Golf icon and entrepreneur Jack Nicklaus named 2026 lead medalist; golf content creator and entrepreneur Grant Horvat named companion medalist
(West Palm Beach, Fla. – October 12, 2026)– Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) is teeing up another memorable American Free Enterprise Day, with two generations of golf excellence set to take center stage. On Tuesday, November 17, PBA will honor golf legend, entrepreneur and philanthropist Jack Nicklaus as its 2026 lead medalist and professional golfer, PBA alumnus, content creator and entrepreneur Grant Horvat as the companion medalist.
The 42nd annual American Free Enterprise Day will take place at 11 a.m. at PBA’s Rubin Arena in the Greene Complex in West Palm Beach. Admission is free, and the event is open to the public.
“Jack Nicklaus and Grant Horvat represent two very different generations and paths to success, yet both demonstrate the power of perseverance, innovation, entrepreneurship and a commitment to making a difference,” said Dr. Debra A. Schwinn, president of PBA. “Jack’s extraordinary career and lifelong commitment to philanthropy have made him a global icon, while Grant is using his talent and entrepreneurial spirit to introduce a new generation to the game of golf. We are honored to recognize them both and to give our students the opportunity to learn from their examples of excellence, leadership and service.”
Nicklaus, a 60-year resident of North Palm Beach and nicknamed the Golden Bear, is widely recognized as golf’s greatest champion, one of the greatest athletes in history, and one of the most influential figures in and outside the game of golf. During a competitive career spanning five decades, he earned 120 professional tournament victories worldwide, including a record 20 major-championship titles—six Masters, five PGA Championships, four U.S. Opens, three Open Championships and two U.S. Amateur titles. One of only six golfers to complete golf’s modern career Grand Slam, the Golden Bear was named “Golfer of the 20th Century” and “Golfer of the Millennium” by global media outlets. He was also named Individual Male Athlete of the 20th Century by Sports Illustrated, and one of the 10 Greatest Athletes of the Century by ESPN.
His legacy extends beyond his accomplishments as a player. Nicklaus has built a successful career as a golf-course designer, businessman, global ambassador and philanthropist. Nicklaus Design has been responsible for more than 450 golf-course designs across six continents and 47 countries. He and his wife, Barbara, have also made philanthropy a central part of their legacy through the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, which supports pediatric health-care services in South Florida and across the country, and has topped $255 million raised in less than 22 years.
Nicklaus also became the first athlete and just the fourth person in history to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2005), the Congressional Gold Medal (2015), and the Lincoln Medal (2018).
“I always loved and thrived on competition, and golf became my primary vehicle to compete,” Nicklaus said. “As my career evolved, the game of golf also became a powerful tool for business and a vehicle for giving back and impacting lives. When I began to dabble in golf course design in my later 20s, I developed a passion for it. Even today, and a few hundred golf course designs later, it still inspires and energizes me.
“Around the same time that I started to tinker with course design, philanthropy became important to Barbara and me. When we were young parents, and about 26 years old, we said that if we were ever in a position to give back, we wanted children to be our focus. We launched the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation in 2004, and less than a year later, I played my final round of major championship golf. Since then, working alongside my wife, and touching the lives of children and families through our Foundation and other charitable activities, this latest chapter of my life has given me another reason to remain inspired and motivated. And I’m having a blast!”
Horvat is a 2021 Palm Beach Atlantic University graduate who played four years of NCAA Division II golf for the Sailfish while studying marine biology. He earned four Sunshine State Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll selections and was named a GCAA All-American Scholar.
Today, Horvat is a professional golfer and one of the most recognized creators in golf media. Following his time with the golf-content collective Good Good, he launched Grant Horvat Golf, which now has more than 1.7 million YouTube subscribers. His content includes competitive matches, instructional videos and collaborations with prominent names in golf.
In 2025, Horvat won the second Creator Classic at TPC Sawgrass, earning an invitation to compete in a PGA Tour event. He has also expanded into golf business and entrepreneurship, becoming a partial owner of Takomo Golf, while supporting faith-based outreach, youth golf mentorship and charitable initiatives through his platform.
The AFE celebration is proudly supported by Kibler Construction, SROA Capital, and Sara and Jim McCann as Innovation Sponsors. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Founded in 1968, PBA is a private, Christian university, offering 100 different programs and pathways, including undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees and professional degrees. The University has two campuses in West Palm Beach, Florida— provides facilities for training and hosting intercollegiate sports. Sailfish athletes compete in 18 NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference varsity sports. PBA affirms the values that have built American society, including religious liberty and the free enterprise system. The University is dedicated to equipping students to grow in wisdom, lead with conviction and serve God boldly.
For more event information, please visit pba.edu/AFE.
