Cards & Clubs Invitational Partners with AJGA to Support ACE Grant
New golf-and-poker Invitational will support competitive opportunities for junior golfers as Cards & Clubs continues building its inaugural 2027 field at PGA National Resort.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Cards & Clubs Invitational (CCI) will support the American Junior Golf Association’s ACE Grant (Liberty National Achieving Competitive Excellence Grant) through its inaugural event, extending the impact of the new golf-and-poker Invitational beyond the executives, partners, and personalities who will compete at PGA National Resort in January.
Cards & Clubs will support at least one ACE Grant through the inaugural Invitational, taking place January 11–13, 2027.
The ACE Grant provides financial assistance to young men and women pursuing opportunities in competitive junior golf with the goal of earning college golf scholarships. The program helps qualified junior golfers offset the significant costs that can accompany competing at a high level, including tournament fees, travel and lodging.
For Cards & Clubs, the fit is particularly natural.
The Invitational is built around two games where an ace carries special meaning, but the connection goes deeper than the name. Golf and poker both reward preparation, discipline, decision-making, resilience and the ability to perform under pressure — many of the same qualities required of young athletes pursuing competitive golf at the highest level.
“Of all the programs we could support as we launch Cards & Clubs, the ACE Grant just feels incredibly appropriate,” said Tom Wheaton, founder of Cards & Clubs Invitational. “Obviously there’s a fun connection with the word ‘ace’ when you’re bringing golf and poker together, but what the program actually does is what matters. It helps talented young golfers get access to opportunities they’ve worked incredibly hard to earn.”
Wheaton added, “Golf can open tremendous doors, but pursuing it at a high level takes real resources — and in that way, it’s not so different from poker. Building a serious career in either game requires travel, entry fees, experience and the opportunity to keep competing. If Cards & Clubs can help remove some of that barrier for even one young golfer in our first year, that’s something we can be really proud to build upon.”
The ACE Grant support adds a purpose-driven element to CCI as the Invitational begins establishing what is intended to become a long-term annual tradition.
THE INAUGURAL CARDS & CLUBS FIELD
The ACE Grant announcement comes as Cards & Clubs continues assembling the inaugural field for its January debut at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
CCI will bring together a curated group of senior executives, clients, strategic partners, entrepreneurs, golf talent, poker personalities, creators and other invited guests for two nights of competition and hospitality.
Four-person teams will compete in an 18-hole scramble on The Champion, home course of the PGA TOUR’s Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches and the famed Bear Trap, before moving indoors later that evening for a private tag-team poker competition.
Performance across golf and poker will combine to determine the inaugural Cards & Clubs team champion and winner of the Cards & Clubs Cup.
Since formally launching the Invitational, CCI has entered active Founding Team and partnership discussions with notable companies across gaming, sports, technology, financial services, and other categories.
The inaugural field is intentionally limited. Founding Teams give select organizations four flexible participant positions that can be used for the executives, clients, strategic partners, ambassadors, creators or other guests who matter most to their business.
For participating companies, the format creates an opportunity to combine executive engagement, client hospitality, relationship development and brand content within one shared competitive experience.
“We’ve been extremely encouraged by the conversations that have started since the launch,” Wheaton said. “We’re talking with a very credible mix of companies and people, and that is exactly how we hoped the field would come together. The objective isn’t to put as many teams into the event as possible. It’s to build the right inaugural group.”
Founding Teams, partners, golf and poker personalities and other members of the inaugural field will be announced as they are finalized.
With discussions already underway across multiple categories, companies interested in exploring one of the remaining Founding Team positions are encouraged to begin that conversation while the inaugural field is being assembled.
The inaugural Cards & Clubs Invitational will take place January 11–13, 2027 at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
For more information about Cards & Clubs Invitational or Founding Team participation, visit cardsandclubs.com.
ABOUT THE ACE GRANT
The ACE Grant (Liberty National Achieving Competitive Excellence Grant) is an initiative of the American Junior Golf Association Foundation that provides financial assistance to young men and women pursuing opportunities in competitive junior golf with the goal of earning college golf scholarships.
The program helps eligible junior golfers offset expenses associated with tournament participation, travel and other costs of competing at a national level.
More information about the ACE Grant is available through the American Junior Golf Association.
ABOUT CARDS & CLUBS INVITATIONAL
Cards & Clubs Invitational is a private, invitation-only destination experience bringing together golf, poker, business and hospitality through a combined team competition. Built around a limited field of Founding Teams and invited participants, CCI gives executives, clients, partners, talent and guests the opportunity to compete and connect from the fairway to the final table.
The inaugural Invitational will take place January 11–13, 2027 at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Cards & Clubs Invitational is produced by Above the Felt Entertainment, the poker marketing, partnerships and talent agency founded by Tom Wheaton. Above the Felt works with brands, gaming companies and poker businesses across strategy, partnerships, content, experiences and talent.
