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Titan Athletics - Westminster Holds Dedication for New Bill Rankin Golf Center

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Posted on Monday, May 8, 2017

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – Westminster College held a dedication for the new Bill Rankin Golf Center on Saturday, May 6th.
 
The Director of Athletics Jim Dafler, Head Women's Golf Coach Jeff Roud, Head Men's Golf Coach Matt Torrence '93, senior men's golf player Shane Wilson, senior women's golf player Kelsey Phillips, President Kathy Richardson, and Bill Rankin '60 all spoke about the new state-of-the-art facility. Alumni, donors, employees, students, and friends were among the attendees.
 
"There's a long list of folks to thank for making the golf center possible," said Rankin.  
 
The Bill Rankin Golf Center, which is located in the basement of Eichenhauer Hall, features two state-of-the-art golf simulators, a chipping/putting green, the Palmer conference room (named in honor of the late western Pennsylvania native Arnold Palmer), a players lounge, and locker rooms for both Titan men's and women's golf teams. The pair of Foresight GC2 simulators feature 10 different courses throughout the country and are the same ones used by the Golf Channel. The nearly 1,000 square foot Southwest chipping and putting greens are similar to the ones used by professionals.
 
On Saturday, demonstrations of the golf simulators and the putting/chipping greens were given by members of the Westminster men's and women's golf teams.
 
In addition to thanking the donors, Westminster staff members, alumni, and friends, Rankin spoke directly to the student-athletes. "To the men's and women's golf teams, thank you," he said. "It was your enthusiasm and your love for the game that was a great inspiration for me. When I come up and watch the men and women of the golf teams practicing here and the joy they get and the fun they have practicing, it's just so satisfying for me."
 
The project started with an approval in November 2015 and the primary features of the center were completed in April 2016. Not only is this a facility where the Westminster golf teams can compete year-round, but it also appeals to potential recruits. The Bill Rankin Golf Center, which has already been described as a Division I-type facility, has already helped recruit current first-year student-athletes.
 
"I've been very blessed in my life in so many ways and Westminster has been so great to me," Rankin said in closing. "I'm just pleased that I can give something back to Westminster."

For more information, Nathaniel LaRiccia at lariccnj@westminster.edu or 724-946-6357.