Van Horns Turn Masters Party Into Fundraiser

Four Charities Make Golf Accessible to All Youth

By Resident Lisa Wargo, HB Content Editor

On Friday, April 3, Jennifer and Dan Van Horn brought together friends, neighbors, and business colleagues to celebrate the Masters Tournament and raise money for four organizations that make golf more accessible for children. The party drew 250 people to the Capital City Club’s Belvedere Ballroom and adjoining spaces.

“My husband is like a minister of golf,” says Jennifer Van Horn of husband Dan, who created the first golf clubs made specifically for kids. “He spreads golf around the world and makes golf more accessible to more families. Instead of just a Masters party, he said, ‘Let’s have a purpose to the party.”

In 1996, Dan, a former golf professional and engineer, founded U.S. Kids Golf to design and produce junior golf equipment. Then in 2001, he created the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that focuses on growing the game and making it affordable to every kid.

When planning the party, Dan decided U.S. Kids Golf Foundation shouldn’t be the only benefactor of the celebration. He chose three other charities that work to make the game more accessible to all juniors.

The First Tee of Metro Atlanta uses golf and its inherent values to build character and confidence in children. The GSGA Foundation chose to benefit its Adaptive Golf program for kids with physical, cognitive, and sensory disabilities. The organization is most known for Youth on Course Georgia, which works with 50 courses to keep kids’ greens fees at $5 or less. The American Junior Golf Association helps kids who want to get golf scholarships for college.

The party kicked off with a welcome from Dan and Jennifer. Professional golfer Stewart Cink spoke about the four organizations and the need for golf to be more accessible to all young people. Following the short program, Band X performed throughout dinner and dancing. The party was such a success that the Van Horns plan to have another next year.

Each year, U.S. Kids Golf Foundation hosts over 2,700 junior tournaments on six continents. Twenty-four of its alumni participated in the 2026 Masters and 32 in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur tournament. Dan was recently inducted into the Georgia Golf Association’s Hall of Fame in recognition of his efforts to make golf accessible to all kids.

FOUR SIDE BARS TO NONPROFIT FOCUS

HEAD = American Junior Golf Association

Website: https://www.ajga.org/

Mission: Helping junior golfers obtain scholarships to college

Contact: Kevin Rinker, chief foundation officer

Address: 1980 Sports Club Drive, Braselton, GA 30517

EIN: 58-1447-686

HEAD = First Tee Metro Atlanta

Website: https://firstteeatlanta.org/

Mission: Empowering kids and teens through golf

Contact: Priscilla McDowell, assistant director of development and marketing

Address: 352 University Ave SW, W-132, Atlanta, GA 30310