1 0 • GCU TODAY
and needed $20 million in renovations. The
mayor of Houston threatened to turn a historic
course into a botanical garden unless local
residents could raise $15 million to improve it.
GCU’s 30-year partnership with the city
immediately benefits Phoenix’s budget by
saving $250,000 a year. “It’s a risk, but if you
don’t take the risk it continues to deteriorate,”
Brian Mueller said.
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It’s a win for the west
Phoenix economy.
A large part of GCU’s mission is to be a leader in
west Phoenix, and this is just one more way to
encourage companies to make this a destination.
“We’ve got to talk people into planting the flag
here and staying here,” Brian Mueller said.
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It’s a win for people in
the area who need new
employment opportunities.
The University ranks 47th on The Arizona
Republic 100, which lists the state’s largest
employers, and keeps adding new work venues
— first the hotel, now the golf course, in the
future a conference center. Like the hotel,
the course will employ people from the local
community as well as students.
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It’s a win for
junior golfers.
Brian Mueller’s kids all played junior golf,
and his goal is to build one of the top junior
programs in the country.
“We’re going to try to accomplish what we
did with my kids,” he said. “We’re going to
try to identify kids who are 5 and 6 years old
and have some athletic talent and get them
interested in golf on the west side. My boys
(his son Mark is the head coach of the GCU
men’s team) are great teachers. They love
working with kids.”
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It’s a win for
GCU employees.
“Sunset golf” is a nice way to practice or
just get in a few holes after work, and GCU
employees have that option at a place that’s
accessible and affordable. And they also will
have a new lunch spot. “I’m hoping that a lot of
people will go out there and get to know each
other better,” Brian Mueller said.
GCUwomen’s golf coach Lauren
Giesecke (left) and men’s coachMark
Mueller will be able to show recruits a
championship course close to campus
that has a private practice area and
a team room on the second floor of
the clubhouse. “That’s going to be
pretty much where our players live,”
Giesecke said.
