Watching the deaf golf players doing their practice rounds today brought me to a realization that the game of golfing is so dependent on technique. Good days and bad days are determined by whether technique was used correctly, the weather conditions also play a factor, even the difficulty of a golf course.

That makes familiarity with the golf course helpful in determining the outcome, which is obviously why avid golfer Jed Barish arrived Colorado two days early, to get acclimated to the location of the U.S. Deaf Golf Championships at the Pelican Lakes Golf Course in Windsor, Colorado, which is taking place from July 13-17, 2009. Jed had his adjustments to make, hopefully he is one step ahead with his game, he will know after his first stroke tomorrow.

Watching Jed studiously scoping out the alleys and fairways, he is a legitimate player seriously preparing himself for a run at PGA golf. He takes golf lessons from a PGA pro once a week in addition to having access to the training center where computerized programs help detect technique flaws and perfect the arc of his swing.

“Ever since I started taking the private lessons, my golf game totally changed, my old golfing form no longer exists; my technique has improved so much,” said Jed. “Instead of trying to force the ball, my swing has relaxed resulting more power, and I also learned to drive the ball so I can make the putts. Otherwise, if I try to stretch it, my game cannot be refined.”

His statement was confirmed by several seasoned golfers from the USDGA core who “congratulated him upon hearing that his game has much improved.”

The 18 hole semi-private championship golf course where the event is taking place has a 4-star rating by the Golf Digest magazine, and is one of the top 5 golf courses in Colorado.

Riding in the golf cart with Jed gave me a three-dimensional view of the Denver region, I could see the mountains near where Denver sits, the environment was so clean, the skies were clear, the weather was warm, but not as hot as Texas is.

Thank goodness.

Uh oh, the 18th hole was a nuisance, complained some of the golfers. I turned to Mike Houston, a PGA apprentice teaching pro, asking him to elaborate why some golfers were griping about the 18th hole.

“The 18th hole, playing at roughly 460 yards, presents golfers with one main challenge,” explained Houston, “which is hitting a shot that carries up to 250 yards on the correct side of the fairway.” That is required in order to have an unobstructed view of the green for the second shot, “Once that is accomplished, the next challenge is to carry the ball over the Poudre River avoiding the gate-like trees on either sides.”

Houston said, “The average second shot is about 210 yards. What a great finishing hole!”

A bogey is a good score in this case.

Tomorrow will be interesting to see how the talented and experienced deaf golfers use strategy in conquering the 18th hole, perhaps wisely.

I might build a tree-house in the 18th hole for the next four days as we continue the coverage of the U.S. Deaf Golf Championships.

WATCH THE SHORT VIDEO ON 10TH HOLE (Course Layout)

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2. 1st DeafNation Junior Golf Classic
3. Babineaux Wins DeafNation Golf Classic Duel
4. Weather Doesn't Deter USDGC Competition
5. The Opening Rounds of USDGC
6. Babineaux Clinches Men's Open
7. DeafNation Golf Classic 2008
8. DeafNation Golf Classic Rained Out
9. Practice Rounds at TPC for the DeafNation Golf Classic
10. What is Disc Golf?