2007 Season wrap-up

NGCA Award Winners (from l. to r.): Laura Koplik, Melissa Barton, Anne O'Leary and head coach Cathy Pohle

In addition to being one of the top ranked academic colleges in the country Williams now boasts a women's golf team that has made a national impact in just the third year of varsity play.

Head coach Cathy Pohle, the 2007 National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) East Region Coach of the Year, has brought the Ephs to a 10th place ranking in the nation. The Ephs were the NESCAC Tournament Champions last fall and continued their fine play into the spring portion of their season. With a spring break victory over St. Lawrence and wins at the Vassar Invitational and the Williams Coed Classic, the team was on a roll.

The Ephs' fine play was rewarded with the first ever bid to the NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championships at the Mission Inn Golf & Tennis Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. The Ephs were seeded 6th by the NCAA Tournament Committee and at the completion of the four rounds of play they were 10th out of 20 teams.

Ephs heading to NGCA Banquet at NCAA Championships (l. to r.) Cathy Pohle, Anne O'Leary, Melissa Barton, Kristin Nottebohm, Allison Khederian, Laura Koplik and asst. coach Fran Vandermeer

“We have a young and talented team,” said Pohle. “Sophomore Melissa Barton (East Region Team), sophomore Laura Koplik (NGCA Scholar-Athlete Team) and first year Anne O’Leary (East Region Team and NGCA Scholar-Athlete Team) make up the core of the team. In addition, we have many other strong supporting players and we're looking forward to the addition of some talented new first year golfers.”

“A top 10 finish for our first time at the NCAA Championships, was wonderful," noted Pohle. "For a team of three sophomores and two first years to experience this level of play is fantastic. Our goal now is to return on an annual basis to the NCAA Championships.”

Academics always come first at Williams, but women’s golf is very exciting. There is a great camaraderie on the team and our home course, Taconic Golf Club, is a one of the top ranked college courses in the country and one of the top 100 in the nation.

“I can only see great things happening for Williams women’s golf," stated Coach Pohle.

Click here to access the prospective student-athlete form

Ephs qualify for first NCAA Tournament

A stellar spring season has catapulted the Ephs into the NCAA Championship Tournament in just their third season of varsity golf.

Williams was one of 20 teams invited to participate in the team championship field that will compete for the NCAA Div. III title May 8-11 at the Mission Inn Golf & Tennis Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.

Barton, Koplik, O'Leary and Pohle Honored at National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Banquet

Sophomore Melissa Barton and first year Anne O'leary were named to the East Region Team.

Cathy Pohle was named the East Region Coach of the Year

NGCA Scholar-Athletes: Anne O'Leary and Laura Koplik. Both have played in at least 12 tournaments and have a minimum GPA of 3.5

Williams finished the year ranked 10th nationally in the final Golf World/NGCA Div. III Poll

Ephs finish 10th at NCAA Championships

A young Eph team with three sophomores and two first years, in just their third year of varsity play, finished 10th at the NCAA Golf Championships played at Mission Hill Golf and Tennis Resort in Howey-in-the Hills, Florida. Click here to see the NCAA photo Album

Click here to access the prospective student-athlete form

The days of hoping this would be the week the team would break 400 in a round are long gone. The Ephs had lowered their best team single round score to 357 in the spring of 2006 and then lowered it an additional 39 strokes to 318 last fall. The break through fall season of 2006 saw the Ephs post a 37-7 ledger.

Ranked 25th nationally heading into the spring season, Pohle knows that she has the makings of a good young team and the chance to build a solid program. Of the five top performers for the Ephs in the fall of 2006, none are seniors and none are even juniors.

Kait O'Brien '10

Allison Khederian '09

As a group the Eph first year women – Anne O'Leary, Mary Gelber and Kristin Nottebohm -- are ranked sixth nationally with an average score of 84.41. They are the top ranked first year group in the northeast. Complimenting the talented first years are two capable and experienced sophomores in Melissa Barton and Laura Koplik.

During the fall season sophomore Melissa Barton compiled the best stroke average at 83.11. Barton tied for first at Mount Holyoke when she fired a 73 on the second day to total 157. She lost the three-way playoff to determine medalist honors, but her 73 represents the best single round in Williams women's golf history. Barton also tied for second with teammate Anne O'Leary in the lone home match of the year when they both carded 79s.

O'Leary had an impressive collegiate debut season in the fall, finishing up with the second best stroke average on the team – 85.5. She tied for first at Middlebury with the Panthers' Karen Levin, but defeated Levin in a playoff to take individual honors and she tied with Barton for second in the only home match of the fall with a 79.

“Melissa is about as steady a player as a coach could ask for," stated Pohle. "No matter what the event, she always posts scores in the upper 70’s or low 80’s. It is wonderful to have a player be that consistent. Even though Anne brings lots of competitive experience to the team, the adjustment of balancing academics and the demands of playing a sport were a bit difficult for her in the fall. I think that Anne is now more comfortable with all of that and her game this spring will show what she is capable of. “

First year Mary Gelber had a strong fall campaign as well averaging and nearly mirroring the stroke average of O'Leary as she recorded an 85.57 stroke average. The good news is Gelber is only a first year, but the bad news is she is a softball player and will trade her clubs in for cleats and a glove as she looks to play the infield for the Eph nine.

Gelber’s replacement will most likely come from a pool of players. Candidates at this time for the spot include first year Kait O'Brien a women's ice hockey player, sophomore Allison Khedrian and first years Amanda Glassman and Victoria Kalman. O'Brien won the 2006 club championship at Skaneateles [NY] Country Club and did see some time in the fall.

Amanda Glassman '10

Victoria Kalman '10

“I knew that Mary was also going to play softball, so that was never a surprise," noted Pohle. "Her absence will open the door for other team members to get into the lineup and see what they can do.” Steady sophomore Laura Koplik has a year and a half of experience and registered a stroke average of 87.0 last fall will be back to help provide leadership to the young Eph team.

First year Kristin Nottebohm posted a stroke average of 92.2 during the fall and looks to improve on that this spring.

“The spring golf season is a short one – just 3 weeks – but we have a strong schedule of tournaments," Pohle pointed out. "At our home event, the Coed Classic with 9 men’s and 9 women’s teams, I plan to enter two teams of Williams women. This will give some competitive experience to those on the roster who have not yet had a chance to take part in a tournament. We have some seniors who have yet to play in an event. I would love to see them experience at least one event before they leave us. “

“At this time, I doubt that the team will get an NCAA bid as the women’s golf tournament only takes 10 teams. I do see a strong possibility in Melissa Barton getting an invitation as an individual – if her spring is as strong as her fall season was. With Methodist University in our district and Middlebury ranked 7th, there is not much chance for the NCAA to take another team from this district. Middlebury will graduate more than half of their team and thus the door is open for us to move ahead in the fall.”

The Ephs will open their 2007 spring campaign with a match against St. Lawrence at Indian Hills Golf Club in Ft. Pierce, Florida on March 23rd. The team will also play Vassar at St. James Golf Club on March 24th.

2006 Fall Season Wrap-Up

The Ephs completed their most successful of their three varsity fall campaigns ranked 22nd nationally. Middlebury (ranked 5th) remains the only Division III team in the northeast that is ahead of Williams. As a group the Eph first year women are ranked in 6th nationally with an average score of 84.41. They are the top ranked first year group in the northeast.

The season began with a 4th place finish at the St. Lawrence Invitational and was followed by two 2nd place finishes at Middlebury and Mount Holyoke. A win at the home Columbus Day Invitational and a 3rd place finish at Wellesley. The season was filled with many “firsts” for this young team.

Melissa Barton '09

Anne O'Leary '10

The second day at the Mt. Holyoke Tournament found the Ephs setting a team record with a low of 318! Not only was it the personal best team score for Williams, but it was also the lowest team score of the 15 schools in the tournament. “It was not so long ago that we were just trying to get our team score under 400," said head coach Cathy Pohle. "How far we have come in such a short time.”

First year Anne O’Leary was the first to shoot a tournament round in the 70’s when she posted a 75 at Middlebury and won medalist honors in a 3-hole playoff. The very next week, sophomore Melissa Barton lowered the Ephs best individual low to 73 at Mount Holyoke.

After finishing behind Middlebury in three straight events the Ephs turned the tables on the Panthers at the Columbus Day Tournament at Taconic Golf Club, with a 326 to Middlebury’s 332. Since the Williams team became varsity, this was the first time that the team has posted a score lower than Middlebury and the team was ecstatic. Four NESCAC teams held a tournament at the same time and Williams won that tournament also.

Laura Koplik '09

Kristin Nottebohm '10

Melissa Barton led the team with an 83.11 scoring average. Anne O’Leary (85.55), first year Mary Gelber (85.57) and sophomore Laura Koplik (87.0) and first year Kristin Nottebohm (92.2) rounded out the Ephs top five. The future looks very bright for the Ephs with three first years and two sophomores recording the five strongest scores.

“The fall could not have gone any better," said Pohle. "Our first year women are wonderful and jumped right in to the mix and contributed immediately. We will miss Mary Gelber in the spring when she joins the softball team, but I expect some of the other first year women to move into her spot. As a group we look to continue to improve and continue to close the gap with Middlebury. March 19th the team arrives in Florida for eight days of practice and preparation for the spring season. We will be ready.”

The 2006 Williams College Ephs

2006-07 Season Outlook

The 2006-07 golf season should be the best to date for the Williams women’s team, now entering its third season as a varsity sport.

There are six first-year women who will join the team. Anne O’Leary (Shorthills, N.J.) arrives on campus having just won the women’s club championship at Essex County Country Club. O’Leary was also selected to the 2006 New Jersey All-State team. Mary Gelber (Winnetka,IL) is a dual athlete with softball being her other sport. Gelber has four years of competitive golf experience. Kait O’Brien (Skaneateles, NY) will also play ice hockey for Williams. Kait recently won the women’s club championship at Skaneateles Country Club. All three of these student-athletes should have an immediate impact on the team.

Joining them are Kristin Nottebohm (Gladwyne, PA), Amanda Glassman (Simsbruy, CT) and Victoria Kalman (New York City). Kristin, Amanda and Victoria all have high school golf backgrounds.

The strength of the team will come from the returning sophomores, Melissa Barton (Simsbury, CT) and Laura Koplik (Tenafly, N.J.). As first year’s, Melissa and Laura played in every event and provided the team with the consistency Ephs head coach Cathy Pohle was looking for. Barton led the 2005-06 team with a scoring average of 85.0. Sophomore Allison Khederian (Wellesley, MA) is also expected to contribute to the team in certain tournaments.

The team will look to Krystle Barhaghi (Centennial, CO) and Katie Baldiga (Hopkinton,MA) to provide senior leadership. Both Krystle and Katie have been a part of the Williams women’s golf program since the club team days.

The fall schedule will be the toughest one to date for the women. The Ephs will travel to tournaments at St. Lawrence, Middlebury, Mt. Holyoke, Cortland and Wellesley as well as hosting their own tournament on October 8th.

As the third season begins for this team, Pohle is optimistic her team will continue to improve. “I expect to see the scores get better and better,” she said. “Last year the team had a goal of 360 for a team total (4 scores of the 5) and we bettered that on two occasions. With the addition of the talented 6 members of the class of 2010, and the solid performance of our sophomores, I think we will be competitive at each tournament.”

Melissa Barton '09

Rapid improvement was noted in the Ephs' second varsity campaign as the Ephs colleted two tournament wins in seven events over the course of the fall and spring seasons.

First year Melissa Barton was the Ephs' top performer as she garnered medalist honors in two tournaments, a first for an Eph women's golfer.

Other firsts recorded by Pohle's team this season were -- team low score (357) at Middlebury; first spring preseason trip (Port St. Lucie, FL) and winning two tournaments – Vassar Invitational and the Eph Spring Tourney.

Ephs Open Spring Campaign With a Win at Vassar Invite

2006 Vassar Invite Champs: (l. to r.) Head coach Cathy Pohle, Krystle Barhaghi, Melissa Barton (medalist), Laura Koplik, Allison Khederian and captain Alex Chan

2005 Fall Season Wrap-up

Alex Chan '06

The Ephs competing at the varsity level for just the second fall season managed to show dramatic improvement over the three-tourney fall campaign.

Head coach Cathy Pohle is excited by the improvement of her team this fall. "The fall season was more successful than I had expected," noted Pohle. "We set some team goals as we began the year and we met them all in the three tournaments that we played in."

The maturation of the Ephs can be seen in their improvement in each tournament from day one to day two. At the Middlebury tournament the Ephs recorded their first team score below 360 when they posted a 357 on the second day after opening the tourney with a score of 378.

Highlights were plentiful in the fall season. "All four first year women played in at least one tournament and they all contributed to the team score," said Pohle. Two of the first year golfers recorded sub-90 rounds, including Melissa Barton who broke 90 on all six of her rounds and Laura Koplik who fired an 87 at Middlebury.

Melissa Barton '09

"Senior captain Alex Chan was also a solid player with very consistent scores," said Pohle. "Alex did a wonderful job of bringing the first year members into the "team" and organizing team events both on and off the course."

Twice in the fall the Ephs finished ahead of arch rival Amherst in tournament standings. "We were thrilled to have a better team score than Amherst - not just because they are our rival but because they have had a women's golf team for more than 20 years and it felt so good to know that we could compete with a team like that," said Pohle.

This spring Pohle hopes her Ephs will focus on continuing to improve. "We just need to continue to improve our team scores," said Pohle. "Some players have had a high round one day and then come back with a lower one the next day - it would be great to have two days of good golf. It will come."

In just a year and a half interest in the Eph program has mushroomed due to its varsity status. "The interest that I am receiving from prospective students is amazing," said Pohle. "There are many young talented women out there who would love to come to Williams and have the chance to play on the golf team. Hopefully we can get one or two of them here each year."

2005 Season Outlook

It takes time to establish a competitive varsity program and women's golf at Williams has just begun that process. Entering her program’s second year as a varsity spot, head coach Cathy Pohle has seen the amount of interest in women's golf at Williams grow by leaps and bounds since last September.

However, that doesn’t mean the Ephs are ready to contend for championships. Pohle lost the majority of her first team’s experience to graduation, including Katie Vitello, Julia Tingley and Liz Hodgman, who recorded the first eagle in program history with a 3 on the par-5 first hole of the Taconic Golf Club against Amherst back in April.

Senior Alex Chan

Williams finished 6-29 in its first varsity season, although the Ephs did place first out of three teams in its own Fall Invitational. Their best spring finish was a second-place mark at the Vassar Invitational in early April. Despite its being a varsity program for just one year, Williams women were ranked 25th by Golf Digest in it's first ranking of the nation's top college golf teams in the Academics-first classification.

The 18-page guide to college golf ranks institutions in one of three categories – golf first, academics first and balanced.

One thing going for Pohle’s squad this fall is the return of senior Alex Chan, who spent the spring studying abroad. According to Pohle, Chan was the team’s No. 1 player in the fall of 2004 and she expects her to take that position once again. Chan has also been named the team’s captain.

Senior Lizzie Reifenheiser

Pohle will also look to seniors Lizzie Reifenheiser and Anne Louise Ennis to provide leadership and she has several incoming first-years who should help the team in competition this fall, among them Melissa Barton (Simsbury, CT) , Laura Koplik (Tenafly, NJ), Stacey Baradit (Danbury, CT) and Allison Khederian (Wellesley, MA).

Sophomores Emily Siegel and Nachele Groomes may also be a factor in the team’s success this season.

“I am expecting the team to progress nicely and be more competitive as we move along,” Pohle said. “Our fall schedule will be a strong one with three two-day events — including a NESCAC Tournament at Middlebury. Since the program became varsity, the number of prospective female golfers who contact me has increased two-fold. It is a really exciting time for young women interested in playing college golf.”

The Ephs will open their fall 2005 portion of their schedule this weekend when they travel to Canton, NY to play in the St. Lawrence two-day invitational on the 10th and 11th.

The lone home event of the fall is scheduled for Columbus Day weekend when they host an invitational on Oct. 9th.

Ephs Ranked Nationally by Golf Digest Magazine

The 18-page guide to college golf ranks institutions in one of three categories – golf first, academics first and balanced.

The Eph men's program, coached by Rick Pohle, has played in nine of the last ten NCAA Div. 3 tournaments. The inclusion of the Eph women's golf program in the rankings is impressive because the Ephs just completed their first varsity season last spring. The Eph women's team is coached by Cathy Pohle (wife of Rick).

In addition to its top ten ranking, the Williams men's program is further highlighted with a short feature on a day in the life of senior co-captain Matt Slovitt. Accompanying the text is a page of photos of Matt and some of his teammates.

Click here to visit the Golf Digest web site and see A Day in the Life of Matt Slovitt

2005 Season Wrap-up

The first full year of Williams women's varsity golf concluded with a five-event spring season after completing a three-event fall campaign. that gave the fledgling team eight events on the year.

Playing the spring season without top player Alex Chan who was studying abroad both helped and hurt the Ephs' performance. Missed was Chan's consistency, but it did open up a lineup spot for another player, which will be helpful when Chan returns to compete in the fall.

Lizzie Reifenheiser '06

In a match vs. Amherst senior Liz Hodgeman recorded an eagle 3 on the first hole at Taconic Golf Club.

The Ephs' best performances came at home in May when they finished second and in April when they were fourth at Vassar. Senior Julia Tingley led the way at Vassar firing a round of 96.

At the Williams Invitational the Ephs achieved a team milestone when they completed the event with a team score under 400. Senior Katie Vitello led with a 96 and Tingley was next with a 98.

Sophomores Kate Baldiga, Krystel Barhaghi and Kate Whipple and juniors Lizzie Refenheiser and Anne Louise Ennis will be looked to next season to team up with the returning Chan to form the nucleus of the 2005-06 Eph team.

Reifenheiser was named an Academic All-NESCAC selection in the spring while Chan, Joanna Leathers, Katie Shattuck, Julia Tingley and Katie Vitello were recognized in the fall of 2004.

Seven of the 15 players on the Eph roster are seniors so head coach Cathy Pohle will be looking forward to a couple of strong recruiting years to bolster her roster for the future.

The move to varsity status has already boosted the pool of players indicating interest in the Eph team and Pohle expects three or four members of the Class of 2009 to contribute to the program over the next four years.

2005 Spring Season Outlook

Katie Shattuck '05

Cathy Pohle's Williams women's golf team will begin their first varsity spring campaign on April 10th when they travel to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. to compete in the Vassar College one-day invitational. Fran Vandermeer, the highly successful Eph volleyball coach, will be assisting Pohle this spring.

In the fall of 2004 the Ephs won one of three tournaments they entered in their inaugural varsity season and finished with an overall record of 2-5.

The first victories in varsity women's golf for the Ephs came on October 3, 2004 when they defeated Nazareth College and Elmira College at Taconic Golf Club.

The Ephs will play at four away events this spring before coming home to the Taconic Golf Club to host the first ever Little Three Championship (April 30th) and the Williams Spring Invitational (May 1st). Joining the Ephs at their spring invitational will be St. Lawrence, Vassar, Amherst, Middlebury, Holy Cross, Cortland, and Nazareth.

Pohle will enter the spring portion of the schedule without her top player from last fall, Alex Chan. Chan has opted to study abroad during the spring semester. She compiled a team-leading stroke average of 87.75.

Seven of the 15-woman Eph roster consists of seniors. There are no first years on the Ephs roster and only three sophomores, which means Pohle will graduate 12 of her 15 players over the next two years.

Pohle is hoping that now that her team is officially a varsity sport she might be able to attract some first years who did not play in the fall.

Julia Tingley '05

"Since our team roster is primarily juniors and seniors, I would like to find one or two current first year women who have golf experience and who might like to join the team," sated Pohle. "I encourage any first years who are interested and have golf experience to come and talk with me."

Senior co-captain Katie Vitello was second in the fall in stroke average to Chan with an average round of 90.25. With Chan being away Vitello will move into the top spot in the Eph lineup. Senior Liz Hodgman was the Ephs' third most consistent performer in the fall season with a stroke play average of 93 and will move into the second spot in the lineup.

"Even though we will miss Alex in the lineup, I am sure that Katie Vitello, Liz Hodgman and Julia Tingley are ready to step up and lead the team in the right direction," said Pohle. "These three women have been with the team since they were first-year students and have waited anxiously for the program to move to varsity status. Their time has come to lead the way."

Alex Chan '06

Seniors Katie Shattuck and co-captain Julia Tingley are expected to be joined in the Eph lineup by junior Lizzie Reifenheiser. Shattuck posted a stroke play average of 119.5 last fall, while Tingley's average was 99.33 and Reifenheiser averaged 111.25.

"I am hopeful that Anne-Louise Ennis, Katie Baldiga and Kate Whipple will play in a tournament or two this spring," said Pohle. "I think that they are all ready to play at this level."

Vitello and Hodgman at the top of the Eph lineup have shown they can compete consistently with the top of the opposing lineups, the key to a successful spring season will be developing slots 3-5 into consistent performers.

"This spring season will be the first real test for our team as a varsity sport," stated Pohle. "We have several events in four short weeks and the majority of these tournaments are away but I feel that the players are ready for this and they are excited to have the chance to play at the Taconic Golf Club and other top courses."

The First Fall Season Wrap-Up

Katie Vitello '05

The fall of 2004 marked the inaugural varsity season for the Williams College women's golf team. Coached by Cathy Pohle, the wife of Williams men's golf coach Rick Pohle, the Ephs were a mixture of players who had played club golf at Williams, and several newcomers to the program. The Eph roster totaled 15 for its first varsity fall campaign.

The season got under way impressively as the Ephs finished third in a tournament they hosted at the Taconic Golf Club. The Ephs were led by junior Alex Chan, who shot an 83 in the opening round and a 91 on the second day to finish seventh overall with a two-day total of 174.

The Ephs then won their own Fall Invitational, beating Nazareth and Elmira en route to the title. Senior captain Katie Vitello led the way with an 85, the only player to break 90 on each of the three teams. Chan was second with a 91 and Julia Tingley fourth with a round of 100.

Williams capped its year with a fourth-place finish in its Columbus Day Tournament. Chan finished 10th overall with an 86 while Vitello fired an 87 and Tingley a 96.

"Our top three players were able to stay with the top three on the other teams," said Pohle. "We need to develop two consistent players at four and five."

Chan led the Ephs in the fall with a stroke average of 87.75. Vitello was second in stroke average with 90.25 and senior Liz Hodgman was third best at 93.00.

"Interest in the program is strong," said Pohle. "Now that we have a presence on the Eph sports Info site we're getting a lot of interest from players who have competed in Junior Golf who score consistently in the low 80s."

Five members of the Eph team earned Academic All-NESCAC honors with a cumulative GPA of 3.35 or greater: Alex Chan, Joanna Leathers, Kathleen Shattuck, Julia Tingley and Kathie Vitello.

In the spring of 2005 the Ephs will play against the women members of the Taconic Golf Club, play an alternate shot tourney with the men's team, compete in four tournaments and host arch rival Amherst on April 30th.

The 2004-05 Williams College women's golf team

History of Williams Women's Golf

Eph representatives at Middlebury in 1998: (l. to r.): Neelam Jain, Caroline Nesbitt, Katama Guernsey and Lolly Gaul

Beginning in the early 1990's Williams women golfers played as individuals in events throughout the northeast. In the fall of 1998 Williams women began to play in events as a club team under the direction of coach Cathy Pohle. The Williams women's club golf team competed in its first tournament as a 4-player team in September of 1998 when they traveled to Middlebury. Four members of the Class of 1999 -- Neelam Jain, Caroline Nesbitt, Katama Guernsey and Lolly Gaul -- represented Williams.

Each year the number of women golfers at Williams has grown as has the number of schools that have added women's golf to their athletic programs. The fall of 2000 found the Ephs fielding their first full team of five. This quintet of Eph golfers made the trip to Wellesley, MA to take part in Wellesley College's inaugural tournament. The Williams women finished 3rd out of five schools. Katie Nicoll '04 made history by becoming the first Eph women's golfer to win the NESCAC golf title in 2000.

Currently Williams, Amherst and Middlebury are the only members of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESAC) fielding Varsity golf for women.

"Now that were have an official Varsity team, and Taconic has just been named the #1 College Course by Golf Week magazine (9/04), I think we will really begin to attract solid players," said coach Pohle. "We have a good roster of fairly strong players. As we look towards building the program, we now need to focus on getting at least one solid player per year."

Head Coach Cathy Pohle (l.) and 2000 NESCAC Champion Katie Nicoll '04

Since 2002-03 Williams women have hosted two fall tournaments and two spring events at the renowned Taconic Golf Club. Competition has come from the following schools -- Middlebury, Vassar, Holy Cross, Amherst, Mt. Holyoke, Wellesley, Cortland State, Elmira, St. Lawrence and Bryant. Plans are to continue to host these events and to take part in more away events as well.

Highlighting the list of returning golfers for the 2004-05 academic year -- the first year of Varsity competition at Williams is the senior trio of Liz Hodgman, Julia Tingley and Katie Vitello '05.

The Williams women's golf club team was elevated to Varsity status at the beginning of the 2004-05 academic year giving Williams College 32 Varsity teams, 16 for women and 16 for men.

As an emerging Varsity team the Eph golfers are seeking women first years who have a golf background and who would like the chance to add competitive golf to their Williams College experience.

At Wellesley College Tournament in 1998

The Taconic Golf Club

The Taconic Clubhouse

Click here to see Taconic Golf Club Named one of World's top 100 courses

The Taconic Golf Club, which is owned by Williams College, has been rated one of the top collegiate courses in the nation. It has hosted its share of notable tournaments, which include:

Of the 375 courses judged by the Boston Globe, Taconic was voted number one in scenic beauty in the state. When you combine this with Taconic's superb playing conditions, you'll enjoy one of golf's most pleasurable golfing experiences. Perhaps the best feature is that the club is only a ten-minute walk from anywhere on campus.

The Taconic Golf Club's long and storied history is enhanced by its outstanding layout, superb course conditions and magnificent Berkshire vistas. It is regularly rated as one of the most demanding, scenic and well-maintained courses in New England. The May, 1998 issue of Golf Magazine rated the course as the 61st best course in the United States with public access. The Boston Globe reported Taconic as the "seventh most difficult" and "fourth most pleasurable to play" of the 200 finest courses in the Northeast. If they are not careful, players are often caught up in the pure pleasure of playing the course.

The Taconic members are an amiable lot, and serious about golf. This seriousness is evidenced by the sign on the Taconic pro shop proclaiming "no preferred lies - we play golf here" and the expectation that a round at Taconic must not exceed four hours. Perhaps this explains why the Taconic has had only three golf professionals in its 103-year history.

The 100 acres upon which the Taconic Golf Club is located is owned by Williams College, as are the adjacent athletic facilities. It is a semi-private club, with play permitted by non-members during restricted hours. The Club is operated, governed and maintained by a Board of Directors. Two-thirds of the Board are elected from the ranks of alumni, faculty, staff or students, with the other third elected from the membership. The Club's by-laws limit membership, and there has always been a waiting list membership. Williams College alumni may apply for membership privileges under the Club's by-laws and receive automatic acceptance.

Taconic evolved to its current state of excellence through the generosity of the alumni of Williams College, the Club membership, certain Williamstown residents and Williams College.

Looking down on the 9th green

Taconic was built on what, in the past, was cattle grazing farmland, and before that, woodlands. Williamstown was, in prehistoric times, a lakebed carved by glaciers, creating a nearly impervious layer of clay upon which was deposited a thick layer of loam, This natural state contributes to Taconic's lush fairways, greens and rough. John English, a 1932 Williams College graduate, former USGA official and past Secretary of the Alumni Society of Williams College, put together a very inter esting history of the course. Some of the highlights of Mr. English's recordings include the fact that "three men with three tomato cans" gave birth to the Taconic Golf Club in 1896. That year the late William Howard Doughty, James M. Ide, and Edward C. Gale received permission form Williams College to install three tomato cans on Weston Athletic Field, which adjoins the present 18th fairway of Taconic. That summer Henry N. Sabin and James Bullock joined the group. Mr. Gale paid Mr. Sabin $55 on Sept. 5, 1896 to start the Taconic Golf Club. A few weeks later in the same year the first real course was laid out. It was a seven hole course. One of those holes, the present 17th, is the oldest at Taconic and perhaps as old as any in the country. Dues in those days were $20.00 per annum. In 1897, a longer nine hole course was laid out on property owned by William Howard Doughty. The same year the Whitney Sampson house on South Street was made into a clubhouse. It served as the Taconic clubhouse until 1955.

In 1927 George Alfred Cluett, Class of 1896 at Williams, was determined to provide a first class course for Williams College students. Mr. Cluett secured a gift of land for Williams College from, Mrs. Doughty, the wife of William Howard Doughty, of approximately 47 acres to be used by the Club. This parcel excluded a strip of land containing the 18th green and clubhouse. Mr. Cluett then secured a gift to the College from John H. Dennison of his 45 acre farm in the section where the present clubhouse is locate. Williams College Trustees then purchased the Dillon lot of 17 acres in the southeastern section of the present course to complete the course.

Hittng an uphill approach shot on 16

Wayne Stiles of Stiles& Van Kleek, a Boston firm, was commissioned to design and construct am 18 hole course in 1927. Previously, in 1924, Mr. Richard Baxter, was hired as the Club Professional and greenskeeper. Mr. Baxter supervised th e construction of the 18 hole course that started in August of 1927 and was completed by Labor Day in 1928. It was a par 73 layout. Probably no single person has had a greater impact ion the creation and maintenance of the courses excellence as the late Mr. Baxter. Since the land involved was essentially open farmland with very few trees, the magnificent tree lined fairways of today were mostly the expert handiwork of Dick Baxter. The course was revised in 1955 to its present 6,640 yard (gold tees) par 71 layout.

In 1955 construction of the clubhouse on Meacham Street was completed. The new clubhouse was needed since the College lost the privilege of using the strip of land containing the clubhouse on South Street. Subsequent additions to the clubhouse were completed in 1963, 1983 and 1985. The tenth tee snack bar and rest rooms were added in 1981. Finally, the last remaining land occupied by the course involving part of the 2nd green, the 17th green, and the 18th white tee was obtained for the College by the generosity of Mr. Cunningham and a land swap with Gertrude Doughty Schwartz. The 18th hole pond was restored to it original configuration in 1990.

The USGA Junior Amateur Championship was held at Taconic in 1956. Included among the contestants was a sixteen year old, Jack Nicklaus, who, during a practice round, scored a hole-in-one on the fourteenth hole (where an engraved rock commemorates the event) and he also eagled hole ten. The NCAA Championship was held at Taconic in 1958 and again in 1972. Tommy Aaron, Al Gieberger, Don Massengale, Deane Beman and Phil Rodgers were among the NCAA competitors playing Taconic. The USGA Wom n's Amateur Championship was held at Taconic in 1963 as was the NCAA College Division Championship. In 1959, 1971 and 1981 Taconic was the site for the Massachusetts Amateur. In 1992 the Massachusetts Open was played at Taconic. In 1996, to commemorate it s centennial, Taconic hosted the USGA Senior Amateur Championship, the year in which the Club completed installation of a new, automated irrigation system. Taconic hosted the NCAA Men's Division III Championships in 1999.

A Player's Guide to Taconic Golf Club

Gold Tees: 6,640 yards

Par: 71

1st hole

Hole #1
Tee shot should be played down right center for best position. Second shot should avoid left front bunker. Either lay up short with a 5/6 iron or if going for the green favor the right. Green is fastest from the back left to the front.

Hole #2
Driver or 3 wood off the tee. Most difficult green on the course to read. Front pin is tough; if putting from middle of the green. 2nd shot plays a little longer because it is uphill.

Hole #3
Driver not necessary (unless on the back tee). Fairway widest at 150 yd. marker. Green has two tiers -- bottom area will accept almost any shot; top tier usually very firm. Green breaks the most from the right to the left side.

Hole #4
Position hole off the tee -- aim to right of fairway willow tree (blue tee--2 or 3 iron, maybe 5 wood (gold tee 3 or 5 wood) Regardless of where the pin is AIM FOR THE CENTER OF THE GREEN. Grain runs from back to front of the green.

Hole #5
MGA markers (Gold--172) (Blue--146) Pin position is very important. Left pin -- favor right side; right pin -- favor left.

Hole #6
Driver/3 wood off the tee. 2nd shot -- back pin, center is best; front pin, short is best. NO PIN IS SAFE TO ATTACK -- green is extremely fast from back to front.

Hole #7
Top tee -- plan your game around avoiding fairway bunkers. Green has 2 tiers -- grain runs from back right to middle left.

Hole #8
Don't get too greedy off the tee; gamble is not worth it. 2nd shot plays shorter than the yardage. Usually hard enough in front to bounce a shot on. Grain runs from front right to back left.

9th hole

Hole #9
Club selection really depends on the wind. Look to the front of the clubhouse to the American flag -- it should give you an accurate indication. Pin position will determine your aiming point. Avoid missing to the pin side -- almost no chance to save par.

Hole #10
A 3-shot hole - Driver/3 wood off tee; 2nd shot should be laid up - 4 or 5 iron; 3rd will be dictated by pin position - NOT a smart play to be long to any pin. Green very fast top to bottom.

Hole #11
2nd shot to green plays shorter than its yardage because you can bounce the shot onto the green (even short is not bad). Green slopes from right to left and grain mirrors this.

Hole #12
Tee shot should be aimed at grove of pine trees at right side of green, but club selection should be short of these. 2nd shot plays a little longer (uphill). Green fastest from back right to front left.

Hole #13
Care should be taken off shorter tee (3 wood is enough). Aiming point should be right center of fairway "in the bowl"; trying to carry the hill can open in a variety of problems. 2nd shot plays longer (green is 3 clubs deep). Grain runs from back left to front right.

Hole #14
Given similar tee placement and pin - hole #14 plays one club shorter than hole #9.

Hole #15
Usually down wind - 2nd shot plays a little short (150 marker is about 140). Slope in green is from right to left.

16th hole

Hole #16
2nd shot must be played short, especially if pin is up front - back pin should be approached with equal caution - long is NOT good. Green fastest from back to front.

Hole #17
Probably the most classic example of Taconic - SHORT IS BEST! Any shot that reaches pin high or longer still has a lot of work left. Green very fast top to bottom with extreme breaks depending on angles to flag.

18th hole

Hole #18
A great finishing hole by scoring standards. Eagle is possible but so is a double bogey. Once tee shot is in play, the best scoring play is a 6 or 7 iron, which will allow you a short PW or SW in. Grain runs from right to left towards the parking lot.

General Rules to Play:

1. In most situations, short is better than long.
2. Pin positions dictate the best place to plan a missed shot - a left tucked pin is best handled from the right side.
3. Be patient. Controlled aggressiveness (picking your spots) will pay off in the long run; maybe not this round, perhaps tomorrow.
4. When "out of position," accept the fact that your goal is to rely on your intelligence and not your wild dreams.