Annual Round-Up Campaign Raises Nearly $1.3 Million in Eight Years
DALLAS — The 2026 Arcis Golf “Round Up For Els for Autism®” campaign has raised $225,000 for the Els for Autism Foundation®, with donations still coming in from Arcis clubs across the country. At a check presentation during this week’s PGA TOUR Champions Boeing Classic at The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge (Wash.), Arcis Golf Founder, Chairman, and CEO Blake Walker presented Els for Autism® Co-Founder Ernie Els with a contribution that brought the company’s total to nearly $1.3 million over the past eight years.
Els for Autism was established in 2009 by Former World No. 1, World Golf Hall of Famer, and four-time Major Champion Ernie Els, his wife, Liezl, and Marvin R. Shanken. The Els’ son, Ben, is impacted by autism, which affects 1 in 31 children in the United States.* The organization offers innovative, evidence-based programs for families and individuals across the lifespan. Els for Autism serves families worldwide, offering virtual services and in-person programs at The Els Center of Excellence® campus in Jupiter, Florida.
Since April (World Autism Month), Arcis Golf’s 88 private, resort, and daily fee courses raised funds by encouraging members and customers to “round up” purchases of merchandise, food and beverage, or green fees to the nearest dollar as a donation to the charity. Many clubs also held events and tournaments to support the “Round Up” campaign.
“Els for Autism envisions a world of limitless possibilities for individuals with autism and their families. It is through partnerships, like ours with Arcis Golf, that we’re able to provide critical support to individuals with autism and their families,” Ernie Els said. “We are grateful for the efforts Blake, his team, and the Arcis Golf members, guests, and staff make each year on behalf of this cause.”
Arcis Golf’s individual clubs have made additional, significant contributions by creating their own special fundraisers. Individual clubs reaching the $16,000 fundraising threshold qualify to send a team to the Els for Autism Golf Challenge Grand Finale at The Breakers in Palm Beach this November. This event celebrates the top fundraising teams and sponsors of the 2026 Golf Challenge regional event series.
The Woodlands Country Club, an Arcis property just north of Houston, offered one example of that regional spirit this year, holding an Els for Autism Wine Reception in conjunction with the PGA TOUR Champions’ 2026 Insperity Invitational presented by United Healthcare. The event included a special appearance by Els himself. The Woodlands hosted a Golf Challenge event, part of a series of regional events at top-rated courses across the U.S. and Canada, running from March to October. Since the Golf Challenge series’ inception in 2011, it has raised more than $44.2 million to support Els for Autism’s mission.
“Every contribution our clubs, members, and guests make to support and advocate for Els for Autism plays an important role in helping individuals with autism thrive, live fulfilling lives, and achieve their full potential,” Walker said. “The work Ernie, Liezl, and the organization are doing is making a meaningful difference around the world, and we are proud to stand with them in this collaborative effort.”
Walker noted that Arcis Golf supports Els for Autism in other ways. U Can Employ
, powered by Els for Autism, equips companies with the essential tools and strategies to seamlessly integrate autism inclusion into the company’s fabric, ensuring businesses can recruit, hire, onboard, and retain autistic employees. Two Arcis Golf properties—The Club at Weston Hills in the greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida area and Montgomery Country Club in Laytonsville, Maryland—are U Can Employ partners, having completed the program and hired individuals with autism. Preparing today’s workforce to understand, support, and retain autistic talent is essential to meet the needs of future employees.
Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Sports, an Els for Autism initiative, helps individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities participate in sports in a supportive, inclusive environment. The program offers golf, tennis, fitness, aquatics, and other recreational activities, making sports more accessible to people of all abilities while giving sports professionals practical tools to create welcoming experiences.
The “Round Up,” U Can Employ, and Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Golf are some of the numerous ways Arcis Golf promotes a corporate culture of giving, inclusion, and accessibility. The company and its portfolio of clubs support many local, regional, and national causes, including education, health care, military, adaptive golf, community programs, and grow-the-game initiatives.
An industry leader in providing inventive programming and unrivaled lifestyle amenities that complement exceptional golf offerings, Arcis Golf has invested more than $175 million over the past four years in property upgrades, new amenities, personnel, training, and systems to create extraordinary experiences and forge emotional connections with members and guests. The Company has received numerous honors, including recognition on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies in America.
To learn more about Arcis Golf, visit arcisgolf.com; to learn more about Els for Autism, visit www.elsforautism.org.
*Based on data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2025
About Arcis Golf
Arcis Golf is a resort owner and operator of 88 private, resort, and daily fee courses in the United States. Arcis Golf continues to transform its portfolio of clubs into inclusive, lifestyle hubs with dynamic programming and unrivaled amenities. Golf and country clubs are elevated to levels of excellence designed to exceed the needs and expectations of families, friends, members, and guests of all ages. The Company is also known for innovative management, with a best-in-class leadership team committed to enhancing service levels and reinventing the modern club experience. Headquarters: 8343 Douglas Avenue, Ste. 200, Dallas, TX 75225. Phone: (214) 722-6000. Website: arcisgolf.com.
About Els for Autism Foundation®
Els for Autism is devoted to helping children and adults with autism and their families have a better life. Our purpose is to help people with autism of all abilities reach their fullest potential and live meaningful, fulfilling lives, while supporting the caregivers who walk alongside them.
Els for Autism was established in 2009 by Former World No. 1, World Golf Hall of Famer, and four-time Major Champion Ernie Els, his wife Liezl, and Publisher and Founder of M. Shanken Communications Marvin R. Shanken. The Els’ son, Ben, is impacted by autism, and their personal journey inspired a lifelong commitment to creating better outcomes and brighter futures for individuals with autism.
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