America Dunes will host the 3rd Annual Folds of Honor Collegiate
This past spring, we (my spouse Deb and I) visited West Point, located off the high bluffs overlooking the historic Hudson River in New York. The site of the nation’s oldest military academy, West Point, was a bucket list destination and one we happily checked off. Informed and inspired by our tour, it also served as a fitting prelude to Folds of Honor Collegiate to be held at American Dunes in Grand Haven on Sept. 9-11.
Now in its third year, the tournament—to refresh one’s memory—is a 54-hole stroke play team and individual championship attracting 15 men’s and 15 women’s collegiate teams, including all of the Service Academies, an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) team, and one non-Div. I school. This year’s addition of women’s teams is a new feature of this live-televised event on Golf Channel.
Notre Dame claimed the team title in ’23
Last September, in a riveting finish, Notre Dame won the team title by one shot over Michigan State University. That high drama seen nationally earned inclusion in my “Top 10 Michigan Golf Stories of 2023.”
In planning for our tour of West Point, I also scheduled a brief meeting with Army’s head golf coach, Chad Bagley, and asked him about the Folds of Honor Collegiate.
“We were all inspired by the tournament and its purpose,” said Bagley. “We’re attached at the hip to its mission.”
Coach Chad Bagley (r) leads the Army Black Knights.
A 1995 graduate of West Point, Bagley was a four-year member of the Black Knights’ golf team, earning three varsity letters during his tenure for the Black, Gold and Gray. He earned All-Patriot League honors as a junior and served as the Black Knights’ team captain during his final campaign. Not surprisingly, given his background, he was equally effusive in his praise of American Dunes GC and its many touches to honor the service and valor of military personnel.
“American Dunes takes your breath away and renews your faith that many patriotic people are looking out for our country,” said Bagley. “We love how American Dunes has a daily custom of playing Taps and honoring the flag at 13:00 hours.” To all the golfers from the service academies with a similar campus tradition, it must be sweet music to their ears.
Bagley also shared his perspective as an Army coach and the special responsibilities associated with his position.
“My duty is to steward and shepherd the golf program, but equally important is to help produce leaders for the Army,” said Bagley, who was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2008) and Operation Enduring Freedom (2013). “All the coaches at West Point are aware of how vital it is for cadets and athletes to develop in their process as future leaders for the Army. We can’t fail them in this regard.”
For those who may foolishly underestimate the role of coaches, especially at the service academies, please take note.
Certainly, I’ll be keeping it in mind as I watch the play of the Army, Navy, and Air Force golf squads and all the other invited teams at American Dunes, with its distinctive and challenging Jack Nicklaus design. With such notable and ranked names for both men and women as Alabama, Arizona, Baylor, Florida State, Grand Valley State, Illinois, Michigan State, Ohio State, Texas, and more, the competition will be sharp and spirited.
As colleges’ top golf programs, many loaded with international standouts, continue to be a pipeline to the PGA and LPGA Tours, attendees and TV viewers of the Folds of Honor Collegiate may witness a sneak preview of some of the game’s next stars.
In the process, many will renew their appreciation for Folds of Honor and its Foundation, which provides scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military personnel.
Tournament golf and a worthy cause are joined at the hip.
For more information about the tournament, visit https://foldsofhonor.org/golf/collegiate/
photos courtesy of American Dunes, Nile Young and Army
