Jan. 28, 2014
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Ackerman Hills Course at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex will undergo a major renovation that will upgrade it to a championship-level facility and earn it inclusion on the Pete Dye Trail.
Following are some frequently asked questions about the project:
Why is the course being renovated?
The upgrades will modify the course to make it more appealing to a wider range of players while maintaining its current parkland style and addressing several agronomic issues and a deteriorating irrigation system. Furthermore, the upgraded course will be a practice and competition resource for Purdue's nationally ranked golf programs, with the entire Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex ranking second to none among collegiate facilities.
What is the timetable for the project?
The project will begin on the western-most nine holes during the late summer or early fall of 2014, allowing the nine eastern holes to remain playable through the end of the 2014 football season. The entire course will be closed in 2015 and reopen during the late spring of 2016.
Will football game-day parking be affected?
Football game-day parking will not be affected and will, in fact, be enhanced by the upgrades to the course drainage.
Who is designing the upgrades?
Pete Dye, regarded as the father of modern golf course architecture, has agreed to donate his design services. He previously designed the Kampen Course at Purdue, which is widely regarded as one of the top collegiate courses in the nation, having hosted the 2003 NCAA Women's Championships and the 2008 NCAA Men's Championships.
What is the Pete Dye Trail?
The Pete Dye Trail presently consists of seven golf courses throughout Indiana, including Purdue's Kampen Course, and combines challenging courses and unique destinations.