May 1, 2006: United States Deaf Golf Camps Bustling With Talented Deaf Golfers 

The month of April was busy for United States Deaf Golf Camps Lead Instructor Rob Strano. Over 150 deaf youth attended 3 camps across the Gulf States. The first event was the 2^nd Annual Bayou Deaf Golf Camp in Baton Rouge. A group of 44 golfers worked hard for 3 days improving their golf swings. Then on the 21^st of April the camp returned to Pensacola for the Southern Deaf Golf Camp. This was the site of the inaugural camp in 2004 that had 8 golfers from the panhandle attend the event (7 more came from Mobile that day for a total of 15). Two years later that number had tripled with 23 middle and high school kids getting the day off of classes to learn the game of golf in ASL. Finally, the Florida Deaf Golf Camp for the students at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind concluded the April schedule. This event, normally held at the Stadium Course-TPC Sawgrass was moved south for this year to the Slammer and Squire Golf Course at World Golf Village in St. Augustine. Construction of a new clubhouse and extensive site work at the TPC required the event to move for the year. But that did nothing to change the eagerness of the 84 deaf golfers that came over from the school to learn the game of golf. Making the event more special was each child getting a free one year pass to the World Golf Hall of Fame. The camp will return to Sawgrass next year for the 2007 event.

As always, at each camp the golfers have a donated lunch from Landshire sandwiches and PowerAde, as well as camp polo golf shirts and hats donated by Cleveland Golf. They also receive an autographed photo and personal letter from Deaf Touring Professional Golfer Kevin Hall.

Upcoming on the camp schedule is the first ever LPGA Championship Girls Deaf Golf Camp for the Maryland School for the Deaf. This is in coordination with the major championship being played at Bulle Rock Golf Club in Havre De Grace, MD. The camp will include a private session with LPGA Tour players, then a private camps session with instructor Rob Strano. The day will conclude with the girls getting a tour of the host tournament site and seeing a major championship golf tournament up close and personal.

Also added to the schedule will be the First Camp Lakodia National Leadership Deaf Golf Camp. That will be held July 5-7 in South Dakota for the youth attending the camp.

The camps are exploding nationally and many great deaf athletes are getting access to the game of golf and learning how to play in a structured environment. The future is bright for the deaf youth as they pick up the clubs and work hard at golf. Someday the top ranks of golfers in the US and the World will include many deaf players.

“Against the deep blue sky the white ball was a mere streak as it rose into the distance. 10 year old James Fuente had struck the mightiest of blows and it was his golf ball that everyone was watching. He turned to his instructor and with a mile wide smile gave the “thumbs up” hand sign. But that was not the only sign used on that June morning. Because, all the golfers were deaf children ages 6-18 and they were attending the first golf camp taught completely in Sign Language.”

In the spring of 2004 a bold plan was developed and implemented that would bring top quality golf education to deaf children all over the country completely in American Sign Language. The United States Deaf Golf Camps launched their first camp, the Southern Deaf Golf Camp, in Pensacola, FL at the Marcus Pointe Golf Club with 15 children in attendance. The enthusiasm and excitement of the golfers led to the rapid expansion of the plan for a nationwide system of events for deaf youth. These camps teach deaf children the fundamentals of golf while also instilling in them the values inherent in the game. Each camp provides scholarships through corporate donations that allow each student to attend at no personal expense to them or their families. This gives unlimited access to the game to any deaf child interested in learning. The 2005 camps hosted over 265 deaf and Hard-of-hearing children at 8 different locations.

Rob Strano

The lead golf instructor for the UNITED STATES DEAF GOLF CAMPS is Touring Professional Golfer Rob Strano. Rob began playing golf at the age of 6 years old in his hometown of St. Louis. He earned numerous awards and won many tournaments as a junior, high school and collegiate golfer. Mr. Strano turned pro in 1988 and has had a successful career competing in tournaments on the PGA and Nationwide tours. He has played with or against the best players in the world including Major Championship winners: David Duval, Curtis Strange, Jim Furyk, Lee Janzen, Shaun Micheel, Hal Sutton, Todd Hamilton, John Daly, 2005 US Open Champion Michael Campbell and David Toms.

In April of 2003 he was led to begin studying American Sign Language with a goal of bringing quality golf instruction to the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community. Rob was a key member of the planning committee and a leader in developing the USDGC Network. He is currently the Executive Director of the United States Deaf Golf Association as well as camp director. To learn more about Mr. Strano visit his web site: www.aslgolf.com.