Practice facility puts golf program on the upswing

The new UNK Golf Academy, an indoor-outdoor practice facility that opened last fall at Awarii Dunes Golf Club south of Kearney, is a world-class facility on a world-class golf course.

Few golf teams have anything like what the Lopers now have.

The new UNK Golf Academy, an indoor-outdoor practice facility that opened last fall at Awarii Dunes Golf Club south of Kearney, is a world-class facility on a world-class course.

“It’s a dream come true,” Lopers Golf Coach Chad Lydiatt says. “And for a Division II school to have it – it’s incredible.”

This past winter, his golfers worked on their short game, chipped and putted in the warmth of the building. They raised the doors of its three bays – like three garage doors – and watched their balls fly down the driving range.

This summer, his golfers have been practicing for six, seven hours a day – even on 100-degree days – working on all aspects of their game with the air conditioner set at 68.

There’s a fitness center. There’s a locker room. There’s a 40-by-45 foot putting green.

One of the bays has three cameras to film a golfer’s swing from every angle.

The academy, he says, will help with recruiting golfers to UNK and it will take the Lopers to another level of play.

He’s already seeing results in recruiting.

“We have probably the two best kids coming in this year,” he says. “So, yeah, it’s been a slam-dunk.

“It’s unbelievable, it really is. We’re on the upswing, definitely.”

UNK leases the building from Awarii Dunes using funds donated through the University of Nebraska Foundation. It will be named the UNK Golf Academy for as long as UNK makes the lease payments.

To sustain the golf teams’ ability to use the facility, the foundation needs to raise more money.

If you’d like to support the UNK golfers with a gift to the UNK Men’s Golf Support Fund or Women’s Golf Fund, please give online or contact the foundation’s Lucas Dart at 308-698-5272.

Your gift would ensure the Lopers have continued access to the academy and that outstanding student-athletes will continue to choose UNK for the education and intercollegiate athletic experience.

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