Investment Advances Firm’s Sports Continuum Strategy at the Youth Level, Supporting a National Platform That Expands Access to Competitive Junior Golf
TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Weatherford Capital (“the Firm” or “Weatherford”), a private investment firm, has invested in the Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour (“APJGT” or “the Tour”) alongside Bolt Ventures, the family office of David Blitzer.
Launched by Bolt Ventures in partnership with Arnold Palmer Enterprises and the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation (“Arnold Palmer Organization”), the Tour brings together the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour and the Texas Junior Golf Tour to create a national, year-round competitive platform for boys and girls ages 8 to 18. The Tour aims to host nearly 400 tournaments nationwide in 2027.
“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,” said Drew Weatherford, Partner & Co-Founder of Weatherford Capital. “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.”
Junior golf is one of the fastest-growing segments of youth sports, with nearly 4 million on-course junior golfers ages 6 to 17 in 2025, up 48 percent since 2019, according to the National Golf Foundation. As the Tour grows its schedule and footprint, more young golfers will have opportunities to compete closer to home against a consistent standard of play, whether they are pursuing a college roster spot or playing for love of the game.
“We’re pleased to welcome Weatherford Capital as a partner in the Arnold Palmer Junior Golf Tour,” said David Blitzer. “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.”
The Tour carries forward the legacy of Arnold Palmer, who believed golf should be accessible, welcoming, and a vehicle for personal growth. Through a character program developed with the Palmer Foundation and Wake Forest University, the Tour will treat conduct as part of competing well. The Foundation’s new Palmer Foundation Player Access Award will help families address the financial obstacles that can limit participation.
“We’re excited to be partnering with the APJGT team, alongside Bolt Ventures,” said Todd Marcy, Partner at Weatherford Capital. “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 investment reflects Weatherford’s continued commitment to the Sports Continuum, the Firm’s framework for investing across youth, collegiate, and professional sports. APJGT joins a sports portfolio across the full athletic lifecycle, including IMG Academy, the Big 12 Conference, the United Soccer League, the Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Rowdies, and Curve Sports. To view Weatherford’s full sports portfolio, see here.
About Weatherford Capital
Weatherford Capital is a private investment firm founded in 2015. The Firm partners with exceptional leaders, bringing capital and experience, trusted relationships, and a long-term perspective to create lasting value. Weatherford sees opportunity in complexity, investing across technology, business and consumer services, sports, and public-sector markets, with a focus on established markets where regulation and governance shape how businesses operate, grow, and evolve. For more information, visit www.weatherfordcapital.com.
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SOURCE Weatherford Capital
