More Than Golf: Why the Folds of Honor Collegiate Represents Everything Right About College Sports originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
If you’re like me, you’ve grown weary of college sports conversations that begin and end with television contracts, transfer portals, and NIL deals. Those topics matter, but they’ve become exhausting.
If you need a reminder of why you fell in love with college athletics, watch the Folds of Honor Collegiate at American Dunes Golf Club this September. It represents everything pure about competition — and everything powerful about sports serving a purpose beyond the scoreboard.
Numbers That Actually Mean Something
The tournament runs Sept. 7-10, and while other events chase ratings and revenue, this one quietly became the most watched college golf tournament of the season. The difference? Every viewer sees something that matters beyond the scoreboard.
Since 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded about 62,000 scholarships totaling about $290 million. Among the schools competing, 3,792 students have attended on Folds of Honor scholarships, with 730 scholarships going to these schools just this past academic year.
But here’s what those numbers really mean: About 62,000 family members whose loved ones died or were disabled serving our country and communities got to go to school. That’s what separates this tournament from every other college golf event I’ve covered.
The Fighter Pilot Who Changed Everything
Lt. Col. Dan Rooney founded this after his second of three combat tours in Iraq, and he remains the only person in history to serve as both an F-16 fighter pilot and PGA professional. In 2006, he hosted the inaugural Patriot Golf Day at what was then Grand Haven Golf Club, and that’s when the idea for Folds of Honor was born.
When that original course closed in 2018, something remarkable happened. Jack Nicklaus donated his design fee, 18 individuals sponsored holes, and five private investors joined together to preserve the birthplace of Folds of Honor. The result is American Dunes — a uniquely moving, patriotic experience centered on a world-class design.
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Sept. 11 Isn’t Just a Date on the Calendar
Having the final round touching 9/11 adds even more meaning to this patriotic event. You will witness play pause for taps at 1300 hours. You’ll see teams carry Honor Bag tags representing Folds of Honor recipients at their schools. Competitors will walk through the Memorial at American Dunes.
In these moments, golf becomes secondary to something much larger.
Real Competition, Real Stakes
This year’s field has 15 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams. It includes 19 teams that were represented at the 2025 NCAA Regionals, eight that advanced to the NCAA Championships, and 13 that ended the spring ranked in the top 30 in the country.
Michigan State and Florida State serve as co-hosts, with both programs deeply connected to the mission. Florida State alone has had hundreds of Folds of Honor recipients attend the university.
Corporate Partners Who Get It
Michelob Ultra serves as the presenting sponsor as part of Anheuser-Busch’s support. Since 2011, the company and its partners have donated $33 million to provide scholarships to military families. Sinclair Oil, Sedgwick, Titleist and Compliance Solutions are also part of the mission.
This isn’t typical sports marketing. These partnerships represent genuine investment in changing lives.
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The Vision Casey Lubahn Helped Create
Michigan State’s Casey Lubahn was part of the original talks about creating this tournament, and it was truly meaningful to him from the outset.
“One of the great opportunities of my career has been the chance to serve as a host for the Folds of Honor Collegiate since inception. What this event has become in just three years has overwhelmed me, but it’s also made me proud of the work that has been done to make it one of the best events in the country.”
Golf Channel will provide extensive live coverage with 18 hours over three days.
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Why This Matters More Than Rankings
The Folds of Honor Collegiate doesn’t just elevate the sport — it elevates everyone involved. The teams get to play on one of the best courses in the country at American Dunes Golf Club, and more than anything else, they’re honoring true American heroes and their families.
As Rooney puts it: “To be able to play for more than yourself or even your team separates this tournament from all others.”
In our current landscape of constant change and commercial pressure, this tournament proves that competition can serve higher purposes. These student-athletes aren’t just playing for team rankings or individual accolades. They’re playing for the children and spouses of heroes.
That’s not just good golf. That’s everything sports should aspire to be.
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Related: From Garage to Glory: How Folds of Honor Transforms Lives Through the Power of Golf
Related: The Soul of American Golf: A Journey Through the Game’s Heart and Heritage
Related: The Last of Their Kind: Ian Baker-Finch and the Voices We Can’t Replace
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
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