The Weatherman missed the mark when the 5th annual DeafNation Golf Classic got rolling today in second round play; this morning the fog completely blanketed the TPC Deere Run Golf Course before the sun broke through.

In complete contrast to yesterday’s heavy rain contributing to the rain-out in the first round, all players were eager to take out their golf clubs to vie for the championship. TPC Deere Golf Course is conveniently designed to absorb the rainwater minimizing the soggy effect, although the golf ball was observed dropping still on the wet, soft greens.

It was as if God froze the world the minute the golf ball landed on the grass.

Michael Mabashov, the youngest deaf golfer in the 5th annual DeafNation Golf Classic, who attends Maryland School for the Deaf, is flourishing in the sport of golf under the guidance of his doting parents, particularly his father Jerry who as a fellow golfer instilled in his son great sportsmanship values.

What more can we ask for our father to pave the way by teaching his son the right way by encouraging him to compete in sports?

Said his father Jerry, “Michael’s first love is golf although he is a great athlete in sports.  Each shot is important just like striking golf ball toward target, shooting basketball, or throwing dart.”

“Which is why Harvey Penick’s quote “Every shot it takes to achieve,” is fitting, said Jerry.
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Michael first got his first real taste of golf when he volunteered at a DeafNation Golf Classic event held in his home state Maryland during the year of 2005, he was impressed at the ability of seasoned golfers who can drive the ball a long way, “I felt the thirst for playing golf seeing the fluid swings and the golf ball disappearing in the sky,” who can blame him for wanting to do the same thing?

He was only 14 years old at the time, which was a good time to get into this sport, so he can develop his game and take it as far he can go with his grip.

“The earlier, the better it is for me to learn the game of golf,” Michael said.

No wonder why Sergio Garcia who started when he was very young, who eventually clinched a PGA championship five years ago at his peak. Mabashov saw how energetic a player Garcia was, he could identify with the tempo of his game.

Michael is no Sergio Garcia (yet) but he has a strong support base, he eagerly picks the brains of young experienced players who are in the top of the Deaf golf world such as Brandon Babineaux and John Ramirez, he has created a good rapport with them, raking in some tips as he golfs along with them in the DeafNation Golf Classic.

Said Michael, “I perceived that Garcia had the same weak areas I had, such as putting,” which fueled his desire to improve his game.

But his father Jerry is the one “who is very caring as a father figure, investing into my golf game,” as Michael puts it. Time and money, which is what takes to bring Michael a higher level of play.

Michael, with his family and fellow golfers behind him, aims to reach the PGA one day and to play in the U.S. Deaf Golf Championships (USDGC) and the World Deaf Golf Championships (WDGC). He wants to become a champion, elevating his game at every level.

Michael is a good guy, so he will go a long way.

John Rush is another player who consistently excelled in golf, he grew up in the game of golf in Buffalo, New York in the same city as the 2009 USDGC Women’s champion Patty Sue Ploysa, following a similar path developing his game in the Bethlehem Country Club, a “stone’s throw” from Ploysa’s own Lancaster Country Club.

Rush began at seven years old and played in many junior competitions. He also was a former All-American at Ohio’s Wilmington College in 1975 and also played on the golf team at RIT college in Rochester, New York alongside with fellow golfer Gerald Isobe, who earned All-American honors at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, who is also participating at the 5th DeafNation Golf Classic.

Rush was also the 13th best golf player in the NCAA. “Me and Gerald had to deal with the harsh Eastern weather, so getting a 75 is considered excellent in winter weather,” explains Rush. Their game would be easier if the weather conditions were perfect, which made it easy to understand why the DeafNation Golf Classic was rained out the other day.

Ironically, Isobe was the golf coach at Punahou High School where current President Barack Obama attended in Hawaii.

Says Isobe, “I wasn’t aware of Obama at that time because he played basketball and I only knew the Punahou High golf team players.”

This is what Rush had to say about the TPC Deere Run Golf Course, “I think the PGA sanctioned course is a wonderful place to play golf, I watched the PGA John Deere Classic two weeks ago and the spectator stands were completely full. I studied the players in preparation for the DeafNation Golf Classic, but once I got here I realized it was a true championship golf course.”

Never rely on what you see on television.

Touch it, taste it, and give your best swing, or the TPC Deere Run Golf Course will swallow you up.

It’s all in your head.