The 2022 Tour Valley Forge — an annual collaboration between the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board and the Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) — is yielding a $25,000 investment to increase awareness of the sport among minority players.

The 2022 effort seeded 21 tournaments nationwide with the funding. It is disbursing a record $1 million in single-season prizes and bonus payouts for players.

Farmer’s Insurance Group, based in Los Angeles, was an early supporter of the effort, providing the initial $10,000 to tee off the tournament in 2010. For the 2022 edition, its leadership added an additional $25,000.

“Congratulations to the APGA Tour on achieving this incredible milestone in its work to grow diversity and inclusivity in the game of golf,” said Jeff Dailey, President & Chief Executive Officer, Farmers Insurance.

“Farmers has been a proud supporter of the APGA Tour since its earliest beginnings, and we look forward to celebrating the ongoing success of the organization and its players … .”

Tim O’Neal, who recently made his PGA TOUR Champions debut, was part of the first season on the APGA Tour and has seen, firsthand, the growth of the developmental circuit.

“It’s amazing to witness how the APGA Tour impacted the careers of many young minority golfers,” O’Neal said.

“For young players of all backgrounds, golf is such a difficult profession as the costs of equipment, travel, and tournament entries often far exceed the amount of money a golfer can earn on mini-tours.

“With the resources the APGA Tour is now providing, along with the purses and prize money associated with APGA Tour events, minority players are going to have a lot more opportunities to play top-level venues while earning an income that can better support their ability to improve their game and achieve their dreams,” he concluded.

For the second consecutive year, Farmers Insurance teamed up with APGA Tour to stage the APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Fall Series.

The series expanded from three events to four in 2022, with tournaments taking place in St. Louis, Houston, Los Angeles, and Blue Bell, site of the Tour Valley Forge at Bluestone Country Club.

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About APGA Tour
The APGA Tour was established in 2010 as a non-profit organization with the mission to bring greater diversity to the game of golf. The APGA Tour Board of Directors works to accomplish this by hosting and operating professional golf tournaments, player development programs, mentoring programs and by introducing the game to inner city young people. In addition to conducting up to 18 tournaments awarding $1 million in prize money and bonuses in 2022, the APGA has organized a Player Development Program to aid young minority golfers as they work to chase their goals in professional golf.

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This coverage from Feb. 2022 discusses the issue of supporting minority golfers and increasing their professional presence in the sport.