Colbert Hills Golf Course is building a new clubhouse to further boost its reputation. The groundbreaking ceremony will take place at Colbert Hills 11 a.m. Thursday, with construction scheduled to begin Aug. 1.
Scheduled speakers at the ceremony include professional golfer Jim Colbert, member of the PGA Champions Tour and K-State graduate; Bob Krause, vice president for institutional advancement and director of athletics at K-State; and Howard Sherwood, board president of the K-State Golf Course Management and Research Foundation.
David Gourley, Colbert Hills general manager, said that the new clubhouse will be a permanent home for the course’s golfers.
“The clubhouse will allow us to offer our visitors the chance to eat and visit our memorabilia and trophies,” he said. “People will come from all over just to see the memorabilia.”
The new clubhouse will include locker rooms, a pro shop, a multipurpose area, a conference room and a bar and grill within its estimated 13,500 square feet. It will also include a 3,000-square-feet covered patio and administrative offices.
“The building is estimated to cost around $5 million and it should be completed in 10-12 months,” Gourley said.
Construction will be funded entirely by private donations. Bernard Haney, executive director of the K-State Golf Course Management and Research Foundation, said tthe new clubhouse would attract even more golfers. Currently, about 28,000 rounds of golf are played at the course each year.
“The new clubhouse will be built west of the tee box on the first hole,” Haney said. “This location will provide tremendous views of Manhattan.”
The 18-hole golf course, which was designed by Jim Colbert and Jeff Brauer, opened eight years ago on 315 acres. It is home to the K-State men’s and women’s golf teams and is also used by students in the golf-course management program.
Jim Norris, K-State men’s golf coach, said the new clubhouse will make the golfing experience at Colbert Hills much more memorable.
“[The clubhouse] will make the golf course that even more attractive,” Norris said. “There won’t be too many golf courses that will be able to compare to Colbert Hills.”