The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) had to apologize for making a big mistake in a pin placement that caused carnage during its Women's Golf National Championship.
Officials decided to go for a tough pin placement on the fifth hole at Eagle Crest Golf Club in Michigan as they positioned the flag right on the severe slope on the green.
However, it proved almost unplayable at times and was playing almost two shots over par as videos on social media showed players putting up to the hole but watching their balls come tumbling back down the slope on multiple occasions.
It led to cards being wrecked on the par-5 fifth hole, with 90 players from the field of 156 scoring double bogey or worse and almost all of that damage coming on the green.
After witnessing scenes almost similar to crazy golf with players continually watching good putts end up rolling miles away from the cup, the NAIA was forced to issue an apology.
“We regret to confirm that an unfortunate situation occurred at the NAIA Women’s Golf National Championship,” the NAIA said in a statement. “The hole on No. 5 was incorrectly placed in a challenging position.
"We take this matter seriously and have taken immediate steps to ensure this type of situation will not happen again. The NAIA is committed to the student-athlete experience.”
Nice job! @NAIA This is the naia women’s golf national championship. No different than NCAA D3 national championship that had a round canceled. @acaseofthegolf1 @NCAA pic.twitter.com/dzzqqb2d0ZMay 13, 2025
One of those videos came from Cumberlands head coach Aaron Watkins, who filmed one of his players enduring a nightmare on the hole with several decent putts still just rolling back down to her feet.
Watkins said it was "No different than NCAA D3 national championship that had a round canceled" referencing an incident from two years ago.
Back in 2023, the NCAA was forced to cancel the third round of the Division III Women’s Golf Championship in Florida after one hole on the course was said to have been put in an “unplayable” position on the green.
Worst nightmare for tournament director. I know I have spent close to 15 minutes on one green to make sure this does not happen. Have to be very careful at Red Sky, but can happen anywhere. pic.twitter.com/GpQYNBVWOcMay 13, 2025
That happened at Campeon Course at Mission Inn and Resort in Florida where NCAA officials got a bit too cute with their pin placement, with similar results to Tuesday's incident in Michigan.
It even caught the eye of Phil Mickelson, who posted “I have a suggestion” as he referenced his infamous meltdown at the 2018 US Open.
Tournament officials at Shinnecock had the greens there in almost unplayable condition, and Mickelson responded by hitting his ball while it was moving to stop it rolling off the green.
None of the players at the NAIA event followed Mickelson's example, but it was another bad look for a college event in another case of organisers just getting a bit too clever with their pin positions.
