Golf is a unique university sport in that millions of dollars are invested by support “fans” who rarely, if ever, see athletes performing in person or on TV.
“We are transient. Most teams have zero home games, “acknowledges Mike Small, Illini men’s manager.
But concerns that athletic UI director Josh Whitman may go to sea for golf – a newly acquired course in southeast Urbana that combines state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor golf facilities on campus – are quickly eased. from links to dozens of caring donors, oversight of a trustee (Don Edwards) who has played golf here and is a seven-digit contributor, and a winning coach who keeps the UI name on a high pedestal.
So yes, golf is different from other non-profit sports, some like tennis and swimming, recently threatened by pandemic cuts. Its roots are deep. The PGA Tour is back on TV while other sporting quibbles.
Still, it should be noted that the acquisition of the Atkins Golf Club (formerly Stone Creek) comes as a major initial expense as this athletic program, like so many others, enters the fall season with its main revenue producer, football, waffling in a world of uncertainty.
Stunning Numbers This investment comes just as neighboring Iowa requires a budget cut of $ 15 million (Hawkeyes’ athletic director Gary Barta suffered a 30% cut in salary), just as Syracuse is likely to lose one of his football enemies to September in Colgate and just like Learfield and other broadcasts, organizations face tough football sales.
The cuts in the university landscape far outweigh the new initiatives.
However, it is unclear how universities will respond if my neighbor Champaign, computer science professor Sheldon Jacobson, was right when he cited statistics at CBS Sports projecting 3-7 deaths likely among 13,000 FBS players between the ages of 18 and 22 years old? Will football games proceed around a funeral?
Everyone is huddling. Anyone who thinks that Illinois will receive another $ 53 million from Big Ten broadcast rights this season is hallucinating.
In the meantime, Whitman is engaged in expensive upgrades to Stone Creek. Small’s fingerprints will be throughout the renovation, although a golf architect is hired to oversee an increase in yardage from around 7,000 to 7,500 yards, an acceleration of greens, reworked sand traps and a drastic tightening of the luxurious ones, wide fairways.
This remains a public course, but how many millions will be invested inside and outside before the first green fees are received in the opening of next spring? How many years will it take to reach Whitman’s ultimate goal: to tie? How long will Whitman take a look at the cheapest “courses for competitors” in Savoy? Is the Blue Course on the long term chopping board?
In any case, this is a majestic gift that (1) keeps a course in Stone Creek open which was closing in January, (2) alleviates the pain of residents who feared that their home values would pass out and (3) solidifies the IU as a golf king of the Midwest.
Long-term view Spencer Atkins and the Atkins group deserve a permanent “O”, their philanthropy dating back to the titan, Clint Atkins, who died at the age of 65 in 2011.
Having said that, it should be noted that there are advantages for society.
Like other golf courses in the area, the 18-hole golf course at Stone Creek has been a waste of money for years.
Clint Atkins didn’t care. But times have changed.
In addition, the valuation of $ 15 million allows the Atkins Group to apply a heavy tax deduction on corporate profits. In addition, the new residential plots over 100 acquired would have been difficult to sell without an operational golf course alongside (and with current residents complaining), a circumstance that changes with the responsible university.
So everyone is happy. The Atkins group proves once again generous, men’s and women’s golf teams remain envied by the Big Ten (the recruits will be enthusiastic), the neighboring community has maintained its home values and the city will benefit in various ways, not last of which are the taxes.
In addition, Whitman, the university and the Foundation have a hub – their special place – for meetings, banquets and special events.
Loren Tate writes for The News-Gazette. He can be reached at [email protected]
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