Watch Announcement
Nov. 10, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri Department of Athletics and The Community of Old Hawthorne announced on Friday an agreement that will make Old Hawthorne the home golf course for the Mizzou men's and women's golf programs. The term of the agreement is 20 years, with the ability to extend the partnership an additional 10 years.
As part of the agreement, the Department of Athletics will have the opportunity to hold three golf tournaments at Old Hawthorne each year from October 1-May 1. Two of these will be three-day intercollegiate tournaments (one men's and one women's), with the third tournament being a one-day fundraising event to benefit the golf programs. In addition, Mizzou will have the opportunity to host a Big 12 Conference Championship or NCAA Regional Tournament once every 10 years.
"First off, our golf program is very appreciative of Billy Sapp, his family and everyone associated with making this partnership possible," Mizzou Head Women's Golf Coach Stephanie Priesmeyer said. "Old Hawthorne will offer our team another excellent course to play and provide us with an ability to host some great golf tournaments."
"We are excited about this partnership and are very thankful to Old Hawthorne and the Sapp family," Mizzou Head Men's Golf Coach Mark Leroux said. "This is an opportunity for us to have an incredible new facility for our golf teams. We are looking forward to getting the chance to play Old Hawthorne and calling it our new home."
Billy Sapp leads a team of partners with strong ties to the Columbia community and to golf. Included on that team is Jeff Whitfield, who played on MU's golf team from 1977 to 1980, where he was a Big Eight All-Conference player. Now a PGA professional, Whitfield developed the Persimmon Woods Golf Club in St. Louis. Gary Mitchell is also part of the Old Hawthorne team and has been a PGA professional since 1976, bringing his expertise to course development around Missouri. He is part owner of Dogwood Hills Golf Course in Osage Beach and was the developer of Rivercut Golf Community in Springfield. Sapp has long been involved in the Columbia business community, establishing Emery Sapp & Sons Construction Co. with his father and brother, and later Con-Agg.
"We are proud of our golf course at Old Hawthorne," Sapp said. "The property lent itself perfectly to a golf course that challenges every skill of a player. We're honored to welcome the MU golf teams to their new home."
The Community of Old Hawthorne is located just east of Columbia on Route WW. Designed by Arthur Schaupeter, the 18-hole championship golf course is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2007. Fans and alumni of the University of Missouri will be able to play MU's new home course at Old Hawthorne through local, regional or national memberships.
"Old Hawthorne will be a great addition to the facilities we have here for our student-athletes," said Mizzou Director of Athletics Mike Alden. "We have been fortunate to have a great relationship with A.L. Gustin Golf Course for many years and look forward to continuing that relationship, while adding Old Hawthorne as a new partner. We thank Old Hawthorne for inviting our golf programs into this partnership. This beautiful course will put us in position to host regional and national golf tournaments and will do great things for our golf programs."
The University of Missouri will continue its partnership with A.L. Gustin Golf Course. Athletic Department tournaments will continue to be played at A.L. Gustin and trade agreements between the golf course and the University will remain in place. The Mizzou golf teams will also continue to use A.L. Gustin for qualifying.
For more information about Old Hawthorne, please visit OldHawthorne.com.