Photograph by Skye Dunlap
Bare Necessities: Young duffer Johnny Carr feels naked without his Swingers Golf Gear.
Hip golf togs find green pastures on the Avenue
'Swingers' golf shop offers smart outfits for young duffers
By Chantal Lamers
Johnny Carr notices something from inside his new golf apparel shop at 1302 Lincoln Ave. Drivers and passersby often do a double take when they read the store's sign: Swingers.
Swingers Golf Gear, owned by 25-year-old Carr, specializes in dressing young golfers. He's dressing a generation that began teeing off when professional golfer Tiger Woods began putting the green.
Carr began selling his swinging clothing line in 1998. It includes a line of sweatshirts, T-shirts, baseball caps, wind shirts, V-neck vests and an assortment of polos and club wear. He publishes his own catalog and has his own website, www.swingersgolf.com. Swingers also carries autographed photographs and limited-edition clubs.
Carr calls the line "hip" golfing apparel, pointing out that it resembles skateboard and surf clothing. Although the clothing is geared toward the young, there's a little something for everyone at Swingers. During his grand opening on May 6, he temporarily sold out of a specialty navy blue Willow Glen polo shirt.
Photograph by Skye Dunlap
Join the Club: Carr strikes a pose with an iron in his shop on Lincoln Avenue.
For the past two years, Carr has been spreading the Swingers reputation nationwide at golf shows and tournaments. The young entrepreneur was recently interviewed by CBS at a Long Beach golf expo. And soon Schwing! Golf Mag, geared toward young golfers, will run a feature on the man behind the popular logo.
Carr, who grew up in Almaden Valley, said he was meant to find the Willow Glen location. But Lincoln Avenue is just the beginning. Carr plans to open three to four stores around San Diego and Santa Barbara.
Customers can swing by and check out the merchandise Tuesday through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
