The Everglades Chapter of the Florida GCSA was just two years old when it invited the South Florida Chapter for a casual get-together. In 1970, the Everglades and South Florida Chapters came to an agreement to add a friendly golf match to their annual meeting. The following year, they cemented this decision as an annual occurrence, elevating the stakes by awarding the champion a coveted pail of Poa grass. Setting the stage the tournament's eventual label as "The POA."
In 1972, Doc Anderson, a local vendor offered to provide a barbecue style meal at the meeting. In 1975, the event was officially dubbed the Poa Annua Golf Classic. As it continued to grow, other chapters of the Florida GCSA were invited and the location of the event was changed to other courses such as Lehigh, Mirror Lakes, Oxbow, and Naples Beach Club. While the tournament was at Mirror Lakes the board of directors of the Florida GCSA decided to hold one of its board meetings in conjunction with the event.
In 2022, the Ritz-Carlton Naples Tiburon became the new home of the POA tournament. Over the years, this event has evolved into one of the most highly anticipated gatherings of Florida superintendents and their loved ones.
