Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2019-20 | Volunteer Sign-Up | Hawk Talk Monthly — December
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa Men’s Golf will host the inaugural Calusa Cup in Naples, Florida, at the Calusa Pines Golf Club, April 5-7. The three-day, 54-hole tournament will feature eight of the nation’s top teams.
“It’s a huge honor to host at Calusa Pines Golf Club,” head coach Tyler Stith said. “Not many clubs of Calusa’s stature are willing to open their doors. I applaud the club for supporting collegiate golf. We’ve been fortunate to attract a quality field of teams and look forward to putting on a premiere event.”
“Calusa Pines Golf Club is honored to be the hosting course and club for the inaugural 2020 Calusa Cup on April 5-7,” Calusa Pines GM Walt Kozlowsky said. ” Since the opening of this strictly private club in 2001, we have continually been ranked among the Top-100 courses in America. We have refrained from hosting outside tournament play until the opportunity arose to host this wonderful collegiate event. We look forward to welcoming the eight highly ranked Division I programs competing in this tournament, and we expect to provide challenging conditions that will result in a very exciting event.”
The elite field features four teams from the ACC (No. 3 Georgia Tech, No. 9 Wake Forest, Virginia, and No. 24 Clemson), two from the SEC (No. 21 Auburn and No. 42 Florida), and two from the Big Ten (Iowa and No. 50 Illinois). Rankings via Golfstat.
Calusa Pines Golf Club is ranked No. 83 on Golf Digest‘s America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses in 2019-20. It is one of the most unique courses in south Florida and has some of the firmest, fastest Bermuda fairways and greens in Florida.
Along with challenging greens, the elevation changes and plethora of water make it one of the best designed courses in the Sunshine State. The course was designed by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, who are largely responsible for the design of Erin Hills, in 2001.
The Calusa Cup will be Iowa’s first of two hosted events in the spring. The Hawkeyes host the annual Hawkeye Invitational, April 18-19, at Iowa City’s Finkbine Golf Course.
Iowa’s spring season begins Feb. 7-8 in Palm Coast, Florida, at the Big Ten Match Play Championships.
