New Eric Nyman Performance Golf Center to Revolutionize VWU Golf
Generous gift from alumnus is a game-changer for men's and women's programs
University News | January 17, 2024
News Coverage: WTKR, WAVY, WVEC, Virginian-Pilot
Third-year student Joey Gray is graduating early, so this is his final year on Virginia Wesleyan University’s Golf Team. Serving as team captain is a special honor, but there’s another reason he says this season will be especially exciting. Through a generous donation from Trustee and Class of 1994 alumnus Eric C. Nyman, VWU is building a new golf center, featuring a new team room and two high-performance golf simulation bays equipped with state-of-the art technology from Foresight Sports, a global leader in the development of golf performance and game enhancement solutions. 
The new Eric Nyman Performance Golf Center, located in the Jane P. Batten Student Center, will have two bays, one featuring the Foresight Sports GC Quad system which captures swing, club, and ball striking analytics for review and adjustments. The other, the brand new Foresight Falcon, an overhead-mounted launch monitor that provides instantaneous ball flight and club data after each shot.
“With these new simulators, we can be far more effective fixing problems and issues that an average indoor practice facility could never provide,” says Joey. “These simulators will allow us to make major changes and improvements over a fairly short period of time.”
Tom Hall, Director of Men's and Women's Golf, echoes that sentiment. “The system that we are getting from Foresight Sports is amazing and will change the way our program is able to prepare. Our men and women will now have an on-campus practice facility that allows them to use their time more effectively, coming in between classes or in their spare time to get some work in. The data that we’ll be able to collect on each player's performance will allow us to maximize their abilities. The scope of this system will change the way team members practice, when they practice, and how they practice. It is a program-changing addition.”
Eric Nyman says this is one way he can give back to those who made his own educational experience possible. “My time at Virginia Wesleyan University was formative, allowing me a world-class education and a phenomenal athletic experience that built skills that enabled me to get to where I am today. Without the support of incredible donors and the innovative Batten Scholarship program, it would not have been possible. Knowing that, my family and I are so thrilled to be able to give back to VWU and support the experience of future student-athletes through the creation of the Performance Golf Center powered by Foresight Sports. I can’t wait to see the finished product in person, and to follow along with the team’s results next season and in the years to come!”
Joey Gray cannot wait to begin using the new simulators, and is especially thrilled about what they represent for the program’s future. “Not only does it give VWU Golf a leg-up throughout in-season and off-season practices, it gives us a big boost over other ODAC schools. No other DIII school has what we’re getting, and some DI schools don’t even have systems like these. It’s an awesome tool to both recruit new talent and develop existing talent. It must be stated how very thankful my teammates and I are for this donation and the support we have gotten over the past few years.”
The center’s namesake, Eric Nyman, is CEO of Vista Outdoor Inc., known for its 41 renowned sporting and outdoor lifestyle brands, including Foresight Sports. “Eric’s gift has launched VWU Golf to a whole new level for both player performance analysis and student recruitment,” says VWU President Scott D. Miller. “His generosity reflects the power and connection of our alumni, and their commitment to the continued growth and progress of their alma mater.”