Spokesman-Review. p. 1-Sports.
  3. ↑ UI Golf Course - architecture - accessed 2010-03-21
  4. ↑ "UI Golf Course". GoVandals.com. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Course Rating and Slope Database: UI GC". USGA. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Frank James, 74, called by death". Spokane Daily Chronicle. April 10, 1952. p. 33. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Frank James taken by death". Lewiston Morning Tribune. April 11, 1952. p. 2. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Approves golf course plans". Spokesman-Review. July 10, 1927. p. 3-sports. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Washington State College will spend $9000 in reconstructing its golf course". Spokane Daily Chronicle. March 2, 1934. p. 12. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Cougar golf links near completion". Spokane Daily Chronicle. June 30, 1934. p. 12. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  11. ↑ UI Golf Course - history - accessed 2010-03-21
  12. ↑ lib.uidaho.edu - UI buildings - James Memorial Club House - accessed 2010-03-21
  13. ↑ lib.uidaho.edu - UI buildings - ASUI Golf Clubhouse - accessed 2010-03-21
  14. ↑ Missildine, Harry (July 17, 1968). "University of Idaho's new golf course shapes". Spokesman-Review. p. 12.
  15. ↑ spokanecounty.org - Hangman Valley Golf Course - accessed 2011-11-16
  16. ↑ worldgolf.com - architects - Bob E. Baldock - accessed 2011-11-16
  17. ↑ ASUI Golf Course scorecard - June 1982 - par 71 - 6810 yd (blue), 6385 (white), par-76 6015 (red)
  18. ↑ msrmaps.com - aerial photo - May 1992 - no greenside ponds - accessed 2010-07-23
  19. ↑ UI Golf Course scorecard - Oct 1994 - now par-72 for all tees - nines switched
  20. ↑ "Idaho golf course prices set". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. February 4, 1995. p. 1D. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  21. ↑ Smith, Christopher (May 31, 1988). "ASUI: Patrol for links Gibb's doing". (Moscow) Idahonian. p. 1A. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  22. ↑ Harriman, Peter (July 25, 1990). "UI golf course lounge gets an upscale remodeling". (Moscow) Idahonian. p. 5A. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  23. ↑ UI College of Business & Economics - Professional Golf Management program - accessed 2010-03-27
  24. ↑ PGAlinks.com - accredited collegiate programs - accessed 2010-05-25

External links