As DeafNation arrived at the TPC Deere Run golf course for the golf practice rounds in preparation for the 5th annual DeafNation Golf Classic in Silvis, Illinois; the weather felt cooler than the golf course in Colorado where the recent U.S. Deaf Golf Championships took place, which Babineaux took first place in Men’s Open.

John Ramirez met up with us to join our group for the practice rounds, he was last year’s DeafNation Golf  Classic champion, defeating Babineaux, he also plays in the Nationwide Tour, which is affiliated with the PGA.

Ramirez was very sharp as he practices six hours a day, and he made some amazing shots that only everyone could shake their heads at how talented he is, he is photogenic. When he arrived, he was fully dressed in real PGA golfing attire given to him by his sponsors, TaylorMade and Adidas. And it was just a practice round, Ramirez certainly has his sights set on the PGA.

Ramirez, if he continues to do well, he will reach the PGA sooner than some of us think. Babineaux certainly will give him a run for the 1st place honors unless someone else steps up with a hot driver.

The golfing brothers, the Barish brothers Joel and Jed had their father Harold Barish come play in the DeafNation Golf Classic, he joined us in testing the TPC Deer Run golf course today, looking like a seasoned golfer at 77 years old, he also regularly plays softball.

In fact Harold played softball the other day before he changed gloves and flew to Illinois from Arizona for this annual tournament. As we observed Harold do practice on the driving range, it was impressive that he still has spunk with a club. Playing both golf and softball keeps him in “playing shape.”

The TPC Deer Run golf course is extraordinarily beautiful, a bona fide sanctioned PGA golf course, the 18-hole run included beautiful rolling hills and very green trees.

Said Jed, “When I stood on the TPC Deer Run golf course grass, it gave me the feeling I was playing as a PGA pro player, Babineaux had told me recently that he loves it,” which made sense because the course is designed for PGA play.

Everybody loves it. That brings tighter competition but Ramirez and Babineaux will force everyone else to play their best.