COLUMBUS – On Thursday, Jan. 8, Columbus State University teed off on a new era for its Golf Program, breaking ground on a new clubhouse. When fully funded, this $3.2 million, 6,447-square-foot clubhouse will enhance the existing Key Golf Studio by adding championship-caliber indoor practice technology and outdoor playing surfaces—additions that coaches will help boost team competitiveness and bolster student-athlete recruitment and retention. 

Although the existing Key Golf Studio has offered student-athletes top-tier practice surfaces since 2015, Director of Athletics Justin Hay highlighted that the absence of clubhouse facilities there now hampers the program's ability to stay competitive with the nation's leading NCAA Division II programs. 
"The stakes have never been higher when it comes to recruiting and retaining the world's top college golfers," Hay said. "We must offer the best student-athlete experience—and that means giving our golfers access to top-notch facilities and the means to winning conference and national titles. Once finished, this new clubhouse will be one of the top golf facilities at any level in the country, raising Columbus State Golf to new heights of excellence." 

State-of-the-art training, community 

The new clubhouse is designed to be a "home-away-from-home" that will become "the envy of any recruit visiting the Key Golf Studio," said Lee McCoy, Columbus State's director of golf and head Men's Golf coach. It will  will serve both the Men's Golf team, coached by McCoy, and the Women's Golf team, coached by two-time Columbus State graduate and team alumna Kristin Culpepper. 

The facility will be built on the current site of the Key Golf Studio. It will include a high-tech putting lab designed to give student-athletes "unparalleled skill analysis" to help them reach their full potential. Two practice bays will allow for training in bad weather, including one equipped with a Foresight golf simulator that provides "incredibly accurate ball and club data." 

Beyond technical training, the clubhouse's design also highlights the human side of the sport. A dedicated team room will provide a space for student-athletes to plan their next tournament and build camaraderie. Meanwhile, an outdoor terrace will serve as a covered retreat where players can connect with the community and host fans. Sydney Himes, a current CSU golfer and Columbus native, noted the project's personal impact. 

"This new clubhouse will be a huge milestone for our teams," she said. "It's going to create an environment that inspires us to keep improving and reminds us how much support we have behind our program." 

A Legacy Worth Investing In 

All funding for the new clubhouse will come from donated funds. The $3.2 million campaign will enable Columbus State boosters, community supporters and golf fans to contribute to the Men's and Women's Golf Teams through multi-year facility-naming opportunities.  
"As a proud Columbus State alumnus, I'm honored to play a small role in building the future of CSU golf," said Troy Woods '74 of his role helping to conceptualize and lead the clubhouse fundraising campaign. "I believe this investment in our Golf Program will empower our student-athletes to reach new heights and continue a tradition of excellence." 

The fundraising campaign is built upon a foundation of five decades of athletic and academic success. During the last 50 years, the CSU Golf Program has garnered a combined eight men's and women's Peach Belt Tournament championships and 35 NCAA Division II championship appearances. Men's Golf has secured six DII national championships and 67 total individual All-American honors. That excellence extends to the classroom, where Columbus State golfers consistently maintain a combined team GPA above 3.25 each semester. 

The 13-acre Key Golf Studio opened in November 2015 and is named after the late James W. "Billy" Key, a founding member of the CSU Athletic Fund, a 2001 CSU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee and one of the most decorated golfers to come out of the Chattahoochee Valley. As part of the project, the existing clubhouse will be retrofitted into a new players gym, helping golfers reach peak physical condition.

"The Key family name has been synonymous with the Columbus State Golf Program since the Key Golf Studio opened and Billy Key made the first official shot from the practice facility," Hay noted. "This campaign will enhance the studio while preserving the Key family's legacy of support." 

"We're now positioned to return CSU Golf to a place of national prominence," said Jack Key, Billy Key's nephew and a current CSU Foundation trustee. "We have outstanding coaches who are successfully recruiting and developing excellent young players. And with the addition of these new top-tier training facilities on the horizon, we're on the cusp of bringing more championships home to Columbus." 

The groundbreaking on Jan. 8 marked the official public launch of the fundraising campaign. In addition to naming rights for the entire clubhouse, interior naming opportunities range in value from the indoor putting lab to individual player lockers. These philanthropic commitments may be pledged over multiple years and come with benefits that—depending on the gift—include CSU-branded items and one-on-one golf lessons with either McCoy or Head Women's Golf Coach Kristin Culpepper. Donors may also support the project through annual gifts of any amount through the CSU Foundation. 

For ways to support the Cougar Golf House campaign, go to CSUCougars.com.