When the winter months come through Iowa, many of the sports become indoor-based or become an indoor activity. Sports such as football, soccer, and golf become unplayable when temperatures hit below zero.

For many, golf is handicapped when pushed indoors. Only the short game and putting can be worked on. If that were the case, then the Cyclone men’s golf team wouldn’t be as competitive as it’s been. Andrew Tank, ISU men’s golf coach, talked about one of the facilities here at Iowa State that helps them practice all aspects of the game.

“We have the Cyclone Golf Performance Center, which is a permanent structure that’s right at the driving range,” Tank said. “The performance center has four stalls to hit out of with the ability to putt. It’s more convenient for us.”

Previously when coaching at the University of Minnesota, Tank used a similar structure but not as permanently placed.

“It’s common to find performance centers in the last five to 10 years,” Tank said. “A lot of schools have been investing in these facilities. They have the heated bays and short game areas.”

As the growth of these performance centers continue, additions and upgrades will be a big part of the game.

“It’s not just for the Midwest,” Tank said. “Schools further down south are building them as well. It’s pretty common, most schools in the Big Ten and Big 12 would have something similar.”

Assistant coach Patrick Datz likes what the performance centers do for the golf team as the weather turns colder.

“The performance center is great,” Datz said. “Being able to practice year-round is really important especially being in the Midwest when the weather isn’t always great for golf. Practicing year-round is a big benefit.”

The University of Michigan will be opening a facility in less than a month with heated hitting bays. Men’s golf coach Chris Whitten talked recently about the upgrades that will be seen in these performance centers.

“They’re starting to build facilities to swing indoors but see the ball flight outdoors,” Whitten said. “The technology going into those spaces with launch monitors and video equipment is much more sophisticated than what it was five years ago. That’s helping the performance. The heated bays are providing facilities to use that technology.”

Performance centers help golfers and coaches study ball flight, an important part of the game to help driving and accuracy. This is something that helps when they are in the three-month hiatus and get ready for the spring portion of the season.

“We come out in the spring and we are ready to go,” Datz said. “We aren’t flat; we are able to see the ball flight during the winter.”