The UW-Superior athletic program is suspending its intercollegiate women's golf team for two years to help reduce spending in the face of state funding reductions.

"This is part of what we have to do to maintain our department's financial goals," Athletic Director Steve Nelson said.

Golf was selected because it affects the fewest students, Nelson said. The team typically has five to seven student-athletes. Golf as an intercollegiate sport is offered only to women at UW-Superior; the university does not have a men's team.

Nelson said he has notified the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference of the decision to idle the team until the 2011-2012 academic year.

Nelson stressed that the sport was being suspended, not eliminated. "We fully intend to bring golf back, and over the next two years to look at the possibility of even increasing our athletic offerings," he said.

One sport that may be considered for the future is women's lacrosse because of its growing popularity, he added.

UW-Superior will continue to offer seven intercollegiate sports for women: basketball, cross country, ice hockey, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball. The university offers six sports for men: baseball, basketball, cross country, hockey, soccer, and track and field.