“Meet Sports Illustrated’s 2022 “Sports Kid of the Year!” MASTERS/UPS Unstoppable CEO of the year, 2023 Spokesperson Flutie Foundation’s STARS golf player
“12-year-old Carter Bonas, the CEO of Spectrum Golf, set to lead a Youth Golf Clinic at the African American Golf Expo & Forum in Louisville, August 19th – 22nd.”
Carter Bonas, of South Florida, is Sports Illustrated‘s SportsKid of the Year, a UPS spokesperson for its “Be Unstoppable” campaign, and the Flutie Foundation’s STARS golf player. Carter is an ideal candidate for African American children to see they can excel and succeed, even after undergoing adversity. Carter endured intense bullying because of his Autism diagnosis, to the point he wanted to take his own life. Now he encourages people to “Embrace Your Difference.”
On Saturday, August 19th, Carter will be showcasing his unique talents in a Golf Clinic for Youth and Adults, FREE of charge at the African American Golf Expo and Forum, at the Shawnee Golf Course at 460 Northwestern Pkwy Louisville, KY 40212, from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm. On Sunday at 9am, at the Jim Beatty Invitational Scramble at the Oxmoor Country Club, Carter is providing a “BONAS HOLE,” on Par 5, where golfers can meet Carter and for a charity donation allow him to chip the PLAYER’S BALL 80 yards on the Green for a chance to get an Eagle or Double Eagle. He will also be showcasing his golf apparel throughout the Expo & Forum.
Carter’s Bio
Carter Bonas, named his apparel Spectrum Golf, because he ranks high on the Autism Spectrum Scale. He decided to showcase his apparel at the PGA Show 2022, which is one of the largest golf merchandising shows in the nation. That set off a tsunami of media coverage. His first interview was LIVE with the GOLF CHANNEL. That led to interviews with the PGA, PGA Magazine, Golf Digest, Golf Life TV, Club and Resort Business magazine, Europe Times News, Golf weekly and USAToday.com, Golf Central Magazine, North Central Florida Golfer Magazine and many more. view his website at https://www.cartersspectrumgolf.com/book-carter—press.html#/
Carter was unable to speak until he was 4 years old. When he finally went to school, he underwent intense bullying, to the point one day he told his teachers, “If one more bad thing happens to me today, I’m going to kill myself.” This was devastating to his mother, Dr. Thelma Tennie, a licensed therapist and life coach. She created a nonprofit in Carter’s honor in 2015 called Healing Arts Institute of South Florida, Inc., HealingArtsSFL.org. The nonprofit offers NO COST Mental Health Services primarily to youth 22 and under and their families, across the State of Florida by way of licensed and intern therapists.
Carter’s exposure caught the attention of Legendary Golf Hall of Famer, Ernie Els, whose son also has autism. Els, has a foundation called Els for Autism, invited Carter to walk the course with him during the Chubb Classic Golf Tournament in Naples, Florida last year, which put Carter and Spectrum Golf on the World Stage.
In 2022 Carter was a featured speaker at the Inclusion and Diversity Summit, called SOAR, at Dow’s LPGA’s Great Lakes Bay Invitational in Midland, Michigan. He also sold Spectrum Golf apparel in the merchandising tent, and first met Golf Pro Anita Uwadia, who he now sponsors with Spectrum Golf Apparel.
In 2022 play in the South Florida HBCU Golf Classic, alongside the Founder, William McCormick who was instrumental in Carter receiving a full four year scholarship from Florida Memorial University.
Carter holds a charity golf tournament every year on “Carter Bonas Day – April 25th” proclaimed by the city of Lauderhill. Attracting NFL players like Jeff Dellenbach, Weslye Saunders who has struggled with mental health, and Doug Flutie who also has a son on the spectrum. Carter just launched Spectrum Vitamin Water and started his own 501c3 nonprofit which offers free golf lessons and gear to children.
In 2022 The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism named Carter as one of the foundation’s four “Golf Flutie Fellows” as the foundation kicked off its Inaugural golf program as part of its’ “Stars of the Spectrum” programming. In 2022 Carter was named SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’s Sports KID of the YEAR and was featured on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt and NBC Nightly News Kids Edition!”
In 2023 Carter was named the 2023 UPS Unstoppable CEO, and was featured in their MASTERS partnership Campaign.
Please register to attend the EXPO clinic, event and Jim Beatty Invitational Scramble at https://aagolfexpo.com/register-here
ABOUT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN GOLF EXPO AND FORUM
African American Golf Expo & Forum events are open to new and experienced golfers, industry professionals, manufacturers, suppliers, media members and golf industry executives with advance registration required at www.aagolfexpo.com. The four-day event includes a tour of Louisville and a golf clinic on Aug. 19 and the Jim Beatty Invitational Scramble golf on Aug. 20 at Oxmoor Country Club. The event moves to the Galt House Hotel, Aug. 21-22, for educational workshops, golf exhibits, hourly prize drawings and special networking events.
The African American Golf Expo & Forum is presented by Golf Digest, organized by Jim Beatty, of Jim Beatty Golf Ventures, LLC, and sponsored by African American Golfer’s Digest, American Junior Golf Association, Cleveland/Srixon, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Golf Pride, Heaven Hill Brands, Invited Clubs, LPGA, USGA, Louisville Sports Commission, Louisville Tourism, NCS International and PGA Golf Exhibitions.
