The 2024-25 school year will mark the first full season in which the Whitworth men’s and women’s Golf Teams have access to the new 2,000-square-foot Piggott Golf Center.
The facility is behind the Fieldhouse on the campus’ western edge. Construction began in October 2023 and was completed in January 2024, as two new state-of-the-art simulators were installed as well as a large putting green. PACCAR Executive Chairman Mark Piggott, who has a longstanding relationship with Whitworth, generously committed to helping fund the project back in August 2023.
“We just kept saying, ‘This is unreal, can’t believe we have this,’” said senior Grady Burkett. “Just really, really grateful for it.”
Burkett believes that the facility will allow him and his teammates to better prepare for their spring season during the winter months. With courses in Spokane often closing due to snowfall, Whitworth is at a disadvantage compared to other schools in the Northwest Conference and around the country.
“It’s huge for us being able to work on our swings throughout the winter,” Burkett said. “We can take our progress from the fall season into the spring season without having to take a bunch of time off from swinging.”
However, the facility is not only for training. It provides players with a space they can use to relax and connect with each other. Women’s coach David Fern says there’s couches and a TV for the players to take advantage of, and that players can use the facility as a place to study for classes together. With players able to work on their game year-round, Fern also anticipates the facility drawing additional interest in the program from recruits.
“Every recruit taken in there has their jaw on the ground, and they’re like, ‘this is awesome,’” said Fern. “It’s like, yeah, you can use this whenever you want.”
Fern said that not many programs get an opportunity to utilize facilities on the level that Whitworth now does. He’s grateful that community members like Piggott have an interest in supporting Whitworth Athletics.
“We’ve gotten spoiled with this awesome facility. And I want to be a good steward of it and make this team even better,” said Fern.
The Men and Women’s Golf Teams will be looking to build off their recent success, with the Women being ranked in the Division III Top 25 for most of last year and the Men finishing consistently near the top of the NWC.
