PV Student Combines Math With Golf To Teach Kids Through New Program

PALOS VERDES, CA — Bennett Hong is reimagining what it means to have a textbook swing by combining golf with math to create a new program that inspires young minds.

The 17-year-old Palos Verdes High School student was first introduced to golf at a young age by his father, and he instantly fell in love with it.

"I felt this kind of connection between me and golf," Hong told Patch. "Golf is just such a unique sport, there are many small details about it. There's always stuff to improve on, there's nothing you can be perfect at. You can always improve, you can always get better."

In school, he struggled with other subjects, but math came naturally to him, Hong said. The more Hong learned about math, the more it seemed to pique his interest, he said.

Soon, he found himself using math on the golf course to help with his overthinking and figure out the best way to optimize his score, Hong said.

After realizing he could share his two passions to help others, Hong had the idea to start Future Fairways, a youth program that would make golf more accessible to kids by combining the sport with math.

The idea is to show kids how math translates into the sport through an interactive and engaging format, Hong said. Using math examples such as probability and area, the kids determine where to hit the ball for the best possible outcome.

"A lot of people see (golf) for its face value, and they just kind of hit their shot and move on," Hong, a varsity player on his high school's golf team, said. "I'm trying to teach people to look deeper and see past what's originally there to solve problems."

Hong, with the help of a few volunteers, held his first camp at the San Pedro Boys & Girls Club in May, turning a play area into a mini putting green for fourth and fifth graders.

Although the kids were reluctant to do math, combining it with golf made it more exciting for them, Hong told Patch. Before he knew it, the kids were jumping up and down, cheering whenever they solved a problem, Hong said.

"I find a lot of them have never played golf, let alone touch a golf club," Hong told Patch. "It was great to see them enjoying this sport and math."

Hong is actively growing his Future Fairways program in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club. He said he hopes to expand soon and host events in as many Boys & Girls clubs as possible.

"It's my way of making these passions of golf and math accessible so people can discover the fun that they can offer," Hong said. "I wanted to share that with kids in our community."