Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Stout has unveiled the new Pat Kell Golf Center, an indoor facility aimed at enhancing the training and learning experience for its golf teams and students majoring in golf enterprise management. Located within the Recreation Complex, this center features advanced technology, including two monitors that provide real-time swing and ball data, along with simulators for year-round practice.

The creation of this facility was made possible through a donation from Mike Kell in memory of his late wife, Pat Kell. The center was officially dedicated in a ceremony attended by members of the Kell family. "She would be thrilled, tickled pink about this whole complex," said Mike Kell during the event.

Golf team coach Andrew Delong highlighted the benefits of the new facility: “There are a lot of things we can do that we couldn’t do before.” The center offers players instant feedback on their performance and allows them to practice regardless of weather conditions. It also serves as a resource for golf enterprise management majors to gain practical skills relevant to their future careers.

In addition to serving the university's teams and students, the center is available for use by faculty, staff, and community members. Men’s golf team member Andrew Bauer expressed enthusiasm about the facility's impact on their game: “This will allow us to improve our games and gain an edge.”

The women's golf team recently achieved second place in their conference tournament under Coach Sophia Connett, who was named WIAC coach of the year. Athletics Director Duey Naatz praised the new facility as "top tier" and expressed gratitude towards the Kell family for their contribution.

The Pat Kell Golf Center is part of broader plans for renovations at UW-Stout’s Recreation Complex, which are pending state approval. The project reflects ongoing collaborations between UW-Stout and entities like Great Northern Corp., continuing a legacy established by Paul Kell through Kell Container.

"The Kell family appreciates UW-Stout and always will," stated Mike Kell, emphasizing their longstanding connection with the institution.

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