University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Athletics Adds State-of-the-Art Tennessee Golf Performance Center
October 24, 2024 | General, Men's Golf, Women's Golf
Tennessee Athletics has proudly unveiled the Tennessee Golf Performance Center, enhancing the renowned Day Golf Practice Facility to create one of the premier golf practice facilities in the nation.
The Gift-in-Place project is groundbreaking, as it is the first of its kind on the Knoxville campus. Donor Larry Pratt oversaw the hiring of the architect and contractor and managed the construction of the performance center. This unique process allows the facility to be completed faster and more efficiently than ever before.
"Larry's philanthropic efforts have benefited many students and student-athletes at the University of Tennessee, and we are extremely grateful for his generosity," Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said. "This project is another testament to his passion for helping make UT Athletics a leader in college sports. We cannot thank Larry enough for his commitment to ensuring that the University of Tennessee and Tennessee Athletics are positioned for excellence."
Pratt is the Chairman and CEO of First Savings Mortgage Corporation, a company he founded in 1989 and is now Washington, D.C.'s largest private mortgage lender.
Pratt's giving has always been comprehensive. He has positively impacted student-athletes through an endowed scholarship in his father's name, donations to the STEP-UP Campaign, a lead gift to create the Pratt Pavilion basketball facility and the Larry Pratt locker room. He has also supported campaigns to improve historic Neyland Stadium and Lindsey Nelson Stadium. His longstanding and impressive financial support of athletics is recognized and appreciated, yet he does not stop there. His generosity has also enhanced the academic student experience. Pratt's philanthropy has created the Harold "Prof" Powers Endowed Scholarship for underserved students from McMinn County, Tennessee, where his hometown of Athens is located. He established the Larry F. Pratt Flagship Endowment Scholarship for students within the state of Tennessee.
"I am thankful for what Mr. Pratt has done for us," said men's golf head coach Brennan Webb. "Doc has been an incredible supporter of the program since I arrived. He has made an enormous difference in everything we have done in the last six years.
I could not be more thankful for his support, friendship, and how much he cares. It means a lot to have someone as successful as he, who cares about what we're doing and have his support. You can't put a price on it."
The 3,600-square-foot performance center, which sits next to the Blackburn-Furrow Golf Clubhouse on the 37-acre facility alongside the Tennessee River, is filled with the latest training and recovery equipment.
Current features include:
- A Proteus Motion machine with an innovative design that allows you to assess, train and rehab any human movement with patented 3D Resistance
- Four Keiser machines that use air resistance, which allows for smooth and controlled movements
- Four customized PLAE squat racks with additional shelves for medicine balls and kettlebells
- Four Tidal Tank Aqua Bags can be used in various exercises, including strength training, conditioning and rehabilitation.
- A pair of treadmills and climbers
- A turf area that can be used for activities such as yoga or pushing sleds
- An outdoor sauna and two infrared saunas.
One of the unique aspects of the addition of the Tennessee Golf Performance Center is that it maximizes student-athlete productivity and benefits student-athlete recovery immediately, as they have a centrally located place for workouts, recovery, and golf instruction.
"Mr. Pratt went about it extraordinarily, in a way that had never been done before," said women's golf head coach Diana Cantu. "Just thinking outside the box and being creative with his way to want to help our programs and help us be unique and have an advantage amongst other programs.
It's remarkable to have that unmatched support from him and we couldn't have done it without him."
The Blackburn-Furrow Golf Clubhouse at Day Practice Facility, which houses the day-to-day operations of the men's and women's golf programs, was built in 2019. The approximately 8,300-square-foot clubhouse features a 1,000-square-foot hitting bay equipped with Trackman, a Putt View virtual-putting green and a GCQuad launch monitor.
The facility houses team locker rooms, meeting areas, a team lounge, and coaches' offices. It also has more than 1,200 square feet of outdoor deck and patio space for recruiting and entertaining.
