Cedar Park Driving Range • Cedar Park

Cedar Park Driving Range • Cedar Park

Written by Beth Wade Monday, 24 March 2008

His first golf swing happened at a country club in Idaho at age 7, and today, almost 60 years later, Gaylen Gordy is back on course.

“I had a good friend whose father was a member of a country club in Idaho,” Gordy said. “He would drop us off, and we would play golf all day. Then he would pick us up at night. After a couple of weeks, he had the professional at the clubhouse cut down a set of clubs for us. We were amazed about how much better our game got.”

Gordy is now managing the Cedar Park Driving Range, which has been open in Cedar Park since 2004. The range features 38 hitting stations, 20 of which are under a canopy. The farthest target is 365 yards away, offering golfers plenty of room to practice different types of shots, such as putting, chipping and driving, he said.

The variety enables Gordy and his PGA teaching pro, Joey Clendening, to instruct golfers of all skill levels.

“We welcome everybody,” he said. “If they’ve never swung a club before, we’ll at least give them the basics. There’s no charge for that. In 10 minutes I’ll have them hitting straight.”

Clendening offers professional instruction now, but Gordy said he hopes to have more teachers as business picks up.

Gordy’s career has taken many different forms, from working in advertising across the U.S. to a consulting job that took him to South Africa.

Gordy designed the driving range, while working as a consultant at Accelerated Building Technologies. He finished the project and then left to work for a different company. He took over management of the driving range March 1.

“I’m one of those people who builds something, takes it to a level and then sets it free and lets someone else put themselves into it,” he said. “Then I’m on to the next challenge.”

Gordy is facing the challenges of managing his new business with his two children. Michelle Hansen operates the office and general business, while his son, Chris Clem, handles the landscaping and general maintenance.

Along with day-to-day maintenance, the family is planning several renovations, including new mats at the tee boxes and a new putting green.

With his family at his side, Gordy wants to turn the place around and make it a family fun center for golfers of all ages to play.

“The vision was always to make it more of a fun community thing for families,” Gordy said. “We do have a picnic area, and they can come and picnic or putt, free of charge. They can come and just have a lot of fun.”

Gordy will offer free golf clinics at least once a week to the public beginning in April. Check the Web site for additional information, including tee times and clinic topics.

Golf Ball Pricing Options

Baskets

• Regular – 50 balls - $6
• Large – 100 balls - $9
• Jumbo – 150 balls - $12

Individual annual memberships - $200 (includes an unlimited amount of balls and trips to the driving range)

Cedar Park Driving Range, www.cedarparkdrivingrange.com, 1700 Hur Industrial Blvd., 267-6905