Weatherford Capital backs nearly 400 junior golf tournaments in 2027

By Amara Osei

The Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour plans nearly 400 tournaments across the United States in 2027 after Weatherford Capital invested alongside Bolt Ventures, the family office of investor David Blitzer. The private investment firm’s backing will support a year-round national competition network for boys and girls ages 8 to 18, Weatherford Capital and Bolt Ventures said.

What does the investment support?

Bolt Ventures established the Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour in partnership with Arnold Palmer Enterprises and the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation. The platform combines the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour and the Texas Junior Golf Tour, creating a national competition structure across regions.

The Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour says the network will expand access to competitive golf and give young athletes more opportunities to compete close to home. It will serve players seeking competitive experience for potential college recruitment and others focused on personal development and enjoyment.

Weatherford Capital’s Sports Continuum strategy focuses on businesses serving athletes across youth, collegiate and professional sports. The firm believes investments in youth sports can influence athlete development and long-term participation while supporting training and competition opportunities.

The investment reflects Weatherford Capital’s Sports Continuum strategy. Drew Weatherford, partner and co-founder of Weatherford Capital, said:

“Youth sports is where the Sports Continuum begins, and the experience a young athlete and their family have at this level shapes their relationship with sports for years to come.

We look for platforms with the potential to meaningfully improve the experience for players and parents, and we want to build them alongside the best investors in sports. This partnership with Bolt Ventures and the Arnold Palmer Organization offers both.”

How large is junior golf now?

National Golf Foundation figures cited by Weatherford Capital put nearly four million children ages 6 to 17 on golf courses during 2025. The firm said the total represented a 48% increase from 2019, underscoring what it described as significant growth in junior golf.

The Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour said it intends to respond to expanding participation with consistent competition across multiple regions. The year-round platform is intended to bring tournaments closer to home while creating a national competition structure, the company said.

What support sits beyond competition?

The program incorporates initiatives inspired by Arnold Palmer’s commitment to accessibility, sportsmanship and character. A character-development program created with the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation and Wake Forest University will emphasize conduct and personal development as part of competition, the tour said.

The Palmer Foundation Player Access Award is intended to help families address financial barriers that might otherwise limit participation in junior golf. Weatherford Capital said the investment is intended to strengthen programs serving young athletes and their families.

Bolt Ventures said the agreement supports its long-term commitment to players and families. David Blitzer, founder of Bolt Ventures, said:

“We’re pleased to welcome Weatherford Capital as a partner in the Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour. Drew, Todd, and the Weatherford team bring deep experience across youth sports, and they share our long-term commitment to the players and families this tour serves.

Together, we look forward to growing the Tour and carrying Mr. Palmer’s legacy forward for the next generation of golfers.”

How does this fit Weatherford Capital’s portfolio?

Weatherford Capital’s sports portfolio spans multiple stages of the athletic experience. Founded in 2015, the firm invests across technology, business and consumer services, sports and public-sector markets. Its sports portfolio includes:

• IMG Academy
• Big 12 Conference
• United Soccer League
• Tampa Bay Rays
• Tampa Bay Rowdies
• Curve Sports

The addition of the Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour extends that framework through a national youth-focused platform. Weatherford Capital said the investment is intended to support continued tour expansion while strengthening programs serving young athletes and their families.

Weatherford also pointed to the tour’s growth potential. Todd Marcy, partner at Weatherford Capital, said:

“We’re excited to be partnering with the APJGT team, alongside Bolt Ventures. The Tour has built something special for junior golfers and their families, and we see a real opportunity for impact as it continues to grow.”

The 2027 schedule will test whether the combined platform can deliver nearly 400 events while keeping competition closer to home. Weatherford Capital and Bolt Ventures say the next phase centers on continued expansion, stronger programs serving athletes and their families and carrying Arnold Palmer’s legacy into the next generation of golfers.