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New golf club tees off

Junior marketing major Justin Keil decided to start the Bradley Golf Club in July because he was looking to get more involved on campus
He spoke to Executive Director of Student Involvement Greg Killoran, who helped guide him through the finalization process, and a couple of the club’s computer-savvy members created a Google Group, which is available on B-Mail.
Keil said the club has become very active and enthusiastic.
It has 20 members and is open to men and women.
The club activities consists mainly of people meeting to play or to hone their golfing technique in the indoor driving range. 
He also worked with Director of Intramural Sports Mike Keup to purchase the equipment, which consists of two mats and nets for the indoor practice.
Everybody is welcome to use the indoor driving equipment, Keil said.
The goals of the club are to help students network with each other and make friends.
There is no competition among the students, but Bradley sponsored two of the best players to compete in a national qualifying tournament in St. Louis. The team took eigth place.
There is also a campus-wide tournament planned for students and staff to be hosted in late April.
“The details haven’t been finalized,” Keil said. “But I was looking to make it a fundraiser for the club itself.”
He said he’s looking into other ways to make money for the club.
“The idea that has struck me recently is to start volunteering for [golf] courses themselves,” Keil said. “So you could have some community service under your belt and play for next to nothing.”
The members’ skill levels range from beginner to advanced , and Keil said he just started lessons himself this summer.
Activities have slowed down recently because of weather and time constraints from exams, but Keil said he hopes things will pick up again when the weather warms up.
He said the club usually meets one Sunday a month. The Sunday is chosen based on what’s going on around campus.
There is no membership fee, and practice attendance is free.
However, members have to pay to play courses. Keil said course fees range from $15 to $27.
Keil said he is open to sharing his equipment and has a set of clubs that are open for people to use during practice. However, he said he prefers members bring their own equipment. He said he plans to build a storage area for members’ equipment in the future as need develops.
Keil said he hopes to expand his club to 40 members and will be looking to recruit members during the spring.
He said he wants to leave a legacy when he graduates from Bradley next year, and a golf club is just the thing.
“I’m in a fraternity now, and this year is our 60th anniversary,” Keil said. “If I came back in 20 years and [the club] was still here it would be something that would hit home, and I could be really proud of.”
Those wishing to join the club should e-mail jkeil@bumail.bradley.edu.
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