St. Pius Adds Putting Green to Campus

Another new facility has popped up at in recent weeks. Already the site of the first all-field turf high school baseball stadium in Georgia, the campus now boasts its very own all-turf putting green. Believed to be the first putting green on a high school campus statewide, the facility is adjacent to the Seaver Family Sports Complex on Frontier Trail.

The idea for the green came from Phil Cook, boys’ golf coach, and Rachel Braham, girls’ golf coach, three years ago. The two began to discuss the idea of an on-campus putting green and chipping area and the value for the entire St. Pius community, in addition to both golf programs. Six months ago, the idea was revisited by the golf coaches and Tony Stephens, director of finance and operations, himself a former St. Pius golf coach.

With space becoming available, Stephens approached Deluxe Athletics about installing the green and chipping area. The company installed the field turf at the Seaver Family Sports Complex, and work commenced on the new facility.  According to Stephens, the green is approximately 25 feet by 35 feet and oval in shape. Very much like a natural green, the putting surface has undulations and breaks as well as chipping areas surrounding it.

"The chipping and putting surface allows the teams to practice some part of the golf game every day, and since most scores are lowered on and around the green, hopefully this will pay some dividends for our golfers," Stephens said in a statement.

"At the high school level, there are a tremendous number of young men and women that can play the game reasonably well from tee to green," Cook said.  "What sets the great teams apart from the good ones is the ability to score around the greens. Being able to emphasize to our golfers that they can focus on the most important part of game improvement while (on campus) gives us all the reason in the world to be that much better."

Cook said he sees this as an opportunity for team bonding as well. Unlike most schools that have access to a local club or several team members that belong to the same course, the golfers at St. Pius are members of several different clubs.

"Having a facility like this will help unite the team a bit more," Cook said.

Cook and Stephens said enhancing facilities on campuses in the metro-area is an ongoing process, and the putting green is another in those efforts as schools seek to attract students. Also, other golf coaches will see this facility and want their own.