The transition of golf seasons for Classes 3A, 2A and 1A was discussed for the third consecutive meeting, with action taken Thursday to postpone any change in golf seasons for the foreseeable future.
The IHSAA and IGHSAU had announced in August a move for girls’ tennis and all boys’ golf classes to be played in the fall starting in 2025-26. However, the Board of Control voted to delay the boys’ golf change indefinitely, so the sport will remain in the spring for 2025-26 and until the board considers additional information.
“We considered the feedback from our member schools and the board ultimately decided it was worth reconsidering our initial vote,” said board chairperson Dr. Andy Crozier, superintendent at Central Lee. “It became clear that there were too many obstacles that need to be resolved in the short-term to make this change for the 2025-26 school year.”
The change was announced in August as a way to reduce spring schedule congestion for school activities and improve the student-athlete golf experience.
Since then, the IHSAA’s numerous committees and school feedback structures often cited challenges with small school participation in fall sports, coaching conflicts and golf course availability.
Discussions among the board on Thursday turned the golf seasons from a discussion item to an action item and resulted in a 5-3 vote to delay moving the sport out of the spring at this time.
Class 4A boys’ golf will remain in the fall, where it has been exclusively since 1993 and concluded its championships Tuesday.
“We appreciate our Board’s desire to continue its due diligence as it more fully considers a possible move of Class 1A, 2A, and 3A golf to a fall season,” IHSAA executive director Tom Keating said. “We will continue to provide them with whatever information they need regarding the impact on and perspective of our member schools.”