Creating a Culture of Kindness Through Golf

What if the biggest barrier to golf isn't the cost of clubs or the difficulty of the swing, but the fear of being judged?
Jenefeness Franke knows that feeling intimately. The founder of Soft Life Swing Society picked up a club for the first time in 2018 simply to share quality time with her daughter, and her first full round on a par-72 course was nothing short of "hell", feeling rushed, intimidated, and humiliated. But instead of walking away, she did something radical: she started inviting other beginner women out to play. Nearly 200 women have since registered for Soft Life Swing Society events - and an astonishing 97% had never picked up a golf club before. In this episode, host Colin Weston sits down with Jenefeness to explore how a grassroots movement built on kindness, borrowed clubs, and zero judgment is quietly rewriting who gets to call themselves a golfer.

3 Key Takeaways you'll discover:

1. The barrier isn't the game, it's the judgment. Jenefeness's own terrible first rounds weren't fixed by better instruction; they were fixed by better company. Soft Life Swing Society replaces "just pick it up" with "let me show you how to do that differently," creating a safe space where mistakes are expected, shared, and celebrated.

2. Partnerships start with a simple ask. From four lesson cohorts at Meadow Park Golf Course (which now reserves Tuesday tee times for the group) to support from PXG, Pro Discount Golf, and Evergreen Golf Club's indoor simulators, Jenefeness proves that courses, manufacturers, and retailers genuinely want to help. You just have to tell them what you're building.

3. There's a real gap in plus-size women's golf apparel. Jenefeness candidly calls out an industry blind spot: most women's golf fashion is cut for petite, straight figures, forcing curvy women into men's clothes. It's a clear call to action for apparel entrepreneurs and a fresh business opportunity hiding in plain sight.

Are you more of a watcher than a listener? Then check out our extended bonus segment with Jenefeness on The ModGolf YouTube channel. Click on this link or the image below to watch.

💬 **3 Inspiring Quotes from Jenefeness Franke

• "Having an environment where a woman can say, 'You know what? Yeah, that was horrible. Let me show you how to do that differently.' An environment where you don't feel judged. You actually feel supported. You feel safe to make mistakes and not feel like it's the end of the world."

• "Eliminating those barriers or those mindsets around golf, just helping women to understand that it's easier than what we think and it's so much fun once we get out there and play with the right folks."

• "Don't be afraid to learn, to make mistakes, and to have fun along the way."

Episode Chapters

00:00 Colin sets the stage on the barriers that keep people away from golf
02:10 Jenefeness's golf origin story: The First Tee, her daughter, and a laugh-filled driving range session
05:56 The first full round: intimidation, pace-of-play panic, and "why did I even choose to do this?"
07:40 The AHA moment: Why Soft Life Swing Society was born from "unfun rounds"
10:06