New driving range in Flint area coming

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Driving range

FLINT TOWNSHIP, MI -- Golfing is a skill that's been passed down for generations in Wesley Hull's family. His grandfather taught his father the sport, who taught him and he went on to teach his four sons when they were still in diapers.

Hull's been coaching the boys' team at Swartz Creek High School for nine years, but getting a good practice in the winter has been difficult after King Par closed a few years ago. 

In an attempt to keep the game alive in his community, Hull is stepping up to the plate so that others will have the opportunity to practice the sport he loves. 

Hull and his 24-year-old son, Logan, are planning to build "The Grounds," a driving range and training facility at 6122 W. Maple Ave. Plans for the driving range were approved on March 8 by the Flint Township Planning Commission.

"We're building this driving range because we want to grow the sport of golf again," Wesley Hull said. "For the past few years, I've been trying to find a place for the kids to practice after King Par closed and didn't have much luck. Everywhere we looked was too far out so eventually we decided to just build a driving range ourselves."

King Par closed its doors in 2016 after creditors filed a petition for involuntary chapter seven bankruptcy against the store.

The Swartz Creek golf team celebrates with the district trophy after winning last Friday's district tournament at Davison Country Club. - 2012(Ross Maghielse | MLive.com file photo)

 

Wesley Hull, who has been working for the United Parcel Service for 35 years, said he was on his route when he drove by a vacant 1895 farmhouse sitting on a large lot of land 20 years ago. When he and his son had the idea of building driving range, he knew just where it should go.

The house remained vacant all these years and Wesley bought it when the decision was made to build the driving range.

The 3,300 square foot driving range will sit on 45 acres of land and will feature eight to nine covered and heated golf tee boxes for practicing in the winter.

A garage door will open into a training facility where players can practice their swing with trainers.

There will be an indoor golf simulator used for training. Players will be able to practice their swing by hitting a ball agaisnt a screen that calculates where the ball will land.

There will also be a pro shop and an area to manufacture and repair golf clubs.

It will also feature a range that extends 330 yards that can be used for practice as well.

"We've always wanted to open up our own business," Wesley Hull said. "It needed to surround golf because it's a passion we all share and love."

The 53-year-old high school golf coach grew up in Swartz Creek, joined the Flint Junior Golf Association when he was young and played on the Swartz Creek High School golf team, which he would later begin coaching in 2009.

 

His father taught him the game, and he taught his sons who all joined the FJGA and played in high school as well.

Under Hull's coaching, the team won the Flint Metro League when his son Logan was on the team, but lost at regionals. In 2014, the team, which included his son Hunter, won the state championship in high school golf.

"Golfing has been in our blood," Wesley Hull said. "It's a gentleman's sport and is played with integrity. It's been a lot of fun watching them grow as men and players. I've had one of my sons play at the U.S. Amateurs this past year. Another one of my sons, Logan, is working on getting into the PGA apprentice program in order to get a PGA professional card."

Logan attended Albion College and played on their golf team for a year. He later

Swartz Creek High School senior golfer Logan Hull shot a 75 during a Metro League golf tournament at Copper Ridge Golf Course in Davison on Monday, May 23.

attended the University of Michigan-Flint and then the Golf Academy of America in Arizona.

"It's a big stress reliever for me to be able to go outside and play," Logan Hull said. "My dad and grandpa were big influencers in my life. A love for the game of golf grew because it's what we always did together."

Logan was Wesley's assistant coach for eight years before focusing on getting into the PGA apprentice program. He's now working toward his dream of becoming a professional golfer.

 

"I can't beat him now but it's still a lot of fun to go out there and play competitively," Wesley Hull said.

Now that plans for the driving range have been approved by the planning commission, Wesley hopes that construction can begin in April and end by fall.

"We want to finish up by fall, but we're hoping we'll have enough done that people can start practicing this summer," Wesley said.

Land elevation surveys have to be completed before construction can begin.