Northwestern University Athletics
NU Announces Renovation to Gleacher Golf Center, Patten Gymnasium
4/25/2019 10:30:00 AM | Men's Golf, Women's Golf
PHOTO GALLERY
EVANSTON, Ill. — Nearly 20 years after changing the landscape of Northwestern University Golf with the vision and generosity for the first comprehensive indoor facility in the nation, University Trustee Eric J. Gleacher '62 and Paula Gleacher have committed $5.7 million to Northwestern Athletics & Recreation for the renovation of the Gleacher Golf Center. The complete transformation of the space will ensure Northwestern Golf features one of the finest developmental facilities in the country.
Patten Gymnasium also will be renovated as a part of the $7.5 million project, providing an improved training facility for Wildcats fencing. Construction on both facilities began in April and is expected to be complete by fall 2019.
"Providing a world-class experience to our student-athletes academically, socially and athletically is the core of our daily mission, and the renovation of the Gleacher Golf Center and Patten Gymnasium will help us deliver on this commitment," Combe Family Vice President for Athletics & Recreation Jim Phillips said. "Eric and Paula are tremendous people. They continue to be our greatest champions for Northwestern Golf, and we are truly grateful to Eric, Paula and their entire family for their enduring generosity."
"Twenty years ago we celebrated the completion of the original Gleacher Golf Center with the purpose to develop winning teams," Gleacher said. "Winning was and is the ultimate goal, which motivated our efforts 20 years ago and continues to motivate us today. Northwestern's stature in intercollegiate golf has been significantly enhanced as is indicated by the results our coaches and student-athletes have earned. I have no doubt that our achievements over the next 20 years will be even more outstanding."
The Gleachers' latest gift will help create the most integrated campus golf center in the country, located just a few hundred yards west of Ryan Fieldhouse, Wilson Field and the Walter Athletics Center—and just steps away from residence halls and classrooms. The new Gleacher Golf Center will include:
The ascension of Northwestern Golf over the last 20 years is due in large part to the construction of the Gleacher Golf Center in 1999. Since that time, the men's and women's golf programs have combined for 50 tournament victories, seven Big Ten Conference titles, 10 Top-20 finishes at the NCAA Championships, 58 individual tournament wins, 71 All-Big Ten honorees and 20 All-Americans, including five First-Team honorees.
Luke Donald '01 claimed the program's first-ever individual NCAA Championship in 1999, and the program has seen six individuals claim Big Ten championships. The women's team claimed the NCAA stroke play title in 2017 before finishing as the national runner-up in match play.
"We have created a standard as one of the nation's premier golf programs and are so thankful to the entire Gleacher family for this generous gift that will help us remain a destination for the best amateur golfers from around the globe," Women's Golf Head Coach Emily Fletcher said. "This one-of-a-kind facility will provide our student-athletes with all the resources they need to improve on a daily basis while pursuing one of the most valuable degrees in higher education."
The project also will include a renovation to Patten Gymnasium, creating one of the premier fencing training facilities in all of collegiate athletics. The historic venue, which opened in 1940, has recently been home to the fencing, women's lacrosse, and men's and women's soccer and golf programs. The fencing program has called Patten Gymnasium home since 1976.
"We are so excited about the upcoming renovation to historic Patten Gymnasium and what it means for our program," Fencing Head Coach Zach Moss said. "To have the premier fencing training facility in Chicago and one of the best collegiate facilities in the country will have a dramatic impact on our ability to recruit and develop elite student-athletes. We all are immensely grateful for the support of so many people inside and outside of Northwestern that made this project happen. This building will be truly transformative for the Northwestern Fencing program."
Upgrades to Patten Gymnasium will include the following:
Eric Gleacher, a 1962 graduate of Northwestern, began his career in 1968 as an associate at Lehman Brothers, where he became a partner in 1973 and founded its mergers and acquisitions department in 1978. Gleacher joined Morgan Stanley & Co. in 1983, where he served as global head of mergers and acquisitions and was a member of the management committee. In 1990, he founded Gleacher & Co., a mergers and acquisitions and merchant banking firm. In 1995, NatWest, one of the largest banks in the U.K., acquired Gleacher & Co. He reacquired the company in 1999 and stayed on as chairman until 2013 when he retired.
He is married to Paula Gleacher and is the father of six children: John, Sarah '91, Jimmy, Jay, Patsy '12 and Willy. An accomplished competitive golfer, he won the Metropolitan (N.Y.) Golf Association Junior Championship in 1957 and was a member of the Western Illinois University golf team, which won the NAIA National Championship in 1959, his freshman year. Gleacher then transferred to Northwestern, where he earned a golf scholarship his junior and senior years. Soon after service as a lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps (1963–66), Gleacher won the first of his 25 club championships. He has claimed titles at Shinnecock (N.Y.), National Golf Links of America (N.Y.), Maidstone (N.Y.), Baltusrol (N.J.), Deepdale (N.Y.), and Montclair (N.J.) among others.
In addition to his new $5.7 million gift towards the renovation project, Gleacher has contributed $14 million to Northwestern. He is a platinum member of NU Loyal, the society recognizing consistent annual giving to Northwestern, with 40 consecutive years of giving.
The gift will count toward We Will. The Campaign for Northwestern.
The funds raised through the "We Will" Campaign are helping realize the transformational vision set forth in Northwestern's strategic plan and solidifying the University's position among the world's leading research universities. More information on We Will. The Campaign for Northwestern is available at wewill.northwestern.edu.
EVANSTON, Ill. — Nearly 20 years after changing the landscape of Northwestern University Golf with the vision and generosity for the first comprehensive indoor facility in the nation, University Trustee Eric J. Gleacher '62 and Paula Gleacher have committed $5.7 million to Northwestern Athletics & Recreation for the renovation of the Gleacher Golf Center. The complete transformation of the space will ensure Northwestern Golf features one of the finest developmental facilities in the country.
Patten Gymnasium also will be renovated as a part of the $7.5 million project, providing an improved training facility for Wildcats fencing. Construction on both facilities began in April and is expected to be complete by fall 2019.
"Providing a world-class experience to our student-athletes academically, socially and athletically is the core of our daily mission, and the renovation of the Gleacher Golf Center and Patten Gymnasium will help us deliver on this commitment," Combe Family Vice President for Athletics & Recreation Jim Phillips said. "Eric and Paula are tremendous people. They continue to be our greatest champions for Northwestern Golf, and we are truly grateful to Eric, Paula and their entire family for their enduring generosity."
"Twenty years ago we celebrated the completion of the original Gleacher Golf Center with the purpose to develop winning teams," Gleacher said. "Winning was and is the ultimate goal, which motivated our efforts 20 years ago and continues to motivate us today. Northwestern's stature in intercollegiate golf has been significantly enhanced as is indicated by the results our coaches and student-athletes have earned. I have no doubt that our achievements over the next 20 years will be even more outstanding."
The Gleachers' latest gift will help create the most integrated campus golf center in the country, located just a few hundred yards west of Ryan Fieldhouse, Wilson Field and the Walter Athletics Center—and just steps away from residence halls and classrooms. The new Gleacher Golf Center will include:
- Indoor short-game and putting area expanded to 5,400 square feet, with raised ceilings and a nearly 3,000-square-foot green
- A state-of-the-art training area with three bays that will feature Swing Catalyst Force Plates and a TrackMan Golf simulator, as well as a dedicated video instruction bay
- A 19' x 8' digitally adjustable putting platform that includes a 3D-modeled green that can be tilted at any angle and an overhead projector that utilizes augmented reality to display putting paths and drills
- Brand-new locker rooms featuring world-class amenities including custom-designed lockers with multiple charging stations and room for a travel bag, luggage and golf bag
- A 1,200-square-foot student-athlete lounge with a dedicated study area and full kitchen for integration of Northwestern's Performance Nutrition program, and a nearly 1,000-square-foot sports performance hub
The ascension of Northwestern Golf over the last 20 years is due in large part to the construction of the Gleacher Golf Center in 1999. Since that time, the men's and women's golf programs have combined for 50 tournament victories, seven Big Ten Conference titles, 10 Top-20 finishes at the NCAA Championships, 58 individual tournament wins, 71 All-Big Ten honorees and 20 All-Americans, including five First-Team honorees.
Luke Donald '01 claimed the program's first-ever individual NCAA Championship in 1999, and the program has seen six individuals claim Big Ten championships. The women's team claimed the NCAA stroke play title in 2017 before finishing as the national runner-up in match play.
"We have created a standard as one of the nation's premier golf programs and are so thankful to the entire Gleacher family for this generous gift that will help us remain a destination for the best amateur golfers from around the globe," Women's Golf Head Coach Emily Fletcher said. "This one-of-a-kind facility will provide our student-athletes with all the resources they need to improve on a daily basis while pursuing one of the most valuable degrees in higher education."
The project also will include a renovation to Patten Gymnasium, creating one of the premier fencing training facilities in all of collegiate athletics. The historic venue, which opened in 1940, has recently been home to the fencing, women's lacrosse, and men's and women's soccer and golf programs. The fencing program has called Patten Gymnasium home since 1976.
"We are so excited about the upcoming renovation to historic Patten Gymnasium and what it means for our program," Fencing Head Coach Zach Moss said. "To have the premier fencing training facility in Chicago and one of the best collegiate facilities in the country will have a dramatic impact on our ability to recruit and develop elite student-athletes. We all are immensely grateful for the support of so many people inside and outside of Northwestern that made this project happen. This building will be truly transformative for the Northwestern Fencing program."
Upgrades to Patten Gymnasium will include the following:
- A brand-new, dedicated fencing facility with grounded strips and individual equipment storage
- A team lounge with seating for 30 that will have dedicated study areas, recreational areas and a kitchenette for the integration of the Northwestern Performance Nutrition program
- New coaches offices, an athletic training room, a meeting room, an armory and three separate film-review spaces
Eric Gleacher, a 1962 graduate of Northwestern, began his career in 1968 as an associate at Lehman Brothers, where he became a partner in 1973 and founded its mergers and acquisitions department in 1978. Gleacher joined Morgan Stanley & Co. in 1983, where he served as global head of mergers and acquisitions and was a member of the management committee. In 1990, he founded Gleacher & Co., a mergers and acquisitions and merchant banking firm. In 1995, NatWest, one of the largest banks in the U.K., acquired Gleacher & Co. He reacquired the company in 1999 and stayed on as chairman until 2013 when he retired.
He is married to Paula Gleacher and is the father of six children: John, Sarah '91, Jimmy, Jay, Patsy '12 and Willy. An accomplished competitive golfer, he won the Metropolitan (N.Y.) Golf Association Junior Championship in 1957 and was a member of the Western Illinois University golf team, which won the NAIA National Championship in 1959, his freshman year. Gleacher then transferred to Northwestern, where he earned a golf scholarship his junior and senior years. Soon after service as a lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps (1963–66), Gleacher won the first of his 25 club championships. He has claimed titles at Shinnecock (N.Y.), National Golf Links of America (N.Y.), Maidstone (N.Y.), Baltusrol (N.J.), Deepdale (N.Y.), and Montclair (N.J.) among others.
In addition to his new $5.7 million gift towards the renovation project, Gleacher has contributed $14 million to Northwestern. He is a platinum member of NU Loyal, the society recognizing consistent annual giving to Northwestern, with 40 consecutive years of giving.
The gift will count toward We Will. The Campaign for Northwestern.
The funds raised through the "We Will" Campaign are helping realize the transformational vision set forth in Northwestern's strategic plan and solidifying the University's position among the world's leading research universities. More information on We Will. The Campaign for Northwestern is available at wewill.northwestern.edu.
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