Written by John Critser, DeafNation Staff

mikehouston
MIKE HOUSTON, PGA APPRENTICE

This morning when the USDGC golf rounds started, the weather felt a little cooler than the past two days, Jed Barish caught my “shiver,” as goose bumps broke out. Thoughtfully, he offered a metaphor to my intolerance for even the mildly cool weather, “I prefer to start my rounds early in the morning when it’s still cool instead of being in the last group to go out, because by the time I even start the weather becomes hot.”

Jed ended up being in the last group to go out doing better than yesterday as he says “it is the mental game where I can improvise.” Good point, because the players need to do the full 18 holes without feeling “under the weather,” in order to align their physical and mental games to do well.

billroberts
Not Bill Roberts, a top USDGA golfer, who is as resilient as Tiger Woods who had a knee injury and made a comeback playing as well as ever. Roberts has a bad knee, he was recovered enough to take part in the U.S. Deaf Golf Championships and still do well, a 74 in the opening rounds yesterday, and another 74 today.

To top off his prowess on the golf course, he preferred to walk after making his strokes instead of riding in the cart, he only rode if the group had to move on to a new hole or if they had to go where their drives went. I was amazed, and he earned my respect for his demeanor and the relaxed fluid swing that follows through nearly every time.

I asked him, “Since you have done real well throughout your golfing career, did you take private lessons with a PGA teaching pro, or how did you learn the techniques required to compete at a high level?”

“I am a self-taught golf player and continued what I do best, keeping my game short, which is my strength.”

Obviously all of us had golfing tips one way or another, but to be self-taught and still win a good number of tournaments, like Roberts did, he won fourteen tournaments in his lifetime, which displays his raw talent. Imagine if he was younger and had private lessons, would his potential fully materialize?

His personal best was 65. Now he averages 72-75 each time he goes golfing.

What entered into his mind to take up the game of golf?

“When I was 14 years old, a hearing friend recruited me to join him in golf, and I fell in love with the sport and have played ever since,” explained Roberts.

That kinds of explains his talent in golf, he has many years of experience in the greens. Still, don’t underestimate his game, weak knee or not.

laurenponikiewski
In Robert’s group today was Lauren Ponikiewski, a deaf female golfer from Livona, Michigan, she is one golfer who is a very intense player when playing, she cannot be distracted or her game can get thrown off,  and that intensity coupled with consistency has gotten my attention.

She began playing at 32, she was influenced by her father, and she worked at the GM Technical Center in Warren, MI and at the time she decided to go to college for 4 years for technical engineering, working during the day and attending night classes, ended up studying for 6 years straight without any kind of social life, totally into the books.

When Ponikiewski finished school, she was bored and wanted to try something new.

“Come join me for golf,” her dad would always ask her. Finally she decided to get into golf and took private lessons for 14 straight years, which helped her elevate her game, getting a best score of 72 in her lifetime.

“I love to play athletics and golfing was ideal for me,” said Ponikiewksi, “and I am a very competitive person.”

With that said, look for her to continue doing well!

keithworek
Keith Worek, who originates from New Jersey and now resides in Rochester, NY, is an established player and current President of the USDGA, has always done well and has the same competitive nature like Ponikiewski, got into a deaf golfing league and was hooked ever since.

“If I want to rise up to the next level, I would have to play more. I try to balance family and golf while improving my game,” said Worek, “if my kids go out, then I always use my free time to work on my golf game.”

Worek emphasized that he is “a weekend golfer,” which is an understatement as he has finished strong in many tournaments.

Yesterday, he got a 79, and the results were the same today, he had a frustrating day under the searing sun, he tried to stay patient in keeping his composure and he felt he should have done better today if it weren’t for the 6 bogeys, which plagued him. But he was satisfied making his pars in the last 3 holes. If he can finish strong, it makes a big difference.

The three different golf characters portrayed proved that a combination of technique, skill, and competitiveness along with some luck will advance their game no matter what the circumstances are.

And a proper mindset.

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