You’ve probably seen the "G" on TV. Not the one on a red football helmet between the hedges, but the one embroidered on the polo of a guy holding a massive check on a Sunday afternoon. It’s almost a running joke on the PGA Tour: if you see a leaderboard, there’s a Georgia Bulldog somewhere near the top.
The University of Georgia golf team isn't just a college program. Honestly, it’s more of a professional finishing school.
While most people focus on Kirby Smart’s recruiting classes, Chris Haack has been quietly building a dynasty in Athens for nearly three decades. We’re talking about a program that has produced over $200 million in professional earnings. That’s not a typo. From Bubba Watson’s creative shot-shaping to Brian Harman’s gritty Open Championship win, the DNA of Georgia golf is all over the modern game.
The Chris Haack Era: More Than Just Two Trophies
When Chris Haack took over in 1996, Georgia was good, but they weren't this. He didn’t just bring a new coaching style; he brought a mentality. Haack’s resume is a bit ridiculous: two national championships (1999 and 2005), eight SEC titles, and more All-Americans than you can count on both hands and toes.
But if you ask people around the Boyd Center, the trophies are only half the story.
The real magic is the environment. Haack, a 2012 GCAA Hall of Fame inductee, treats his players like adults. He’s famously low-key, often letting the guys figure things out on their own rather than over-coaching every swing plane. It’s a "sink or swim" culture that prepares them for the lonely life of a pro golfer.
Recent Form: The 2025-2026 Season
If you think the program is slowing down, you haven't been watching the leaderboards lately. The current men’s squad is deep. In October 2025, they went out to New York and absolutely dismantled the field at the Hamptons Intercollegiate, winning the team title while Carter Loflin grabbed individual honors.
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Then they went to Hawaii. At the Ka'anapali Classic, the Bulldogs fired the second-best score in program history. Think about that for a second. With all the legends who have played in Athens, this current group put up a number that almost topped them all. Freshman JD Culbreth is already making waves, recently winning SEC Freshman of the Week after some serious performances in the fall.
The Women’s Program: A New Power Shift
While the men’s side gets a lot of the "PGA factory" hype, the University of Georgia golf team on the women’s side is arguably having an even more explosive 2025. Under Coach Erika Brennan, the Lady Bulldogs are currently playing some of the most consistent golf in the country.
They recently swept the individual and team titles at "The Robbie" in November 2025. Maria Garcia, a sophomore transfer from Mexico, is playing like a seasoned vet. She’s already been named SEC Golfer of the Week and seems to be the linchpin of a roster that includes international talent from Norway, France, and Sweden.
It’s a different vibe than the men’s team, but the results are the same: winning.
The women’s program has 11 SEC titles of its own and a national championship from 2001. People sometimes forget that Georgia was a women’s golf powerhouse long before the current "transfer portal" era made it easier to rebuild. Now, with players like Sydney Givens and Garcia, they’re a legitimate threat to bring another trophy back to Athens in May.
What Most People Get Wrong About UGA Golf
There’s a misconception that these guys and girls just show up and play 18 holes under the sun. It’s way more technical than that. The University of Georgia Golf Course is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. masterpiece that was renovated by Love Golf Design (Davis Love III’s firm).
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It is notoriously difficult.
The greens are undulating, the hills are relentless, and if you can score there, you can score anywhere. This is why Georgia players transition so well to the pros. They aren't used to "resort golf" where you can spray it everywhere. They’re used to tight lies and fast greens.
The Alumni "Pro" Effect
You can’t talk about this team without mentioning the alumni. It’s a literal "Who’s Who" of golf:
- Sepp Straka: The first Austrian to play in the Ryder Cup.
- Brian Harman: The "Butcher of Hoylake" who won the 2023 Open.
- Chris Kirk: A guy who overcame personal demons to keep winning on tour.
- Kevin Kisner: The King of Match Play and one of the best quotes in sports.
- Russell Henley: Quietly one of the best ball-strikers on the planet.
There's a "Bulldog Bond" on tour. These guys travel together, practice together, and push each other. It’s a built-in support system that starts in Athens.
The Numbers You Should Actually Care About
Forget the flashy Instagram posts. Let's look at the actual stats that define this program.
Under Haack, 11 former players have combined for nearly 50 PGA Tour wins. That is a staggering number for one school. They’ve also had at least one tournament victory in 22 out of the last 26 seasons. That’s consistency you just don't see in a sport as fickle as golf.
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On the academic side, they aren't slouching either. The men’s team has received the Faculty Athletic Representative Award multiple times for having the highest GPA of any men’s sport at Georgia.
Looking Ahead: Can They Win it All in 2026?
The 2026 recruiting class is already being hailed as the No. 1 class in the country. Haack and his staff are landing the biggest fish in the pond, which means the talent gap between Georgia and the rest of the SEC isn't closing anytime soon.
For the women, the goal is the NCAA Championships in May. With Maria Garcia playing at an All-American level, they have the "ace" needed to win match play. In the modern NCAA format, you need one or two players who simply refuse to lose their individual matches. Georgia has that right now.
How to Follow and Support
If you're a fan or a prospective student-athlete, here is how you stay in the loop with the University of Georgia golf team:
- Watch the Live Scoring: During the spring season, use Golfstat or Clippd to follow the Bulldogs hole-by-hole. Collegiate golf isn't always on TV until the late stages, so this is your best bet.
- Visit the Course: The UGA Golf Course is actually open to the public. You can go play the same holes where Kevin Kisner and Bubba Watson practiced. Just don't expect to break 80 your first time out.
- Check the Rankings: The "Busch Cup" and other collegiate rankings will tell you where they stand heading into the SEC Championships at Sea Island.
- Follow the Pro Bulldogs: Keep an eye on the PGA Tour's "Bulldogs in the Pros" updates. It's usually the best indicator of how well the "Georgia Way" is working.
The legacy of the University of Georgia golf team is built on a mixture of elite facilities, a "pro-style" coaching philosophy, and a home course that humbles everyone who steps on it. Whether it's the men chasing a third national title or the women looking to reclaim their spot atop the SEC, golf in Athens is as healthy as it's ever been.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Golfers:
- Monitor the 2026 Recruiting Class: Keep an eye on the official signings; this class is expected to be a generational shift for the program.
- Plan a Visit to Athens: If you’re a golfer, booking a tee time at the UGA Golf Course is a bucket-list item that gives you a firsthand look at the difficulty the team faces daily.
- Study the "Haack Method": Aspiring coaches should look into Chris Haack’s "Director of Golf" model, which balances player autonomy with elite-level resources.
- Watch the Spring Schedule: The real season kicks off in February; focus on the Linger Longer Invitational and the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic for the best local competition.