Country of Residence
United States
Age
14
Project title
Swing Gear: Golf for Everyone
Project Summary: Describe your project in one sentence
Swing Gear is a student-led project that makes golf more accessible to kids from underserved communities and kids with disabilities by collecting and fixing donated golf clubs, giving them to kids who need them, and providing free golf lessons.
Website URL(s) or social media handles.
https://audrey-zhang-swing-gear-golf-clubs-for-youth-413635394350.us-west1.run.app/#/
Project Category
My project is an existing project that I started
Project Stage
Pilot-Stage (We’ve tried an activity or two)
Founding Story: What was the spark that led you to start your project? What was the "Aha!" moment that led you to get started and see the potential for this to succeed?
We've both played golf for years, and it's become a really big part of our lives. Golf has taught us so much, from being patient when things don't go our way to making friends and believing in ourselves. But we started thinking about how lucky we are to have the chance to play. Golf can be really expensive, especially when you add up clubs, lessons, and practice fees. We realized that there are probably lots of kids who would love golf but have never even gotten the chance to try it. That's when we came up with Swing Gear! We thought, what if we could collect golf clubs that people don't use anymore, fix them up, and give them to kids who need them? And since we already know how to play, why not teach them too? We also wanted to make golf more welcoming for kids with disabilities, who might not always have the same opportunities to participate in sports. We started Swing Gear because we wanted to share something we love with other kids. Even if we can only help a few kids at first, seeing them have fun and gain confidence would make it worth it!
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve? Why does it matter to you and your community?
Golf is a really fun sport, but it's also one that not everyone gets the chance to try. Clubs can cost hundreds of dollars, lessons are expensive, and even going to a driving range costs money. For families who are already struggling financially, golf probably isn't something they can easily afford. Another problem is that kids with disabilities don't always have access to golf programs that are designed for them. They might want to try the sport but have trouble finding lessons where they feel comfortable and included. This matters to us because golf has given us so much. We've made friends, learned how to handle challenges, and gained confidence from playing. It doesn't seem fair that some kids might miss out on all of that just because of money or their abilities. We want to help change that, starting in our own community in North Carolina. We believe sports should be something that brings people together, not something that only certain kids can enjoy.
Your Solution: How are you solving this problem? Share your specific solution.
Our idea is pretty simple: give golf clubs a second life while giving more kids a chance to play! First, we collect used golf clubs from people who no longer need them. Instead of letting the clubs sit in garages or get thrown away, we clean them up, fix them if needed, and work on getting them to kids who can't afford their own equipment. But we realized that just giving someone clubs isn't enough. If a kid has never played golf before, they also need someone to teach them! That's why we also organize golf lessons where our team members volunteer as coaches. One of the most exciting parts of Swing Gear has been working with GiGi's Playhouse Raleigh and Knights Play to introduce golf to kids with Down syndrome. Through a six-week program with six participants, we're helping them learn skills like putting and chipping through fun games and activities. It's really cool seeing everyone improve and cheer each other on! We're also interested in helping kids from lower-income families through organizations like SwingPals. What makes Swing Gear special to us is that we're not just donating equipment. We want to actually spend time with the kids, help them learn, and make sure they feel welcome. We're still learning how to make our programs better, and we hope to reach more kids as we grow.
Impact: How has your project created impact / made a difference so far? Or, if at an early stage, what will impact look like?
Swing Gear is still pretty new, but we're really excited about what we've accomplished so far! One of our biggest steps has been starting a six-week golf program with GiGi's Playhouse Raleigh and Knights Play for six kids with Down syndrome. We've been teaching them golf skills like putting and chipping through games and fun challenges. One of our favorite parts has been watching the kids improve and encourage each other. During one of our putting and chipping challenges, everyone was cheering each other on, and at the end, they congratulated each other and said "Good game!" It was really nice to see how much fun everyone was having. We've also started building our team and working on collecting and reusing golf equipment to help more kids. Our goal is to keep growing so we can reach more kids, especially those who might never have considered trying golf before. We hope they can make new friends, feel more confident, and discover a sport they enjoy!
Your Innovation: What is different about your project compared to other programs or solutions already out there? How is your project new or innovative?
There are already organizations that teach golf or donate sports equipment, but we wanted to find a way to do both! With Swing Gear, we're not just collecting old golf clubs and giving them away. We also want to make sure the kids actually get a chance to learn how to use them. Our team members are golfers ourselves, so we can share what we've learned and help younger kids get started. Another thing that's different is our focus on kids who might not normally have access to golf, including kids with disabilities. Through our program with GiGi's Playhouse, we're learning how to make golf lessons more fun and accessible by using games, smaller groups, and activities that work for different abilities. We also like the idea of giving old golf clubs a second life instead of letting them go to waste. A club that someone has outgrown could be perfect for another kid who's just starting! And since we're students, we understand what it's like to be a beginner and how frustrating it can be when you keep missing the ball. We want kids to feel comfortable making mistakes, asking questions, and having fun instead of worrying about being good at golf. We know we didn't invent golf lessons or equipment donations, but we think bringing them together in a student-led program can make a real difference!
How many people are on your team?
4
Your team: What role(s) do your team members play? How do you share leadership with them?
Swing Gear was started by two student golfers, Audrey Zhang and Zofia Wang. We lead the team together, but everyone gets to share ideas and help make decisions. Our student volunteers help with collecting clubs, planning activities, and teaching kids how to play golf. We divide up tasks based on what everyone enjoys and is good at. We also have adult mentors who help us with things like transportation and safety.
What’s Next: What are the next steps you plan to take to grow or strengthen your project over the next year? If your project is still in the idea stage, describe the steps you will take over the next three months to launch or begin developing it.
Over the next year, we want to grow Swing Gear so more kids can have the chance to try golf! First, we want to collect more used golf clubs and equipment by reaching out to local golf courses, coaches, and families. We'd also love to continue working with GiGi's Playhouse Raleigh and organize more golf lessons for kids with disabilities. We're hoping to partner with organizations like SwingPals to reach more kids from low-income families too. Another idea we're really excited about is starting a program for high school girls from underrepresented backgrounds. We want to pair them with successful women in business and other careers who can teach them golf while also sharing advice about leadership, careers, and building confidence. Since golf is often used for networking in the business world, we think this could help girls make connections and discover opportunities they might not otherwise have. We're also hoping to recruit more student volunteers and eventually expand Swing Gear to other communities. It would be really cool if we could help kids not only learn a new sport, but also build friendships, confidence, and opportunities for their futures!
How do you encourage other people to join your project or learn about the problem you’re working on? If you have a new idea, tell us how you will do this in the future.
We started by talking to our friends and other student golfers about Swing Gear and why we wanted to make golf more accessible. We encourage other students to join by showing them that even small things, like donating old clubs or volunteering to teach a lesson, can make a difference. We also created a website to share our project and help more people learn about what we're doing. Through our work with GiGi's Playhouse Raleigh, we've been able to get other volunteers involved and show how golf can be fun and welcoming for kids of all abilities. As we grow, we want to reach more students through schools, golf teams, and local organizations. We're also really excited about our idea to connect high school girls with successful women in different careers through golf. We hope to invite female professionals to volunteer as mentors and encourage girls who might not normally have access to these opportunities to join. We want more people to realize that golf isn't just a sport. It can also be a way to make friends, build confidence, and open doors to new opportunities!
