University of Mary Washington regretfully announces the discontinuation of its varsity golf program after the 2020-21 academic year. The men's and women's teams currently include a total of 17 students, six of whom are graduating seniors.

The newest of UMW's varsity athletic teams, golf has struggled to gain footing since its introduction four years ago for men and three years ago for women. In early summer 2020, the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) announced that it will no longer sponsor golf. Without a conference sponsor, competitive opportunities will be further limited for both teams. Additionally, evolving budget requirements and availability of coaches for both teams constrained the new sports' ability to grow. 

Despite the fluid circumstances, both teams have achieved success, with the men winning a CAC championship in 2018.

"In no way is this a reflection on our student-athletes. They brought their best game and commitment out each season," said UMW Director of Athletics Patrick Catullo. "Unfortunately, golf is a young program that never achieved sufficient support and lift-off to provide the caliber of experience we expect of ourselves. We've been holding out hope that we could provide a more sustainable model for our golf program, but we simply do not see a pathway by which we can provide a high-quality UMW student-athlete experience that has been the hallmark of our teams."

The elimination of golf will leave Mary Washington with 21 varsity sports teams. UMW remains committed to providing NCAA Division III athletic programs and conference affiliations that enhance the individual student-athlete experience and create competitive teams.

Any questions or concerns can be directed to Athletics@mail.umw.edu