Tech women's golf has exciting slate for 2026-27
First season in Southern Conference also includes tournament in Puerto Rico
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the beginning of a new season just weeks away and in the first days of a new conference alignment with the Southern Conference, the Tennessee Tech women's golf team is gearing up for an exciting 2026-27 campaign.
The Golden Eagles will compete in four events in the fall, then take part of six in the spring – including a trip to Puerto Rico and its first run at the Southern Conference championship.
"We've officially turned the page on being moved to the SoCon," said Tech women's golf head coach Amanda Smith. "We have added some new events on some amazing courses. It will be great to see some familiar teams, but also play against our new conference members at these events.
"Having a close event like Lipscomb will be great to see our home fans coming out and showing our girls support. We're excited for what's in store!"
The Tech women open things up on Sept. 14 and 15 as they head to Burlington, N.C. for the Elon Women's Invitational at Alamance Country Club. The scenic club, founded in 1946, was designed by golf course architect Donald Ross, was renovated in 1999 and again in 2020, and currently stands as one of North Carolina's top private golf courses.
On Sept. 28 and 29, the Golden Eagles return to North Carolina – this time to Asheboro, N.C. and Tot Hill Farm – to compete in the Tot Hill Farm Invitational, hosted by the College of Charleston. A relatively new course designed by Mike Strantz, Tot Hill has been ranked in the Top 50 in America by Golf.com and a Top 100 Public Access Course by GolfWeek this year.
Tech heads close to home on Oct. 12 and 13 as it competes in The Robbie event at Temple Hills, hosted by Lipscomb. With the course in Franklin, the Leon Howard-designed 27-hole layout features uphill and downhill challenges on the Deercrest nine, high-risk, high-reward birdie opportunities on the Quail Run course with a peninsula green on No. 17, and a short but challenging nine on the Dogwood course.
The following week, on Oct. 19 and 20, the Golden Eagles close out the fall slate with a visit to Edisto Island, S.C., to compete in the Edisto Island Invitational at the Plantation Course, hosted by the College of Charleston. The Tom Jackson design through the scenic South Carolina palmettos and oaks urges power play, but is daunting with subtle doglegs and water near 14 holes.
The spring slate opens on Feb. 7th through 9th as Tech competes in the Treasure Coast Invitational at Port St. Lucie's Glynlea Country Club course, hosted by UNCG. The course, designed by 17-time PGA Tour champ Jim Furyk, invites more thoughtful play without being too technical or exclusive, delivering a balance of playability, strategy and enjoyment for players of all skill levels.
The Tech women then head to Humanco on March 2nd through 4th to compete at the Puerto Rico Iguana Invitational at the Palmas Athletic Club Flamboyan Course. The event is hosted by Ball State. Designed in 1998 by Rees Jones, the course is a 7,117-yard layout with the fairways fanning out along a 20-acre freshwater lake, some intersecting the Candelero River and others bordering the Caribbean Sea. The par-3 No. 12 plays into the prevailing wind to a green behind a canal with the island of Vieques as the backdrop.
As the team returns stateside, the Golden Eagles compete at the Low Country Invitational at Hilton Head, S.C. over at The Golf Club at Indigo Run, on Feb. 15-16, the event hosted by Wofford. A course designed by Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II, the layout combines the lowcountry landscape, natural lagoons and tree-lined fairways that reward precision and strategy.
Tech closes out March with the Bentwater Women's Intercollegiate just outside Atlanta in Kennesaw, Ga., at Pinetree GC, hosted by Kennesaw State. Opening in 1962 with a Chick Adams design, Pinetree winds through rolling hills and towering pines with a diverse blend of challenging par-5s, scenic par=3s and demanding uphill approaches.
The Golden Eagles stay in Georgia on April 12 as they head to Statesboro and Forest Heights CC for a 36-hole event. From its opening in 1947 with a George Cobb design to a 1993 renovation with Bob Cupp at the helm to bring it to USGA standards, the course stands as one of the top courses in Georgia. It's a compact front nine before the course expands on the back nine.
Tech then heads to Blythwood, S.C. and Columba CC for the SoCon Conference Championship on April 18th through 21st. The course features three nine-hole courses – Ridgewood, Tall Pines and Lakeside, with current architect Michael Gleason taking Ellis Maples' 1960 design and bringing it up to modern standards with recontoured greens and bunkers, while also restoring features that were left out or removed in past years to restore it as one of the top championship courses in South Carolina.
