RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men's and women's golf programs got a big upgrade when they opened the doors of the Vaqueros Golf Center back in 2024. 
 
With the opening of the Vaqueros Golf Center, the Vaqueros had a place to call home. The $3 million facility is equipped with offices, locker rooms, hitting bays, nutrition stations and a study area. 
 
The last two years have allowed the Vaqueros to take advantage of the golf center, which has had a direct correlation to both programs winning the Southland Conference Championship. 
 
"I think having your place where you feel comfortable and you can come whenever you want," junior women's golfer Natalia Rodriguez said. "I think that has helped us put in more time and have more reps. Having access like that has really helped us."
 
Since the opening of the Vaqueros Golf Center, the Vaqueros have improved. The men's team has improved by five strokes from last year to this year. The women's team has improved in each of the last two years by a total of 10 strokes as a team. 
 
Along with all the amenities, the Vaqueros Golf Center has some technology that has helped the Vaqueros improve on the course and off. 
 
"We can start at the beginning of the recruiting process," Golf Director Houston Moore said. "It gets more people in front of us early. It's good to show them that you have something like this building. It's been huge for the program."
 
The hitting bays have a couple of Trackman units that helps track ball flight and swing speed. The hitting bay also has Putt View that helps simulate different kinds of putts so the Vaqueros can be ready for any course. 
 
"The main thing is that it has made me knowledgeable about my game, technique, my swing," junior men's golf Esteban Gonzalez said. "It makes you more aware, and it really pinpoints the things that will help you improve the most, which is really important when you are developing as a player. When you have access to this facility, you really don't have an excuse."
 
The Vaqueros Golf Center sits on Champion Lakes Golf Course, which provides the Vaqueros a challenging course to practice and work on improving.
 
Champion Lakes recently upgraded their practice area with artificial turn putting green and chipping areas. All of which allow the Vaqueros to test themselves and prepare every day. 
 
"The chipping green they just put in over here is really nice," freshman men's golfer Brock Porter said. "We can chip around and play fun games. You add that with the distance controls, launch monitors, and good golf balls, it really helps me improve."
 
While the Vaqueros Golf Center has all the tools to get the Vaqueros better, it also provides improvements that can't really be measured. 
 
"It's something that is not tangible," Moore said. "There is not a statistic for it, but our team chemistry has gone from bottom of the barrel to really good on both sides. All these guys being out here, eating out here, and studying out here is huge and it's not something you can really compare or equate but it's huge when you can have everyone row in the same direction."
 
The Vaqueros Golf Center gives the Vaqueros a place to build a team bond. It's been a place that not only allows them to put in the hours for practice but spend hours with their teammates. 
 
The team chemistry has been a key to the success on both sides this season. 
 
"We are all really good friends," freshman men's golf Jorge Martin Sampedro said. "We all have really good chemistry. We like to practice and put in the work every day."
 
There are a lot of things to like about the Vaqueros Golf Center, including a recently added golf simulator but after winning the SLC Championship, there seems to be a new favorite. 
 
"I would probably have to say the new trophies that we added to the trophy case," Gonzalez laughed. "The Putt View is pretty cool. You can get a lot of good putts on there."
 
"I think the simulator is becoming one of my favorite things," Rodriguez said. "We can hit inside when it's hot and I think it's so beneficial. Now I like the trophy room. We have the big trophy in there, so it's one of my favorite things."
 
The Vaqueros don't take the Vaqueros Golf Center for granted. Many of them didn't have a facility to work with in years past and now truly know the benefits of something like the Vaqueros Golf Center.
 
"It's pretty cool to have the building here," Gonzalez said. "It makes it feel like a home and it's your place. That's pretty cool. From not having it, you are just guessing on what you must do to get better. Now, it makes your life easier when you have a pretty cool building, showers, a cool locker room, and all the technologies." 

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