The Jerry Pate Golf Center

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A top team needs excellent facilities in order to compete at the highest levels of collegiate golf. Thanks to exceptional support by donors and the athletic department, the University of Alabama's men's and women's golf teams enjoy the use of one of the nation's finest practice facilities while also enjoying a home course that ranks among the finest public courses in the nation.

The Alabama men's and women's golf teams can boast one of the nation's top courses as their home course in Ol' Colony Golf Course, named one of the "Top 5 Best New Public Courses in America" by Golf Digest in 2001. Enhancing their home course is the state-of-the-art Jerry Pate Golf Center.

Officially opened on November 19, 2004, for exclusive use by the University of Alabama men's and women's golf teams, the Jerry Pate Golf Center is also one of the top practice facilities in the nation. The center provides plentiful open space for the men's and women's teams as well as the ability to have full practice sessions inside or out depending on the weather. The facility features a quality hitting and putting practice facility, a swing analysis studio, private driving range, putting green and short-game area, coaches' offices, men's and women's team locker rooms, and a media/entertainment area with couches, club chairs and flat-screen television.

The center, named after the course's designer and former Crimson Tide golfer Jerry Pate, is a $1 million dollar project funded by the Alabama Golf Charities, a non-profit 501(c3) organization headed by Mike Thompson. The course is considered one of the best public courses in the nation and was designed to be a test to even the best of golfers with large bunkers, mature trees and numerous water hazards; including a 25-acre lake on the course that is a challenge on almost every shot.

Recent Renovations
The Pate Golf Center is undergoing another expansion to be completed by August of 2010. The renovation will expand the chipping and hitting area, complete with new bunkers and practices tees that will allow players to hit their own gold balls up to 200 yards into six new targets.

Jerry Pate
A native of Macon, Ga., Jerry Pate was one of the finest golfers in collegiate history. A member of the University of Alabama golf team from 1972-75, Pate's amazing amateur career led to an immediately successful professional career. The 1974 U.S. Amateur Champion, Pate also gained international experience as an amateur as a member of victorious United States teams at the Walker Cup and the Eisenhower Trophy. In 1975, Pate was the low amateur at the U.S. Open.

After the conclusion of his senior season at Alabama, Pate turned professional in 1975 when he won medalist honors at the 1975 PGA Tour Qualifying School. He was an immediate success on the professional tour, winning the 1976 U.S. Open, his only major championship victory, and the 1976 Canadian Open. That performance earned Pate recognition as the PGA's Rookie of the Year and Co-Player of the Year. Six more PGA Tour victories followed between 1977 and 1982, as well as several other titles internationally. In 1981 he was a member of a United States' winning Ryder Cup team.

Facility Location
From Birmingham, going west to Tuscaloosa on I-20/59, take the McFarland Boulevard exit (which is also referred to as Highway 82 West) and proceed through approximately seven traffic lights on Highway 82, before crossing one bridge. After crossing the bridge, take the right turn lane/Rice Mine Road exit. Turn left on Rice Mine Road. Turn left at the next traffic light on to North Ridge Road. Stay on North Ridge Road until this road ends at another traffic light. Turn left on Ole Colony Road. The golf course will be on the left side of the road. The street address for Ol' Colony Golf Course is 401 Old Colony Road, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35406.