Just 11 months after breaking ground, Columbus State University opened its new Cougar Golf Clubhouse at the Key Golf Studio on Thursday, Nov. 6. The 6,447-square-foot, $3.2 million clubhouse is CSU Athletics' first major capital project since 2016.
"This facility represents an investment in our students, our golf programs and opportunities we want to create for the next generation of Cougars," Director of Athletics Justin Hay told a ribbon-cutting crowd that included student-athletes, their parents and coaches, golf alumni and athletics patrons. "We are grateful to everyone whose generosity, vision and hard work made this possible."
For decades, Columbus State's Golf Program has been a force in NCAA Division II. In its first 50 years, the program has built an extraordinary legacy, with 35 NCAA appearances, 67 All-American honors and six national championships, while its student-athletes record combined program GPAs of 3.25 or better.
Columbus State President Stuart Rayfield said the clubhouse will equip the program's student-athletes for excellence both in their sport and in their college experience.
"We are building toward a promise of excellence at this institution. This world-class facility is about building community for our students and giving them a place to feel a sense of connection and belonging at CSU," she said.
Since the 13-acre Key Golf Studio opened in 2015, Columbus State's student-athletes have enjoyed some of the NCAA Division II's top-tier practice surfaces. The addition of the Cougar Golf Clubhouse further elevates the facility, named for the late James W. "Billy" Key. One of the Chattahoochee Valley's most decorated golfers, Key was a founding member of the CSU Athletic Foundation and was inducted into the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001.
"Today, [Billy Key's] legacy takes the next leap. This clubhouse is a declaration that Columbus State intends to remain at the very top of collegiate golf," said Will White (pictured), chair of the CSU Foundation Board of Trustees.
Turning his attention to members of the golf team, White continued, "We do want you to win championships, but more importantly, we want you to be champions in life. The first 50 years of CSU Golf built this legacy. Today, this clubhouse launches the next 50."
Pairing quality facilities, high-stakes recruiting
The Cougar Golf Clubhouse brings championship-caliber indoor practice technology and new outdoor playing surfaces to the Key Golf Studio. Coaches say these additions will strengthen team cohesion and help recruit and retain student-athletes.
The clubhouse features a high-tech putting lab that gives student-athletes unparalleled skill analysis to help them reach their full potential. Two practice bays support training in bad weather, including one with a Foresight golf simulator that provides detailed ball, club and hitting data.
Beyond technical training, the clubhouse also emphasizes the human side of the sport. A dedicated team room gives student-athletes space to plan for their next tournament and build camaraderie. An outdoor terrace offers a covered retreat where players can connect with the community, welcome fans and reconnect with team alumni.
When the university broke ground on the clubhouse last January, Hay emphasized that the new facility would build upon the program's strong tradition of success, further enhance the student-athlete experience, and strengthen its ability to attract top talent while competing among the nation's premier 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 win conference and national titles."
Head golf coaches Jackson Wedgeworth (left) and Kristin Culpepper (right)
Hay credited the university's golf coaches with "understanding this program's DNA" and being "incredible servant leaders committed to developing their athletes on and off the course." One of those coaches is Kristin Culpepper, who was named Women's Golf coach in December 2023. A two-time Columbus State alumna, she golfed for CSU for two years before serving as a graduate assistant coach for another two.
"This clubhouse represents so much more than just a building—it represents growth, opportunity and belief in the future of CSU Golf," said Culpepper, who also serves as CSU Athletics' senior woman administrator. "For our student-athletes, this is a place they can call their own; a place to come together, build relationships, grow as teammates and continue pushing our programs forward."
Hay expected the clubhouse to help recruit student-athletes, but he didn't expect to use it so soon to bring in a new Men's Golf coach. In July 2026, he welcomed Jackson Wedgeworth, a former professional golfer and national champion, as the new coach after Lee McCoy announced his departure the previous month.
"As I was looking and being interviewed to be the coach here, [the new clubhouse] was one of the biggest factors behind me choosing Columbus State," Wedgeworth said. "I look forward to continuing this championship-level expectation and working with everyone to do all we can do to make this program even better."
To recruit and retain players, Hay hopes the new Cougar Golf Clubhouse will help make Columbus State a destination where his coaches can build and develop their teams. Those teams currently include 18 student-golfers from seven states and the United Kingdom.
"It is our athletic department's cultural framework to compete, serve and unite—and this space gives us the ability to do that," he said.
Investing in better programs, player experiences
Those cutting the ribbon for the Cougar Golf Clubhouse included (left to right) Women's Golf Head Coach Kristin Culpepper; Samantha Dewendt Morales representing the Women's Golf team; Dr. Ashish Jain; Troy Woods; CSU Foundation Board Chair Will White; President Stuart Rayfield; Jack Key; Head Men's Golf Coach Jackson Wedgeworth; Director of Athletics Justin Hay; and Frederick Chappell representing the Men's Golf team.
The clubhouse will be funded entirely through private philanthropic giving. White, retired corporate executive and alumnus Troy Woods '74 and local plastic surgeon Dr. Ashish K. Jain planned and led the $3.2 million fundraising campaign. Rayfield credited Tee Off Club members and other donors for their support, which has raised 77% of the clubhouse's fundraising goal.
In addition to naming rights for the entire clubhouse, several interior naming opportunities—like the indoor putting lab and individual player lockers—range in size, visibility and value. These philanthropic commitments can be pledged over multiple years and offer benefits that, depending on the gift, may include CSU-branded items and one-on-one golf lessons with Culpepper or Wedgeworth. Donors can also support the project through an online gift of any amount to the CSU Foundation (search for "Key Golf Studio" among available gift designations.
"Your support doesn't just help us build better facilities," Culpepper explained. "It helps us build better programs, better experiences and opportunities for the young men and women who wear Columbus State across their chest."
Additional photos are available from the university's Flickr account.
Media contacts: Michael Tullier, APR (Office of Strategic Communication + Marketing) or Spencer Mathis (CSU Athletics)
