Past News

 

November 11, 2006 - Hall Misses Cut By 3 Shots at PGA Tour Qualifying

Deaf Touring Professional Golfer Kevin Hall finished off a frustrating 2006 season at the first stage of PGA Tour Qualifying.  His scores of  68-73-73-77--291 (+3) missed the even par cut line and sent him back to the mini-tours for the rest of the year.  Hall, who competed in 3 events on the PGA Tour (AT&T Pebble Beach, Zurich New Orleans and The Memorial), was the first round leader at Grasslands Country Club in Lakeland, FL with a solid four under par 68.  A second round score of 73 kept him inside the cut line.  But a second straight round of one over par in the third round put him right on the edge of missing the cut.  A final round score of 77 tumbled him outside the top 25 and back to the mini-tour for the rest of the season.  Hall remained upbeat knowing that many of the top players on tour have had to take this route to a successful career.  He will play numerous events on the Winter Tour in Florida, then return to competition on the Hooters, Nationwide and PGA Tours next year.

 

World Champs!!!

 

USA Dominates 6th Playing of World Deaf Golf Championships

- US Men Take Early Lead and Never Look Back

- Babineaux Rolls To Men's Title

- US Claims 8 of Top 9 Individual Places

- Zupnik Top Woman Finisher

- Senior Men Top Heavy With US in Top 3

Go to Championships for Full Story...

 

Far Oaks Golf Club

Far Oaks Golf Club (www.faroaksgolfclub.com) in Suburban St.Louis has been selected as the host course for the 2007 US Deaf Golf Championships. More information...

 

May 16, 2006 - New USDGA President's Message...

Greetings to our USDGA members and our golf friends across the nation,

 

I would like to introduce myself, Keith Worek, the new president for the US Deaf Golf Association (USDGA). Before I discuss my vision for the USDGA, I would like to applaud Claude Stout, past president, for his outstanding nine years leading the association.  He started by applying and getting 501©(3) non-profit organization status, which was officially approved by the IRS in 1999.  His vision of the organization was to expand and developed several programs such as deaf youth golf camps and led the recent name change from the United States Deaf Golf Foundation (USDGF) to current USDGA. He recruited Rob Strano, a former Touring Professional Golfer (who was teaching ASL junior golf camps across the nation) to join the board as the first Executive Director of the USDGA. He has watched as numerous national champions have been crowned and witnessed the US National Team dominates the rest of the countries at the World Deaf Golf Championships. My hat is off to Claude! He will still remain on the board as a member and his term is good until July of 2007.

 

Now, I am looking forward to serving you as the President and working with the board members.  One of my first official duties will be to appoint a new vice-president. But during the interim, I continue to be very excited with what is happening. Our web site (www.usdeafgolf.org) has been dramatically improved and is much more informative. Recently, adding the new membership plan was fabulous for all the deaf golfers in the country. (http://www.usdeafgolf.org/Membership.htm)

 

Here are my new visions for the organization:

 

- satisfy Deaf golfers in the country (my #1 goal).

- have a new USGA-approved Handicap system operated by USDGA for 2007. (The handicap system is now under development and ready to launch!)

- have a US Deaf Golf Ranking starting in 2007. It will be similar to the Official  World Golf Ranking system for the professional golf tours.  (Now, under development and ready to launch in the fall!)

 

- Would like to work with Regional Associations closely (such as NEDGA, ELDGA, SEDGA, MDGA, MLDGA, SWDGA and FWGAD) and include them in our plans to grow the game in the Deaf Golf Community. (More exciting information will be unveiled soon.) 

 

Lastly, I am also a golfer who is on the USA Deaf National Team and, of course, preparing for the World Deaf Golf Championship in Edmonton this summer. I will do my best to to serve and manage the USDGA well.  I do feel confident that the USDGA will dramatically grow in the next few years! 

 

This will be the first of many messages from me. I have only teased you with the future plans for the USDGA, there are many exciting things on the way for the deaf golfers of the United States. If you have further questions, please email me and ask about the USDGA and our plans for a successful future.

 

Sincerely,

 

Keith J. Worek

President of US Deaf Golf Association

 

May 1, 2006 - USDGA President Stout Steps Down After Successful Term as Leader

(Washington DC) The only President the United States Deaf Golf Association has ever known, Claude Stout, stepped down today. He passes leadership to his second in command, Vice President Keith Worek of Rochester, New York. Stout, in a prepared statement, commented that, “This has been one of the most exciting, rewarding experiences of my life.”

 

Mr. Stout began his term as the leader of the national deaf golf organization in 1997 and ends what has been a long and successful service to the USDGA. He sites the expansion of his duties and responsibilities as Executive Director of TDI and the desire to spend more time with his teenage son as the reasons for stepping down at this time.

 

Under his leadership the USDGA has seen continued elevation in status and importance in the Deaf Golf Community. The US Deaf Golf Championships, held biennially, continue to grow and attract more and more of the best deaf golfers in the country. The United States Deaf Golf Camps for youth are now in over 9 states including Hawaii. The camps, now totaling 14, continue to grow and will serve over 500 deaf golfers this year alone. Mr. Stout also oversaw the hiring of the first executive director of the USDGA as well as the implementation of the “Deaf Golf Now” plan. He will stay on and serve the board through the completion of his term in 2007.

Claude closed his official announcement with these words, “I thank you members and friends of USDGA, Board of Directors, and Executive Director Rob Strano immensely for all your remarkable service and commitment for the USDGA.  My life has been more special, and I thank you very much.” We accept his “thanks,” but as one community united in golf, we stand, and with raised hands, show our appreciation for the vision, determination and class that Claude brought to the USDGA and his position as President.