Kate Korngold
Golfer & Founder of Featherie
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Meet and Greet
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If you were a teen athlete, did you ever feel excluded from the sports world? Kate Korngold (she/her) did, and the 14-year-old quickly took note of this (BTW, women represent 37% of junior golfers). “I love golf and have been playing the sport since my dad first took me to the driving range at age four,” she says. “As I got older and started playing more seriously, I realized that there were no high-performance golf clothes on the market designed for teen girls. It was really frustrating because my brother was able to find all sorts of golf attire for his age, but it was like everyone had just forgotten about girls who play golf!” So, the golf-loving eighth grader took her frustration and turned it into Featherie, a stylish golf apparel line just for teen and tween girls. Dive into our chat with Kate as she spills the tea on her journey, her passion for golf, and how she’s making sure girls get the gear they deserve on the course. ⛳
How did your experiences as a young female golfer influence the design and creation of your clothing line?
Because I’m a golfer, I knew exactly what I needed out of my golf clothes. I wanted them to be stylish, high-performance, and functional.
What are some unique features of your brand that set it apart from traditional golf apparel?
I tried to think of all the things that would make it easier for me when golfing. For example, I always have to put a tee in my ponytail because there’s never anywhere else to put it, so I designed tee holders on the pants and on the skort. There are pockets for golf balls under the skort, the zippers stay put while you’re swinging, the fabric isn’t transparent so you can’t see undergarments, and the armholes are just the right size to swing freely but without being too big. I’m also proud that the fabrics are all recycled, UPF 50, and AZO-free and PFAS-free.
Juniors are the fastest-growing age group in golf, with girls making up a significant percentage. How do you think Featherie can contribute to this trend and encourage more young girls to take up golf?
You have to make girls feel like they are just as much a part of the game as boys. When a female teen walks into a pro shop and can’t find a single piece of clothing made for her, that doesn’t make you feel welcome in the sport. Featherie was created to change that! Featherie lets teen girl golfers know that they matter—we’re here because no other brand on the market was making something for us. If anything, I hope Featherie spreads the word that golf is for girls, too!
What challenges have you faced so far in starting your business?
There have been so many challenges. I’ve learned that starting a business is not easy. The biggest challenge though has probably been trying to balance my school work, golf, and the company.
What has been the most rewarding part of launching your own line?
The most rewarding part of starting Featherie has been hearing the positive feedback from female players and professionals. Often I hear, “Thank you for doing this for girls!” or “It’s about time someone did this!” or “I wish this had been around when I was younger—I got stuck wearing boys’ clothes!” It’s very validating to hear this and it’s confirmation that Featherie needed to be created.
Where do you see Featherie in the next five years? Do you have any plans for new products?
I have so many big plans for Featherie! Because of the positive feedback after our launch earlier this year into the golf industry, we’re excited to be launching our next collection in 2025. We are adding a number of new styles, colors, and accessories. I hope that in five years I’ll be able to look back and say that Featherie shook things up in the golf industry! We’re changing the game for girls.