Michael Carlisle to be Inducted into the South Carolina Golf Hall of Fame
Columbia, SC (September 3, 2025) – President of the South Carolina Golf Hall of Fame, Frank Ford III, is honored to announce the induction of Michael Carlisle, one of South Carolina’s most impactful and enduring figures in the game of golf. With a career that spans over four decades and continues to this day, Carlisle will become the 80th member of the South Carolina Golf Hall of Fame.
In his early years, Carlisle was born and raised in Aiken, South Carolina, and grew up as a proud member of the historic Palmetto Golf Club. He went on to walk on to the Clemson University Golf Team, where he earned three varsity letters and competed as part of the 1980 team that became the first in Clemson history to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Following college, Carlisle competed professionally, winning several events on mini tours, and then continued to distinguish himself as an amateur. His accomplishments include victories at the 1983 Carolinas Amateur, the 1993 South Carolina Mid-Amateur, and three Palmetto Amateur Championships in 1983, 1997, and 1998. He also earned spots in the U.S. Amateur Championship in both 2000 and 2001.
Carlisle's greatest legacy has been forged through his leadership as head coach of the University of South Carolina Aiken men’s golf program, a position he has held since 1990 and continues to hold today. Over the course of 34 seasons and counting, Carlisle has elevated the Pacers to national prominence. His teams have claimed three NCAA Division II National Championships and made 31 NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the National Championship 20 times. Under his direction, USC Aiken has won 91 tournaments across Division I and II competitions, including 12 Peach Belt Conference championships. The program has maintained a career winning percentage of 70.8 percent, with five seasons exceeding 90 percent and eight seasons above 80 percent.
His peers and the national coaching community have recognized Carlisle’s sustained excellence. He is a three-time NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year, an eight-time NCAA Regional Coach of the Year, and a seven-time Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year. In 2005, he was selected to coach the United States team in the 30th U.S. vs. Japan Collegiate Championship, and in 2010, he was inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame. His coaching legacy includes developing players who went on to the highest levels of professional golf, including PGA Tour members Scott Brown, Matt Atkins, and Roberto Diaz, along with DP World Tour player Brandon Robinson Thompson.
Carlisle’s influence on the game extends far beyond the collegiate level. In 1989, he helped establish the Aiken Chapter of the South Carolina Junior Golf Association, one of the first two SCJGA chapters in the state. By 1994, he had built it into a thriving program that welcomed more than 200 junior golfers. Over the years, the chapter conducted more than 580 one day events. Carlisle also played an instrumental role in launching the First Tee program in Aiken and helped develop a par 3 short course for young golfers. He has continued to invest in youth development through his work with the Clemson Tiger Golf Camps.
His career stands as a remarkable example of dedication to the game in every form, as a competitor, coach, mentor, and builder of opportunities for others. From shaping champions at the collegiate level to creating pathways for junior golfers across South Carolina, Carlisle has elevated the sport through his integrity, leadership, and lifelong service. His legacy is etched not only in trophies and titles, but in the lives of the countless players and families he has impacted along the way.
Michael Carlisle will be officially inducted into the South Carolina Golf Hall of Fame on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Forest Lake Club in Columbia. At the ceremony, he will be presented with the traditional white Hall of Fame coat, gifted by BP Skinner Clothiers of Columbia, South Carolina.
The South Carolina Golf Hall of Fame proudly honors Michael Carlisle for his extraordinary achievements as a player, coach, mentor, and advocate for the game of golf. His contributions to the sport are both lasting and immeasurable, and his influence will continue to shape South Carolina golf for generations to come.
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