Men's Golf . August 15, 2023

Gamecocks to Open Season Live on Golf Channel

Todd Drexler

Carolina participating in the second annual Folds of Honor Collegiate in Michigan

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina will open the season to a National Television audience Sept. 4-6 at the second annual Folds of Honor Collegiate. Golf Channel will provide live coverage of the tournament each day from 4-7 p.m. (ET) at American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, Mich.

There will be a college-am on Sunday, Sept. 3, followed with a welcome party in the evening that will be highlighted by an appearance from golf legend and course designer, Jack Nicklaus.

“As a former college golfer at the University of Kansas and F16 fighter pilot, my heart is on fire to host a college tournament that raises funds for Folds of Honor and features a field like no other in college golf,” said Lt Col Dan Rooney, founder and CEO of Folds of Honor. “We have the privilege of hosting all three service academies, two HBCUs, and several of the preeminent powerhouses in college golf.”

The story of American Dunes started when the benevolent Nicklaus donated his design fee, proclaiming, “I love the game of golf, but I love my country even more.” The mutual dream of Nicklaus and Lt Col Rooney was to build a course with a mission; raise funds and awareness for Folds of Honor. Nicklaus dug in with the same intensity that produced 18 professional major championships. Over the next two years, American Dunes would come to life a few hundred yards from the east shore of Lake Michigan. The stunning design is a journey through massive sand dunes and will be an inspiring challenge to the field of college golfers. American Dunes highlights powerful stories on all 18 holes and culminates with the Honor Wall behind No. 18 green.

Finally, each team will carry an honor bag tag, representing the Folds of Honor recipients at each of their schools. Folds will award over 9,000 scholarships this fall and has awarded over 1,500 scholarships at the schools playing in this year’s event.

Michigan State and Florida State serve as the host schools for the tournament in conjunction with the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). The full list of schools participating is listed below. Carolina, Kentucky and Arkansas will represent the Southeastern Conference at the prestigious fall event.

Stay tuned to GamecocksOnline.com for the full release of the 2023-24 schedule for Gamecock men’s golf.

2023 Folds of Honor Challenge Field