News
News and Press
The announcement of the Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour, the coverage it drew, and where to reach the press office.
Launch coverage
Arnold Palmer junior golf tour with tournaments across the country to launch in January
By Doug Ferguson
Read at Associated Press“Good business doing excellent things for kids is a wonderful combination.”
A rebranded junior golf tour will carry Arnold Palmer's name
By Sissi Hai
Read at Golf Digest“Beyond competition, my father believed that golf was about bringing people together, treating others with respect and creating opportunities.”
Closing Bell: Bolt Ventures, Arnold Palmer Enterprises and the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation are launching the Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour in 2027
Read at Sports Business JournalArnold Palmer's Name Is Coming To Junior Golf
By Brittany Olizarowicz
Read at MyGolfSpy“If you’ve got a junior who loves the game, this is going to create a lot more opportunities for them to compete and continue growing.”
Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour Launches in January With 400 Tournaments and Blitzer Backing
By Cameron Korab
Read at Youth Sports Business ReportThe Associated Press story also ran in
Bolt Ventures, Arnold Palmer Enterprises form Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour, celebrating competition and community
Increased access and character development to feature across nearly 400 youth tournaments nationwide, with support from the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation
New tour tees off January 2 to 3 at ChampionsGate in Orlando
NEW YORK, N.Y. and PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., November 3, 2026
Bolt Ventures, the family office of David Blitzer, Arnold Palmer Enterprises and the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation today announced a strategic partnership to launch the Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour, uniting the legacy of one of golf’s most impactful figures with a renewed commitment to developing the next generation of golfers and leaders.
Launching in 2027, the rebranded platform brings together the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour (HJGT) and Texas Junior Golf Tour (TJGT), acquired by Bolt Ventures earlier this year, to create a national, year-round competitive experience for boys and girls ages 8 to 18. Headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, the Tour will feature nearly 400 tournaments nationwide as part of its 2027 schedule. Tournament packages for families are now available at APJGT.com.
The partnership brings together the operational scale of an established national junior golf platform and the enduring legacy of Mr. Palmer, whose influence extends well beyond his accomplishments on course. Guided by his belief that golf should be accessible, welcoming and a vehicle for personal growth, the Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour will offer affordable competitive opportunities, stronger pathways to collegiate golf, and experiences that emphasize character, sportsmanship, and community.
“Our goal with the Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour is simple: to create more opportunities for young people and their families to experience the positive benefits of golf, both on and off the course,” said David Blitzer. “This is an incredible opportunity to build on the legacy of one of the sport’s greatest global icons and carry Mr. Palmer’s mission forward through the next generation.”
The partnership also aims to make character development a defining element of the junior golf experience. Through collaboration with the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation, the Tour will seek to connect the challenges young golfers encounter with the values that shaped Mr. Palmer’s life and legacy.
“Beyond competition, my father believed that golf was about bringing people together, treating others with respect and creating opportunities,” said Amy Palmer Saunders, Palmer Foundation Chair. “We want the next generation to understand that success in golf is measured not only by how you play, but also by how you conduct yourself and the impact you have on others.”
As with the Arnold Palmer Cup elite college event, character will be an integral part of the competitive experience, utilizing a program developed with the Palmer Foundation and Wake Forest University to reinforce that conduct is as important to success as on-course performance.
“It is an honor to act as a steward to such a prodigious legacy,” said Joshua Press, CEO of the Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour. “Mr. Palmer was a fierce competitor who was well known for aggressive play and a never quit attitude, but above all his wins and golf accomplishments, people talk most about his character and charisma. And that is the cornerstone of our tour’s message.”
Expanding access to the game
In addition to character development, the Palmer Foundation is introducing the Palmer Foundation Player Access Award to help families address financial obstacles that can limit youth golf participation. Within and beyond the Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour, this effort will help to create opportunities among the next generation of golfers.
Details on additional program announcements will be shared in the coming months. For tournament information and family packages, visit APJGT.com.
The Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour is backed by a seasoned investor group with deep expertise in youth sports and athletic development, including Weatherford Capital, The Team, Heights LLC, Blair Mill Capital, and Blumenfeld Development Group.
“Arnold Palmer represented everything that’s right about sports, and this tour pairs his legacy with a team that has a clear vision for growth,” said Todd Marcy, Partner, Weatherford Capital. “We’re excited to come alongside them to help shape the next generation of golfers and contribute to the continued growth of the game.”
“We believe in supporting athletes at every stage of their development, and that foundation is built at the youth level,” said Drew Weatherford, Partner and Co-Founder, Weatherford Capital. “The leadership and credibility behind the Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour make it a natural fit for that commitment.”
About Bolt Ventures
Bolt Ventures, the family office of David Blitzer, is focused on investments across sports, media, and high-growth platforms, with a track record of building and scaling global brands.
Leveraging deep operational expertise across sports and entertainment, Bolt Ventures is committed to supporting the growth of respected organizations such as the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball, Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer, the Utah Royals of the National Women’s Soccer League, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru of the Indian Premier League. Additionally, Bolt Ventures has investments across several other top professional soccer teams in the sport’s most prestigious leagues, as well as in a variety of emerging brands across women’s sports, youth sports, golf, motorcycle racing, lacrosse, and sports technology and content companies.
About Arnold Palmer Enterprises
Arnold Palmer Enterprises preserves and advances the legacy of Mr. Palmer, one of golf’s most celebrated figures, through initiatives that reflect his impact on the game, his relationships with people around the world and his enduring values.
About the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation
The Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation honors the legacy of Arnold and Winnie Palmer by advancing children’s health, character development through golf and stewardship of nature. Through philanthropic partnerships and programs, the Foundation works to extend the Palmers’ values and impact to future generations.
Press contact
Media inquiries about the Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour: Will Abbamont, wabbamont@hbse.com.
Families and players: the schedule is at apjgt.com/tournaments.
On social
Posts from the day, in their own words, on their own channels.