Staff WriterEverything’s bigger in Texas—especially when golf, patriotism, and a good cause collide. On Monday, October 27, the acclaimed Apple Rock Course at the award-winning Horseshoe Bay Resort will once again roll out the red carpet (or in this case, perfectly manicured fairways) for the second annual Folds of Honor Legacy Cup.
Last year’s debut tournament raised a cool $100,000, which translated into 20 scholarships for the families of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders. It wasn’t just golf with a purpose; it was golf with impact.
Founded back in 2007 by Lt Col Dan Rooney—the only man mad enough to juggle careers as both an F-16 fighter pilot and a PGA of America professional—Folds of Honor has since handed out nearly 62,000 scholarships worth a staggering $290 million nationwide.
And in case you think this is just another feel-good charity, consider this: 41% of those scholarships have gone to minority students, and the organisation has earned a Platinum Seal of Transparency on GuideStar and a four-star Charity Navigator rating. In other words, they don’t just talk the talk—they walk it straight down the middle of the fairway.
“It’s, once again, a great privilege to join the Folds of Honor and Lt Col Dan Rooney in a vital and inspirational effort to support military and first responder families who need an infusion of hope, joy, and kinship from the community,” said Horseshoe Bay Resort’s Director of Golf Operations Anthony Holder.
“Year One of hosting the Legacy Cup was a great success but we’re ready to roll up our sleeves and do everything we can to raise more funds for deserving families.
We’re counting on the community and the state of Texas to help us grow this effort every year. Honoring these heroes who have paid the ultimate sacrifice has now become an annual mission for our team and our membership.”
A Day Built on Sacrifice and Celebration
This year’s schedule reads like a masterclass in blending reverence with revelry. The day begins with guest speaker Alex McIntosh, whose son, Army Cpl. Scott A. McIntosh, lost his life in a Baghdad bombing in 2008. The McIntosh family knows all too well the value of these scholarships—their own memorial golf event has raised more than $7 million over 15 years. Lt Col Rooney has even called their work “the benchmark by which we judge all other Patriot Golf Days events throughout the country.”
“It’s a privilege to be a part of the 2025 Legacy Cup at Horseshoe Bay Resort,” McIntosh said. “As this event grows and gathers growing support from the community, it’s important to connection to the people who are touched and helped by the Folds of Honor.
Once people have a direct understanding of who the work of the Folds of Honor benefits and why that support is vital, you can do big things to honor our fallen heroes and lifting up the families they have left behind.”
The ceremony will roll straight into a Color Guard 21-Ball Salute, capped with a jet flyover that could make even the most stoic golfer choke up before pulling out the driver. Lunch follows, and then at 12:30 p.m., the real business of the day begins: a shotgun four-person scramble across one of Texas’ most spectacular courses. The night finishes with an awards dinner, raffle, and both silent and live auctions—the sort of evening where wallets open as quickly as beer cans in the clubhouse.
Apple Rock: The Star of the Show
Of course, none of this would mean quite as much without a stage worthy of the cause. Enter Apple Rock, the third Robert Trent Jones Sr. design at Horseshoe Bay Resort, opened in 1985 to rave reviews and named one of Golf Digest’s “Best New Resort Courses in America.”
Carved out of 147 acres of Texas Hill Country, Apple Rock is a par-72, 6,999-yard rollercoaster with a championship rating of 74.6 and a slope of 140. Translation? It’ll test your game while distracting you with panoramic views so gorgeous you might just forget to keep score.
Built to Last
The Legacy Cup’s arrival at Horseshoe Bay Resort didn’t happen by accident. Credit goes to members Ron Doherty and Steve Wilkins, along with Folds of Honor’s Central Texas leader Mark Voss, for pushing the vision.
Their aim was simple: establish an annual tradition that doesn’t just raise funds but also cements itself as one of the premier charity golf events in the region.
For Holder and his team, that vision is already taking root. Last year proved Texans love to rally behind their heroes. This year, the goal is bigger: raise more, help more, and leave no doubt that golf isn’t just about birdies and bogeys—it’s about building legacies.
For more on the Legacy Cup, visit www.hsbresort.com. To learn more about Folds of Honor, head to foldsofhonor.org.
