Colonial, TCU moving closer to expanded partnership to benefit Frog golfers
After years of cooperation between Colonial Country Club and TCU, the university and the club are close to formalizing a partnership that would give Horned Frog golfers access to upgraded practice grounds and a forthcoming performance center.
Jeremiah Donati, TCU’s former director of intercollegiate athletics and the current athletic director at the University of South Carolina, referenced the expanded relationship in 2023, saying it would “enhance the student-athlete experience.”
Donati said at the time the performance center, which will be adjacent to the driving range, would “contain a state-of-the-art long and short game practice facility, the newest technology and a student-athlete lounge.”
While a TCU athletics department spokesman declined to answer questions about the university’s agreement with Colonial, Frank Cordeiro, the club’s chief operations officer and general manager, said things are moving forward. He cautioned that nothing has been finalized.
“I value the longstanding relationship and continuing to build the relationship between these two iconic Fort Worth brands will be mutually beneficial,” Cordeiro said via email.
In addition to adding the performance center and a short-game practice area, Colonial is planning to renovate its driving range. It’s all part of a $100 million two-phase master facilities plan that was put into place three years ago.
TCU golfers use the Colonial for practice rounds, and Frog players have competed at the club — the men in the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational and the women in the Charles Schwab Women’s Collegiate Invitational.
Cordeiro said a formal announcement would likely come later this summer regarding the new TCU agreement.
Renovations were one of the big stories leading up to the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial.
Beginning in 2023, the club embarked upon a project to redesign its golf course to resemble what it looked like for the 1941 U.S. Open at Colonial. At the same time, Colonial’s iconic Greek revival clubhouse underwent extensive renovations for the first time since the 1950s.
In the fall, Colonial is expected to open a new three-story, 36,000-square-foot north clubhouse. It will feature a plaza, wraparound patios, a sports bar, a bistro and a 550-seat fine dining restaurant. Cordeiro said it’s part of a club-wide strategy to add more social amenities for members.
“We’re redefining the culinary social experience for clubs,” said Cordeiro. “We’re creating true world-class restaurant concepts for our members and their guests.”