File photo

Hole No. 5 -- Cat Paw Bunker -- at Colbert Hills.

 

Kansas State University alumnus and Senior PGA TOUR pro Jim Colbert had long dreamed of giving back to the two entities that had greatly contributed to his success -- K-State and the PGA TOUR.

That dream has become a reality with the opening of Colbert Hills Golf Course, an 18-hole PGA TOUR-caliber championship course, located just northwest of Manhattan, Kan.

Situated on 315 acres, the Colbert Hills Golf Course extends 7,525 yards from the back tees and includes a temporary clubhouse, state-of-the art driving range and enough acreage for a nine-hole teaching course, as well as a host of research and academic opportunities for K-State researchers and students.

Financing for Colbert Hills was provided by private contributions, including $500,000 from Colbert and more than $3 million from special friends of the golfer. Additionally, the John Deere Company furnished new equipment, Rain Bird contributed state-of-the-art irrigation systems and Club Car is providing golf carts.

The course, which is owned by the not-for-profit Kansas State University Golf Course Management and Research Foundation, is open to the general public at a daily fee.

Course architects were Jim Colbert and Jeff Brauer, president of GolfScapes Inc. in Arlington, Texas.