As work took place behind them, Mayor Ron Littlefield and representatives of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and The First Tee of Chattanooga officially broke ground Wednesday on a new golf practice facility.

The Player Development Complex is a joint venture between UTC and the First Tee, with a designated practice facility for both the UTC men’s and women’s golf teams — something they’ve never had before — and numerous practice and instruction areas for the First Tee’s programs. Also on the 28-acre site, the former location of the Hickory Valley Gold Club, just off Shallowford Road, will be a three-hole practice course.

The land was donated by the City of Chattanooga parks and recreation department. UTC chancellor Roger Brown was among the dignitaries to take a ceremonial practice swing to mark the ground breaking and he said the project featured a unique partnership.

“We have the city backing us up completely on the public works aspect, and then we have the First Tee as a non-profit, character-development program, and then you put that together with two golf programs moving up in the national standings — it really is all about the partnerships,” Brown said.

Other than the three holes, most of the project is expected to be completed by October.

For more Mocs coverage, see tomorrow’s Times Free Press.