Sunday, April 29, 2018, marked the culmination of sixteen months of work with the grand opening of the new Carr-McCarty-Jopling Golf Performance Center at Georgia Southern University Athletics' Bennett-Ramsey Golf Center.

Over 50 guests came together to celebrate the past, present and future of men's and women's golf at Georgia Southern.  In addition to the donors whose generous gifts made the Carr-McCarty-Jopling Golf Performance Center possible, those in attendance included Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein, head golf coaches Carter Collins and Emily Kuhfeld, the Athletic Foundation personnel as well as student-athletes and alumni from the men's and women's golf programs.

Guests looked on as the celebratory 'first swing' was made by John McCarty.

The Carr-McCarty-Jopling Golf Performance Center is named in honor of the Carr, McCarty and Jopling families, Tom and Margaret Carr, John and Margaret McCarty, Kathy Jopling and David Jopling, whose family has a longstanding relationship with Georgia Southern Golf.

The Golf Performance Center allows for practice during inclement weather and houses two indoor hitting bays, a team meeting room, a Short Game Performance Center made possible by Howard Lumber Hardware, an office for the director of the Golf Performance Center and the Rusty and Jennifer Strawn Men's Record Wall.

The hitting bays feature state-of-the-art equipment, made possible by Leonard and Betty Blount, which measures motion through video technology quantifying the mechanics of a golf swing to provide detailed facts to guide and measure swing changes.

"We are very appreciative of everything everyone has done to get here. It's our job to keep building. It's our job to keep growing, and we're going to make sure that happens," said Carter Collins, head coach of men's golf. "Much of our success was made possible by our supporters and prior team members, many who are with us tonight, and we look forward to continuing the foundation they laid before us."

The new facility connects to the existing Howard House where the Bo and Keely Fennell All-American Wall of Fame, Phil and Cindy Moore Men's Player's Lounge, Leonard and Sandra Bevill Men's Head Golf Coach and Women's Head Golf Coach Offices, John and Margaret McCarty Men's Locker Room, Chandler Roofing and Performance Insulation lockers and Mike and Deborah Cummings Men's Assistant Golf Coach Office were also dedicated to their respective donors on Sunday evening. In addition, "The Boss" Workout Facility was named in memory of John Cottrell.

The clubhouse, named in honor of Mr. Arthur Howard and his family, is the heart of the men's and women's golf programs and also a club repair area, computer and study areas for student-athletes and a championship entryway.

In total, over $500,000 was contributed to the men's and women's golf programs in support of the Carr-McCarty-Jopling Golf Performance Center.

"Anytime there is a facility like this, it's a collective group effort. Our golf programs have built up the excitement, the expectation and the priorities for our golf programs to get to this point - where this kind of facility is expected and where championships are expected. It's the hard work and accomplishments made by our former and current student-athletes and coaches, and the support of our donors to help get us to this point. Thank you to all who were a part of this process," said director of athletics Tom Kleinlein.

The Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation provides current information on its official website, GSEagles.com. Information on giving opportunities can also be found through social media channels Facebook.com/GSUAF or Twitter.com/GSUAF or via email AthleticFoundation@GeorgiaSouthern.edu.
The Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation's primary goal is to provide our student-athletes with the opportunity to compete for a championship ring and earn a college education while developing them as future leaders in their respective communities.

The mission of the Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation, Inc. is to provide private financial support for athletic scholarships, facilities and staff enhancement for the Athletic Department of Georgia Southern University. All of the activities of the Athletic Foundation are conducted with the highest regard for academic and athletic excellence and within the guidelines established by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, conference affiliations and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).