UC Santa Cruz recently announced the inaugural Hollins Cup, to be played at Pasatiempo Golf Club on Oct. 13-14.
The invitational will bring together many of the top NCAA Division III women’s golf teams in the country to compete on one of the most historically significant courses in American golf—a course shaped by the groundbreaking vision of NCGA Hall of Famer Marion Hollins.
The idea for this event was born in 2023 when the Pasatiempo Board approved UCSC’s proposal to host its annual DIII women’s golf tournament at the course following the completion of a major greens restoration. That time has now come. The event will not only showcase the best in collegiate competition but will also celebrate Marion Hollins’ legacy—a legacy forever tied to Pasatiempo, the advancement of women in golf, and the development of some of the world’s most revered golf courses.
A Tribute to Marion Hollins
Marion Hollins founded Pasatiempo in 1929 after a series of bold moves that shaped the course of golf history. Her pioneering efforts as the first woman to develop world-class golf courses were groundbreaking at a time when the sport was predominantly male dominated. She worked with renowned architects Charles Blair Macdonald, Seth Raynor, Devereux Emmet and Dr. Alister MacKenzie. It was MacKenzie who credited her as a creative partner in both vision and execution. Their collaboration began in 1927 when Hollins founded Cypress Point Club and continued at Pasatiempo two years later. Notably, Hollins played a key role in reintroducing MacKenzie to Bobby Jones, an interaction ultimately leading to Jones selecting MacKenzie to design Augusta National.
Hollins was a remarkable athlete and innovator. Born in 1892 on Long Island, she was the U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion in 1921 and runner-up in 1912. When denied access to male-dominated clubs, she simply created her own, founding the National Women’s Golf and Tennis Club in New York. After moving west, she helped transform the Monterey Peninsula into a golf destination and established the Pebble Beach Golf Championships to unify women golfers from across the country. She also captained the first U.S. Curtis Cup team in 1932. Her achievements earned her a long-overdue induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2022.
Why Division III? Why Now?
Just as Marion Hollins stood for opportunity and access in her time, so too does NCAA Division III golf today. Division III athletics emphasizes education, participation, and balance—core values reflected in the lives of student-athletes who compete without scholarships but with deep love for their sport. Many of these golfers are training to become doctors, scientists, educators, and leaders—not tour professionals—but they are exceptionally talented and fiercely competitive.
UCSC believes that Division III women’s golf is the purest embodiment of amateur competition, making it a natural match for a tournament that honors Marion Hollins. These student-athletes represent the future of women’s golf in spirit if not in profession—and the Hollins Cup aims to celebrate them on a national stage.
The Tournament
The 2025 Hollins Cup will feature 12 top teams playing 36 holes of stroke play over two days. Already, four of the top six ranked programs in the country have committed, including Emory University, the defending NCAA DIII national champions. Emory's roster is stacked—last season, six players averaged under 74 strokes per round, a staggering stat at any collegiate level. Other powerhouse programs such as Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Pomona-Pitzer, and Redlands will also compete.
Currently, Pasatiempo allows only one outside tournament: the prestigious Western Intercollegiate, hosted by San Jose State since 1947 and recognized as the longest continuously running collegiate golf event outside the NCAA Championships. The Hollins Cup will be just the second outside tournament permitted at Pasatiempo—testament to the course’s pride in its roots and its belief in this event’s importance.
Join Us
Spectators are warmly welcomed. Admission is free, and fans will be treated to high-level women’s golf on an iconic MacKenzie/Hollins layout that demands precision, creativity, and nerve.
Monday, October 13: 1 p.m. Shotgun Start
Tuesday, October 14: 8:30 a.m. Shotgun Start
Whether you’re a golf enthusiast, a supporter of women’s sports, or a fan of history, the Hollins Cup promises a unique and meaningful experience. Marion Hollins would no doubt approve.