2008 Woodie Awards
Inexperienced Crew Builds Successful Driving Range
Course Still Thriving 10 Years Later
Reader Contribution
Issue date: 8/30/06 Section: Sports
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Contributed by
Barbara Aughenbaugh
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the University of Baltimore Mt. Washington Golf Driving Range. In August, the range celebrated the anniversary through promotions and incentives for the UB and Mt. Washington communities.
The driving range was constructed after realizing the 45-acre grounds owned by UB were underutilized. The design plan began with John Root, former associate vice president of Auxiliary Services, and others checking out local golfing establishments.
The trip involved evaluating different ranges in search of the right combination of features to provide the best services to the UB and Mt. Washington communities.
Root said that the data was collected empirically through the strictest scientific methods. All measurements and distances had to be calculated perfectly to comply with golf course design standards.
Robert Kennedy, multi-trades supervisor in Physical Plant, Robert Brulinski, director of Plant, and others were instrumental in getting the range up and running with no prior experience in recreational design.
Kennedy’s first reaction to the idea was, “Does anyone know anything about driving ranges?”
Within three months, the supplies were purchased, and personnel was hired and in place for the grand opening in August 1996.
“It was great to see them take ownership of the project and take pride in how it looked once it was finished,” Root said.
The project was not without bumps in the road, however. Root said the biggest concern was the reaction from the community.
“We had heard the grumblings of too much traffic and what would this lead to,” Root said. However, we “presented it to the community association and they endorsed it from the start.”
Cheryl Hain, administrative assistant in Financial Aid who came to UB a month before the range opened, said one of the more exciting bumps in the road was “the day a golf ball got stuck in the mower deck and rubbed against the belt and started a fire.”
Last year, the patrons of the Mt. Washington driving range hit over 11,000 buckets of balls and received 112 golf lessons.
The driving range will host a celebration from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 2, 3 and 4. The first 80 guests will receive a free UB golf towel. All guests can enter a raffle to win a UB golf shirt and other prizes.
Barbara Aughenbaugh is associate vice president of Auxiliary Enterprises at the University of Baltimore.
MORE INFO
Mt. Washington Golf Driving Range
2102 W. Rogers Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21209
phone – (410) 664-2824
e-mail – tstumpf@ubalt.edu
web – www.ubalt.edu/auxserv/
drivingrange.html
August:
1 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday
9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
September:
1 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
October:
1 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday