The College of Wooster plans to add womenís golf to its list of varsity sports for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Womenís golf will be the 23rd sport to be added to Woosterís curriculum, and the 12th to be added to varsity sport offerings for women.

Rich Danch, head coach of the Wooster menís golf team, is standing in as acting coach during the recruitment period, which is ìcurrently in process,” said Danch. ìMy primary focus at this time is to initiate recruiting efforts to secure a womenís season for next year.”

The finalized coaching staff, home course and the 2010-2011 schedule have yet to be announced. Danch added that any expectations for the upcoming team are ìreally quite dependant on what the year’s recruiting efforts yield. The number of student-athletes and skill level will shape any expectations the coaching staff will have for them.”

Currently 167 other NCAA Division III institutions support womenís golf. Wittenberg University, Hiram College, Denison University and Allegheny College all have teams already, adding to the total 36 teams instituted in the Great Lakes Region.

Womenís golf is the first new sport added since 2000, when softballís status was changed from club to varsity sport.