From Tee to Triumph

Teen Entrepreneur and Golf Sensation Hosts First Annual Autism Awareness Golf Tournament

Breaking barriers and defying the odds! A current 7th grader at Digital Academy of Florida (DAOF), Carter Bonas, is inspiring change across the state through his love of golf and personal journey. Diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at a young age, Carter has faced numerous challenges, including learning hardships and experiencing bullying at his former school. Determined to create a brighter future, Carter, alongside his supportive family, embarked on a journey that led him to find his passion for golf, entrepreneurship, and advocacy.

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Sports Illustrated 2022 SportsKid of the Year, 13-year-old Carter Bonas seeks to inspire others by sharing his journey with autism through his love of golf. (Photo: Business Wire)

Next month, Carter will host the inaugural “Carter's Spectrum Golf - First Annual Autism Awareness Golf Tournament” on Thursday, April 25, at the Country Club of Coral Springs. The event aims to raise awareness about autism and support marginalized youth in South Florida. Carter invites families, friends, and golf enthusiasts to join in supporting this noble cause and “Embracing Your Difference” on the green. April 25^th is also “Carter Bonas Day,” an honor bestowed to the young businessman in 2023 by the City of Lauderhill.

“I want to help encourage and motivate people like me. I want them to know that there’s life after their diagnosis, that they can go after their dream,” proclaims Carter. “My tournament is an opportunity for people in the community to come together and support my mission, to tell people like me and those with other disabilities that they are important, that they matter.”

Driven by his own experiences with sensory sensitivities and a lack of comfortable golf attire, Carter founded Spectrum Golf, a company dedicated to providing quality golf apparel while promoting inclusivity and celebrating differences. Carter will be holding an Autism Sensory Demonstration on the Putting Green, to help participants experience what it can be like to play the game.

Despite his young age, Carter's entrepreneurial spirit and dedication have garnered national attention–including being named Sports Illustrated 2022 SportsKid of the Year– making him a sought-after motivational speaker and advocate for neurodiversity.

Continuing their dedication to students’ success inside and outside of the classroom, Mike Swindle, Hendry County School District’s Superintendent, in partnership with K12, is supporting Carter’s golf tournament as the title sponsor for the event. Additional education and nonprofit sponsors include The Rhyu Foundation (Gold), and the Tony Bennett Memorial Foundation (Silver), two organizations dedicated to empowering youth and the work they do in their communities.