The ModGolf Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “Inclusive Golf”

Creating a Culture of Kindness Through Golf

ModSport Media Inc. — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 16:30:00 -0800

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 Creating a culture of kindness for women, especially Black women and women of colour
11:28 Building partnerships with local Tacoma golf courses and the golf industry
14:47 Onboarding 200 women: Safety first, then the grip, the swing, and tempo
17:03 Growing through word of mouth, social media, and The Club Closet
18:34 The simulator advantage: Why indoor golf is drawing nearly 40% women
20:26 Tuesday tee times: Social connection, golf etiquette, and showing up early
22:38 Golf fashion and the plus-size gap: A missed market opportunity
25:08 The future: 2027 plans, Seattle expansion, and evolving from side hustle to something bigger
28:08 Words of advice: Ask questions, borrow clubs, and just get out there
29:28 How to connect with Soft Life Swing Society on Facebook and Instagram

We want to thank our partner British Columbia Golf for presenting this episode of The ModGolf Podcast!

British Columbia Golf is working to build a more connected future for golf in BC, making it easier for people to find their place in the game and see where it might lead them next.

That place can change as life does. Someone who once competed might later find joy in a weekend round, or return to golf as a volunteer. Others are discovering it for the first time. There's room for everyone, at every age, stage, and ability.

BC Golf delivers provincial programs and championships, supports education and development, and helps steward the systems behind everyday play. Working alongside clubs, coaches and communities, it also helps strengthen the connections that keep people involved in the sport.

Put simply, the aim is a game that is easier to join, and harder to drift away from. Learn more at britishcolumbiagolf.org.

About The ModGolf Podcast: Host Colin Weston speaks with entrepreneurs, innovators, disruptors, and influencers shaping the future of the game and business of golf. Now in Season 20 with nearly 300 episodes produced since 2017.

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🔗 Connect with Jenefeness and Soft Life Swing Society:

email Jenefeness(solflifeswingsociety@gmail.com) and follow SLSS on Instagram

Special Guest: Jenefeness Franke - Founder of Soft Life Swing Society.

Attitude is Everything - How Kay McMahon Empowers Women In The Golf Industry

ModSport Media Inc. — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 05:30:00 -0700

What if everything we've been taught about how to teach golf is backwards? What if the reason millions of golfers struggle isn't their lack of talent, but the way the game has been explained to them? And what if one woman, who's been challenging golf's conventions for over four decades, has the answers that could transform your game and the entire industry?

In this compelling episode of The ModGolf Podcast, host Colin Weston sits down with Kay McMahon, a true force of nature in the golf world. Kay is a member of the LPGA Professionals Hall of Fame, an LPGA Elite Top 50 Best Teacher, a PGA member, the President of Women in the Golf Industry (WIGI) , and the creator of the revolutionary Golf 8.5 teaching system.

From her humble beginnings putting on a homemade three-hole golf course built by her innovative father in their cul-de-sac (complete with a lemonade stand that taught her entrepreneurship at age five), to playing in three U.S. Opens and working alongside Arnold Palmer at Ironwood Country Club for a decade, Kay's journey is nothing short of remarkable.

But this conversation isn't just a trip down memory lane - it's a masterclass in challenging the status quo, building inclusive communities, and reimagining how we teach and experience the game of golf. Whether you're a frustrated golfer stuck at the same handicap for years, a golf industry professional, or someone who cares about making the sport more welcoming to everyone, this episode will leave you inspired and armed with actionable insights.

Three Key Takeaways you'll discover:

1. The Golf 8.5 System: Why "Simple" Beats "Complicated" Every Time
Discover why traditional golf instruction has been teaching the setup positions in the wrong order for decades, and how Kay's breakthrough system - built on cognitive learning principles and "chunking" - can help you retain 300% more of what you learn. You'll learn why there are only four things to do before the swing and four-and-a-half things during it, and how this approach can shave 15-25 seconds off every shot (that's a half-hour round!) while dramatically improving your consistency.

2. The Power of Connection: How WIGI is Amplifying Women's Voices in Golf
Learn how the Women in The Golf Industry organization, founded in 2001 by 11 pioneering women, has become a vital network for connecting resources, mentorship, and opportunities across all facets of the golf industry - from tour professionals and golf architects to media members and entrepreneurs. Kay shares how the organization embraces a two-way mentoring model where seasoned professionals and young newcomers learn from each other, and why having a unified voice matters in an industry where women represent only 5-10% of professionals.

3. Confronting Golf's Uncomfortable Truths: The Callaway/Good Good Controversy and Beyond
In the wake of the controversial Callaway and Good Good video that sparked industry-wide outcry, Kay offers her thoughtful perspective on the "unacceptable undercurrent culture" that still exists in golf. Rather than simply condemning, she advocates for recognizing these moments as opportunities to change the conversation, ask "what were they thinking?" and work toward building a more inclusive, respectful sport for everyone, while acknowledging the many men who are supportive allies in this effort.

💬 Inspiring Quotes from Kay McMahon

"I said, 'I'm really sorry that all the members keep talking to you and interrupting how you practice.' And he looked at me very closely in the eye and said, 'Just remember the reason that you and I are here is because there are fans.'"
— Kay sharing a life-changing lesson from Arnold Palmer about humility and gratitude

"We never get to where we are alone. I ended by saying, and guess what? I just spun The Game of Life again and I ended up on the Hall of Fame."
— Kay reflecting on her Hall of Fame speech, where she honored the many women who mentored and supported her journey

"Keep your head up because it's all in the attitude, and I promise your scores will come down."
— Kay's signature advice to golfers everywhere

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

Episode Chapters

00:14 Welcome to ModGolf: Host Colin Weston introduces Kay McMahon
01:16 Kay's First Golf Experience: How her father built a golf course in the cul-de-sac
04:30 An Overview of Women in the Golf Industry (WIGI): Mission, history, and impact
09:00 International Reach and Mentorship: How WIGI connects women globally
12:45 The Callaway/Good Good Controversy: Kay's perspective on the industry's response
18:30 Partnerships That Matter: How WIGI collaborates with Women's Golf Day and other organizations
22:00 Becoming a PGA Professional: Kay's journey through nine qualifying schools and three U.S. Opens
25:44 Stories of Arnold Palmer: Lessons in humility, ethics, and treating people right
27:43 Influential Women in Kay's Life: Shirley Spork, Pat Lang, and the "Game of Life"
29:54 Making Golf More Inclusive: What clubs get wrong and how to fix it
32:30 The Golf 8.5 System Explained: Four setup positions, four-and-a-half swing thoughts
37:12 Closing Thoughts and Final Advice: "Keep your head up"

About Kay McMahon

Kay McMahon is a pioneering figure in the golf industry with a career spanning over four decades. She is:

A member of the LPGA Professionals Hall of Fame
An LPGA Elite Top 50 Best Teacher
A PGA member
President of Women in the Golf Industry (WIGI)
Creator of the Golf 8.5 teaching system
Founder of EduKaytion Golf (a clever play on her name and her passion for education)
Former National President of the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals
Played in 3 USGA Women’s Opens and competed in nine LPGA qualifying schools
Worked alongside Arnold Palmer at Ironwood Country Club in Palm Desert, California for 10 years

Connect with Kay McMahon & WIGI

Women in the Golf Industry (WIGI) : womeninthegolfindustry.com
Join WIGI: Look for the "Join" button on the website
Junior Membership: Only $25/year for teenagers (and can be waived if needed)
Contact Kay directly: president@womeninthegolfindustry.com or kay@edukaytiongolf.com
EduKaytion Golf and Golf 8.5: edukaytiongolf.com

We want to thank Big Swing Media for presenting this episode and supporting Season 20 of The ModGolf Podcast!

Anyone can tell you what happened in golf. The Big Swing Golf Business Intelligence Brief tells you why it matters, and what’s coming next. Twice a week, Big Swing delivers original reporting and expert analysis of the money, trends, technology and personalities reshaping the game. It’s essential reading for anyone who works in, invests in or cares about the future of golf. ModGolf listeners receive a special first-year rate with code MODGOLF26. Visit BigSwingMedia.news to subscribe.

Join the ModGolf Community

Subscribe to The ModGolf Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen in.
Become a Patron!: Join our ModGolf Patreon community at patreon.com/ModGolf for exclusive content and entry in our ModGolf Giveaway contests.

Special Guest: Kay McMahon - President of Women in the Golf Industry (WIGI) and creator of the Golf 8.5 teaching system.