Mooty Foundation Donates $1 Million to Help Practice Facility at U of M

  MINNEAPOLIS – Practice facilities for the University of Minnesota men’s and women’s golf teams will get a boost thanks in large part to a $1 million donation from the John W. Mooty Foundation university officials announced Monday.

Minnesota is one of the few programs without a year-round facility in the Big Ten conference. The new building, which will be named the John W. Mooty Golf Training Center, will be located in St. Paul near Les Bolstad University Golf Course.

“Our father, individually and through his Foundation, was a strong supporter of academics and athletics at the University of Minnesota. His sons – Bruce, Chuck and I – all have strong ties to the University as well and wish to carry on his tradition,” David Mooty said Monday. “We are excited to be a part of the construction of the new golf training center and the positive impact it will have both academically and athletically on the men's and women's teams. We played a lot of golf with Dad growing up and came to love the game through his passion. He had one of the most unorthodox swings ever seen, so it is somewhat ironic that this center will bear his name. I’m sure he is chuckling about that.”

“It’s been a pleasure getting to know the Mooty family and I am so grateful to them for their generosity and support of both Gopher golf programs,” Gopher women’s coach Michele Redman said of the contribution. “This facility will help us recruit and develop outstanding golfers, but it will also have a positive impact on so many of Minnesota’s junior golfers. This facility isn’t just about what’s best for Gopher golf, it’s about what’s best for Minnesota golf.”

“I have the same appreciation for the Mooty family as Michele, I can’t thank them enough for stepping up to help make this new facility a reality,” men’s golf coach John Carlson added. “With this facility, Gopher golf will finally have a home of its own. It’s more than a practice space – though the recruiting and development benefits are huge to our programs and our state. This facility will be a place to display our history, celebrate our traditions, host alumni and so much more. We have needed this for so long. It’s exciting to see it taking shape.”

Heated hitting bays, putting green and chipping green, locker rooms, offices for coaching staff, a players’ lounge and a designated Hall of Fame are just a few amenities planned for the new training center.

The start of construction for the project is within reach as the Mooty Foundation’s donation puts fundraising efforts within $1 million of its $3.5 million goal.