Brent Jessup has been the head PGA golf professional at the Walker Course at Clemson University for 23 years.

For all of those 23 years, Jessup operated the course from what was originally designed as a fitting room in the “cozy” confines of a multipurpose building.

The golf shop was part of a building that included a snack bar for the course and the Madren Center guest swimming pool.

At times it also was the home for the Clemson golf teams. First the men used the facility and when the women’s team began it inherited the space from the men.

“We had 800 square feet of space for the golf course operation,” said Jessup. “It included checking golfers in and a limited amount of space for Clemson merchandise,” he said.

If more than one foursome was checking in at the same time they used up most of the oxygen in the very small shop.

All that changed as Jessup has moved the golf shop to the first floor of the almost completed Alumni Visitor Center that overlooks the Walker Course.

“The Clark Family Golf shop is a 1700 square foot facility with plenty of office space and room for storage. We never had either before,” said Jessup.

The expansive golf shop has the look of golf shops in upper end semi-private and private golf clubs.

“Patrice Daniels does our merchandising and she did a great job getting the shop built out,” noted Jessup.

As you would expect there is plenty of orange apparel and accessories.

The Tiger paw is prominent and a few football helmets scattered around the shop reinforce the association with Clemson sports teams.

While Tigers play at Clemson, so do thousands of other golfers each year testing their game and challenging the famous Tiger Paw 17th hole.

“We have about 40,000 golfers who come through here each year and now with our location in the new Alumni and Visitor center we think we may see another 40,000 people just visiting,” said Jessup.

The Clark Family Golf Shop has the essentials for golfers, including a wide selection of balls, gloves, shoes and other common accessories.

What golfers and visitors did not see in the past was a broader selection of Clemson logo apparel and souvenirs.

The standard souvenir quality items are available, but the shop has added upscale apparel from Peter Millar among others to create a wide range of items for a variety of guests.

While the shop is open the work on the total golf facility is still a few months from completion.

Parking for the course and the staff of the new building is being worked into the available space.

A complete overhaul of the driving range is in progress and will complete the move from the old facility to the new golf center.

Initially when the new building was designed, the 18th green on the Walker Course had to be moved.

The new green has been in service for over a year and superintendent Don Garrett and his staff have created an impressive looking finishing hole from the Trustees Boardroom on the top floor.

“The new hole plays about the same as the old hole, It is much more attractive with the rock wall around the pond looking over the lake,” said Jessup.

With the Tiger Paw hole and the remodeled 18th hole the Walker Course provides a memorable finish for golfers and now with the new shop they also have a great starting point.

“We welcome everyone to come out and play, The course is in great shape and we know everyone will enjoy our new shop,” concluded Jessup.,