There has never been a better time to add a women’s golf team. Women’s golf achieved a peak audience of 1.59 million viewers, with the final round averaging 1.58 million viewers on NBC and Peacock. It was the most-streamed women’s golf event in NBC’s history.
In 2024, the Chevron Championship peaked at 1.9 million viewers for the final round, making it one of the most-watched LPGA events of the year.
With those numbers, it is no surprise that Athletic Director Jason Verhelst and Men’s Golf Coach Chris Soulier are thrilled that the department is adding a women’s golf team.
Thanks to a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Sport Opportunity Grant from the NJCAA Foundation, Madison College received the initial funding needed to launch a Division II women’s golf program and begin recruiting its first class of female golfers.
“In the past, women’s golf wasn’t as popular as it is now. So, because of that, there are more invitationals for women’s golfers. There are more opportunities to compete, whereas before there weren’t. I think we’re getting in at the perfect time,” said Verhelst.
In addition to coaching the Men’s Golf team, Soulier will also coach the Women’s Golf team.
“The game on the female side has really elevated, from the standpoint of being more televised,” said Soulier. “Social media, I believe, has had a huge impact on that because individuals like Nelly Korda — they’re very influential, the way they carry themselves, the way they approach the game. The way the game looks, the way the game feels.”
According to the National Golf Foundation, approximately seven million women and girls played golf on a course in 2023, the highest participation levels since 2006, which was an all-time measured high.
Females now account for more than one-quarter (26%) of the on-course golfer population in the U.S., marking the highest proportion on record and a significant increase from 20% in 2011.
As far as recruiting athletes for next year, Soulier is working with coaches right now, looking at current standings and also looking at outside states like Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan. He said that everybody is looking for a place to go to the next level, especially with the sport’s growth in the last 5 years, which means there will be more options for recruiting.
Soulier has also added his daughter, Samantha Soulier, as an assistant coach after she completed a successful golf career at Waunakee High School and NCAA Division II Minnesota State University-Mankato. Samantha has been reviewing the latest rankings and additional data to support the recruiting process.
Verhelst said that, in addition to women’s golf growing in Madison College’s Region 4, this year marks the first time the NJCAA will host a women-only Division II Golf Championship.
“That is a pretty perfect alignment with starting women’s golf. If we make it to nationals in the first year, we would essentially be competing in the Second Annual Division Two Women’s Golf Championship. So that was really nice,” Verhelst said.
According to NCSA College Recruiting, there are 154 Division II golf schools. Only 2% of high school women’s golfers go on to play at the NCAA Division II level.
“These young men and women are putting a lot of effort into elevating their games — not only their games but themselves mentally. They learn a lot about themselves. They really put a lot into elevating themselves,” Soulier said.
The fifth all-female 10th WolfPack program will begin play in 2026-27.