Golf Hall-of-Famer Annika Sörenstam visits Hunters Run to open new driving range
Golf icon Annika Sörenstam recently participated in the grand opening of Hunters Run Country Club’s revamped state-of-the-art driving range in Boynton Beach.
Sörenstam, a Hall-of-Famer who rewrote the record books on the LPGA Tour, provided support for the Motion in Progress initiative at Hunters Run, which showcases upgrades across its facilities. Sörenstam joined Hunters Run executives, staff and board members during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the driving range. The innovative technology from Callaway elevates the range of experience for practice and gaming.
“It’s beautiful and looks really cool,” Sörenstam said. “It makes you want to practice. I have been with Callaway since 1992. I have seen a lot of what they are capable of doing and it’s going to provide an amazing experience for all of their members.”
The renovated driving range features 17 covered hitting stations and three studio bays. Each station is equipped with built-in Toptracer touchscreen monitors. Toptracer towers track the flight of each ball with precision from speed and curve to launch angle and distance. The transformed driving range also includes new synthetic bunkers, short game targets at both ends of the range, state-of-the-art robots to pick up range balls and cut the grass, and an automated range ball washing system. The facility also includes USGA chipping greens and an expanded green at one end of the range.
“It’s nice to see the club stepping up to really create an amazing practice facility,” Sörenstam said. “If you love to practice, this is what you’re looking for. I am sure it’s going to attract new members and the current members will be happy. Everyone is looking for amenities. Members are expecting to have facilities like this to analyze their game and not just on the course. Golf is booming in a lot of ways with technology and facilities. It’s fun to see. “
Sörenstam had an opportunity to address club members about her legendary career during a conversation with Hunters Run Director of Golf Ben Bauer. The club members also were able to ask her questions, which was followed by a photo session.
Sörenstam, who is from Sweden, has the most wins by a female professional golfer with 97 on the LPGA and Ladies European Tour. She won 72 LPGA tournaments, including 10 majors. She is the LPGA’s career money list top earner. She was named LPGA Tour Player of the Year eight times and recognized with the LPGA Vare Trophy six times with the lowest seasonal scoring average. Sörenstam achieved a career grand slam in 2003 and also was the only female golfer to shoot a 59 on tour during her career.
Sörenstam, who stepped away from competition at the end of the 2008 season, has continued to have a passion for the game. She won the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open.
“I enjoy it and I love to be involved in the sport,” she said. “I want to use my knowledge and my passion to continue to grow it in different areas. I have a chance to get my voice heard and be able to make an impact on the sport in the future. “
Sörenstam, who lives in Orlando, has enjoyed the opportunity to provide opportunities for women’s golfers at the junior, collegiate and professional levels through the ANNIKA Foundation.
“We have been around for 17 years now and I am super proud,” she said. “We have continued to provide playing and practice opportunities, networking, resources and scholarships. We are broadening on what we are able to offer for the next generation. We have focused on the development of younger girls and worked with professionals.
“These young women are great people in the golf industry. They’re becoming influencers of their own and using the game of golf as their platform to get to other dreams. We are going to continue to help more young girls around the world. It’s been really exciting to see what we have done.”
Bauer, a longtime Callaway master staff professional who serves as the Hunters Run golf director, spearheaded the effort for the renovations to the driving range. The project started last May. Hunters Run also features three, 18-hole golf courses. The Motion in Progress initiative also has expanded to the East Golf Course, which is being designed by architect Kipp Schulties. The renovated course is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024.
“I have a relationship with Callaway and I understand the technology and where the industry and game is heading,” Bauer said. “The committee and board were in full agreement of where we needed to go with our driving range renovation here to be cutting edge and one of the leaders in the industry so we partnered with Toptracer. We have 20 monitors on our driving range with a permanent shade structure, which is pretty unique in South Florida.”
Bauer noted they had over 300 club members participate in a 15- minute tune-up session to learn and become acclimated with the new technology. The club members also participated in a Callaway demo session.
Kevin Naylor, who is the regional sales manager with Toptracer Range, said the transformation of the driving range will help Hunters Run members who are interested in data and analytics. The members also will have an opportunity to watch tour professionals participate in live competitions while also being able to play at the same time on that golf course in a virtual component.
“The key for what the private club environment is looking for is a social dynamic,” Naylor said. “Before, it was a traditional driving range where you hit a couple of golf balls to warm up. It’s now where you come out with a group of four and enjoy the range and have some fun and really take it into more of a social dynamic. It turns into a space where people want to come and it’s a destination.
“If you’re going to invest time, people want to know what is happening with their golf game and to have the data and analytics to understand what you’re doing by tracking every shot from ball data, carry distance and launch angles from tangible yardages on the driving range. They also have different targets out there and it will allow you to get creative. Hunters Run is focused on being a destination and a trend-setter. ”
Hunters Run COO and General Manager Larry Savvides said the transformation of the driving range and grand opening was an exciting moment.
“We have an incredible board and management team assembled and I am fortunate to be working with them,” he said. “We have a membership that supports all these improvements. We have a great team. I am very proud and there is a lot of excitement behind this. It’s a good feeling. This is a state -of-the-art facility and it’s special and unique. This is a paramount moment in the history of Hunters Run Country Club. We are at the point where it’s setting us apart from the other golf communities.”
Savvides said Hunters Run has embraced the Motion in Progress initiative to become a premier private club in the county.
“If anyone is looking to purchase a home in this area, this is the place to be,” he said. “We are at a perfect location and closest to downtown Delray Beach. We have a perfect variety of home residences. We have seven different restaurants at the club that we are proud to share with our membership. We opened up a restaurant called 26° North that is unique to our community and we have a renowned chef and his team. We have a batch bar offering unique bourbons special to us. This is the revolution of Hunters Run taking place before us, so it’s exciting.”