The Florida Gators men's and women's golf teams will soon have a new home.
Architects Beau Welling and Steve Smyers have been tapped to design an 18-hole championship golf course as part of the new Evans University of Florida Golf Club, the athletic department announced in a news release Thursday morning. The project was made possible by a "transformational gift" from Consumer Cellular CEO Ed Evans.
The new club will cover a 500-acre tract in west Gainesville and will feature a state-of-the-art performance center called the Power Design Team House, thanks to a donation from Power Design, a multi-trade contractor based in St. Petersburg, Florida.
"The support of Ed Evans and Power Design will have a lasting impact on the University of Florida, our
golf programs and the Gainesville community," UF President Stuart Bell said in the news release. "Our lead donors understand what golf can mean to a university and a community, and their vision and generosity will help provide our student-athletes with resources that match the caliber of our programs. We are incredibly grateful for their investments in the Gators."
Led by elite amateurs Luke Poulter and Jack Turner, Florida is rated No. 1 in the country in Golfweek's 2026-27 preseason men's college golf rankings. The Gators finished fourth in the stroke play portion of the NCAA National Championships in the spring before being eliminated by Oklahoma State in the team match play quarterfinals. The Florida men's team has won five national titles in its history, most recently in 2023.
On the women's side, the Gators clocked in at No. 7 in Golfweek's preseason rankings, thanks in large part to the stellar play of Spanish senior Paula Francisco, who figures to be in the national player of the year conversation this season.
"This project is a defining moment for Gator golf," Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin said in the release. "Our men's and women's golf programs have established themselves among the nation's elite. This facility gives our student-athletes the championship-level resources they deserve, positions us to compete for national championships and creates a legacy that will benefit the University of Florida for generations to come."
The school did not provide a timeline for when the new Evans University of Florida Golf Club will be complete, but said the goal is to eventually host "premier collegiate, amateur and professional tournaments." According to the new release, UF has "no plans to change the use" of the Gators' current home track, Mark Bostick Golf Course, which was originally designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1921 as Gainesville Country Club before being purchased by the university in 1963.
Nick Stavas is a digital producer and commerce writer for Golfweek. Follow him on X/Twitter (@nickstavas).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: University of Florida announces plans for new golf course, team facility in Gainesville
