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Finkbine Golf Course, home of the University of Iowa’s golf programs, will open a new clubhouse, thanks to the support of Mary Lee Nagle Duda.
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Finkbine Golf Course, consistently rated one of the top golf courses in Iowa, will open a $10 million clubhouse in March thanks to a generous donor and passionate Hawkeye.
In recognition of a leadership gift from Mary Lee Nagle Duda (61BA) of Dallas, and pending approval from the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, the University of Iowa Department of Intercollegiate Athletics new clubhouse at Finkbine Golf Course will be named the Nagle Family Clubhouse.
The Nagle name has been part of the Iowa City community for nearly 100 years. Mary Lee’s grandfather, Lee Nagle, began ownership and operation of Nagle Lumber Company in 1922, and was a founder of the First Capital National Bank, predecessor to the First National Bank. Mary Lee continued the Nagle ownership as a major investor and shareholder of the bank until its acquisition by US Bancorporation. Lee also represented Johnson County in the state legislature in the late 1920s. Mary Lee’s father (Leland) and brother (George) were second generation operators of Nagle Lumber and instrumental in the planning and growth of Iowa City.
Throughout the years, Mary Lee and her husband, Fritz Duda, have been strong University of Iowa supporters. In 2010, Fritz surprised his wife—a former University of Iowa cheerleader—on the field at Kinnick Stadium with a gift to create the Mary Lee Hawkeye Spirit Fund, which provides scholarship assistance to the Iowa Spirit Squad. They also supported the building of the James M. Hoak Family Golf Complex and recently, Fritz created the Fountiene Lee Duda Faculty Fellow of Renaissance Art.
“Fritz’s business activities have taken me many places, but I will always be a Hawkeye. I take great pride in my family’s roots in Iowa City,” says Mary Lee. “This is a wonderful way to give back to a community that gave me so much. My passion for the Hawkeyes, the University of Iowa, and Iowa City runs deep.”
The Nagle Family Clubhouse is located to the south and west of the existing clubhouse along Melrose Avenue. The 19,000 square-foot, two-level facility features a larger pro shop, a restaurant and bar, a banquet facility, an outdoor patio, locker rooms, underground cart storage, and the Nagle Room—a conference room and private dining space.
“We truly appreciate Mary Lee’s friendship and support. She has been a passionate Hawkeye fan her entire life and has great pride for Iowa City, the University of Iowa, and the Iowa Hawkeyes,” says Gary Barta, who holds the Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair. “It is exciting to have a clubhouse that matches the quality of Finkbine Golf Course. The Nagle Family Clubhouse will serve as a great anchor for this area and bring friends and fans together year-round for university and community events.”
BSB Design of Des Moines, Iowa, designed the new clubhouse. Work on the Nagle Family Clubhouse began in spring 2019. Finkbine Golf Course opened in 1955 and was named for W.O. Finkbine, who donated the land to the University of Iowa. In 1956, the current 5,526 square-foot clubhouse was built. The current clubhouse will be demolished in February.
