ClubCorp, the World Leader in Private Clubs, has announced the Atlanta launch of its ClubLife Gateway Program, a dynamic new initiative that offers complimentary memberships to select First Tee - Metro Atlanta students. The ClubLife Gateway Program was launched by ClubCorp to help remove institutional barriers in the golf world and increase access to high-quality golf courses, training facilities and mentorship opportunities to a more diverse population. 

The launch will coincide with the Farmers Advocates Foundation Youth Event at the APGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Atlanta Championship at White Oak Golf Club at the Clubs of Peachtree City featuring APGA Tour professionals, First Tee students and the first four Gateway members. The tournament will be held Oct. 17-19.

Participants are selected for Gateway based on their involvement in First Tee and interest in taking their experience to a deeper level as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities. Once in the program, the member mentors, who volunteer their time, showcase the fun and benefits of golf while guiding them to strengthen what’s inside to pursue their academic and career goals. In addition, the member mentor supports the participants, ensuring they’re comfortable and engaging in all the Club has to offer by:

• Playing rounds of golf with the First Tee participants

• Connecting to find common ground between participant and mentor

• Making introductions to other junior golfers

• Engaging alongside participants in First Tee-sponsored activities and events

The Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) was established in 2010 with the mission to bring greater diversity to the game of golf by hosting and operating professional golf tournaments, player development programs, mentoring programs, and introducing the game to inner-city young people. In addition to conducting up to 14 events awarding more than $350,000 in prize money annually, the APGA conducts the Player Development Program to aid young minority golfers on their path through professional golf.

Farmers Insurance and the APGA Tour recently announced the APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Fall Series, a string of three events in Philadelphia, Atlanta and Los Angeles. Sponsoring the APGA Tour Famers Insurance Fall Series is the latest in a series of actions Farmers^® has taken to help advance its commitment to diversity and growth in the game of golf. The national insurer has provided funding for APGA Tour events and the organization’s athletes, sponsored players including Kamaiu Johnson and Willie Mack III, hosted the first-ever APGA event at a PGA TOUR tournament at the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open^® and provided Mack with a sponsor’s exemption into the 2021 Farmers Insurance Open.