Renovated & Ready: UF Golf Course Reopens Friday
Wednesday, August 27, 2014 | Men's Golf, Chris Harry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- When the University of Florida's newest coach arrived in the middle of the summer, the Mark Bostick Golf Course had been shut down for nearly two months and looked like the links' equivalent of a terminally ill patient.
“They were right in the middle of the renovation,” J.C. Deacon said. “It was a complete mess.”
Ah, but allowing the course to be so -- to be left alone, pummeled by the June-July-August elements to aerify and regenerate -- was part of the University Athletic Association's big-picture, $600,000 plan. That, along with an overhaul of the putting greens, sand traps and team practice areas, have the facility in immaculate condition just in time for the opening home football weekend.
Welcome back, Gator golfers.
Mark Bostick officially re-opens for business Friday.
“The course is really in great shape and we're all super-excited and ready to get out there and test it out,” UF women's coach Emily Glaser said. “To have it looking like this and at our disposal from the outset of the [school year] is going to be outstanding.”
The men's and women's teams were the first to play the renovated course, with chipping and putting work Tuesday and Wednesday. A special Member Appreciation Day is scheduled for Thursday, with the course officially open for business Friday.
Players will find state-of-the-art greens of Ultradwarf, a new turf that has become the standard for Florida putting surfaces. They'll also get re-sanded greens and some friendlier shots at the flag, thanks to the removal of some trees in decline, plus some heavy-trimming of branches throughout the course.
“It's been a while since it looked this good,” UF Director of Golf Scott Hampton said. “It's had time to heal and time for us to do the work.”
And now it's time for the coaches to go to work, what with a fall season ahead. Both UF teams have matches early next month, not to mention some recruiting to do.
For Deacon, tabbed in June to replace UF icon Buddy Alexander after 27 seasons, two NCAA Championships and eight SEC Championships, his tee time is now.
Deacon, 31, came to Florida after four seasons as an assistant coach at UNLV. Of his first 45 days on the job, he estimated 40 of them were spent on the road introducing himself to coaches, players, parents, pros and golf directors across the country, thus laying his recruiting groundwork.
And, now he has a gorgeous golf course to show off when prospects come in for official visits.
“I knew this would be a dream job for me, but to have a place like this is beyond what I expected,” said Deacon, adding the UNLV golf facilities were terrific, but a 20-minute drive from campus. “We're like a 30-second bike ride from the dorms.”
Last weekend, Deacon attended a kickoff party for Gators' coaches and UAA staff in the stadium's Champions Club and, for the first time, got to mingle among his colleagues. He was floored by how much fellow coaches, from basketball's Billy Donovan to baseball's Kevin O'Sullivan, offered their advice or assistance in getting his first season off to a positive start.
Deacon gave shout-outs to assistant coach John Handrigan (maintained from Alexander's staff) and program coordinator Brenda Lembo in assisting him with the transition. Though Deacon was schooled in golf at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., he played at UNLV and, after three years as a touring pro, returned to his alma mater to coach.
It's been a long time since he lived in a Florida. And he's a long way from the Nevada desert.
“I think he's doing a great job,” said Glaser, who was also 31 when she was promoted from assistant coach and took over the women's program in 2012. “I take for granted that when I got this job I sat in an assistant's office for a year, so the transition was easier. I knew who to call about things. Now with J.C., I have an understanding of how overwhelming it must be to get a handle on everything. But, he's really hit the ground running. He has such a great personality and energy.”
Now he has a home course to unleash those traits.
“So many people have helped me get acclimated that the transition has been practically seamless,” said Deacon, who held his first team meeting Monday night and is looking forward to attending UF's football opener Saturday night against Idaho. “There's an excitement and a sizzle about this place. Everybody knows the Gator brand and now that I'm a part of it I'm just so ready to get this thing going.”
