And instead of verbal instruction, they were taught in American Sign Language.

The first Arizona Deaf Golf Camp gave deaf and hearing-impaired students the chance to learn how to grip a club and proper swing technique from a professional golfer, Rob Strano.

Last week, seven students from the Phoenix Day School for the Deaf were bused to the TPC of Scottsdale's Desert Course, where they were treated to lessons and lunch.

Overall, more than 30 children from across the Valley were given instruction from Strano at the TPC, and earlier in the week, Strano taught another 50 in Tucson. Arizona was just another stop added to his nationwide circuit of United States Deaf Golf Camps.

Starting out with the oversized plastic clubs, designed by Strano specifically for the camps, the students developed confidence in their technique and then transitioned into hitting regular golf balls with regular clubs.

The plastic clubs also eliminated the whiff factor. Between the big clubs and tennis balls, novice students are nearly guaranteed to get some sort of contact.

"It was easier to understand, but it was hitting the ground," said Michael Dong, 15, through interpreter Kim Mitchell. "It takes time. He (Strano) said it's not fast improvement. It takes slow improvement."

In between lessons, the students were treated to watching Strano crush balls on the driving range. With each swing, the mouths of the children would drop as fast as Strano's club head.

Their own shots were impressive, too. Although none went as far as Strano's, just participating was good enough for some of the students.

"I just feel good about what I did," said Ashley Gaetzke, 15, through Mitchell.

All the students were freshman at PDSD, and all were selected because they don't participate in other sports at the school.

For Korey Bennett and his father Greg, from Glendale, who came out to watch, golf has been a way to bond. They hit balls together "quite often," sometimes joined by another Bennett son.

Greg was impressed with the camp, not so much for the learning but for the opportunity it gives deaf children.

"Even if only one or two of them decide they want to start playing golf, I think it's a great program," Bennett said.

Before they had a chance to hit with either club, the students went through the "Circle of Seven" - a series of seven stations, each with a photo of a position in a golf swing that Strano hoped his students would mirror and mimic.

He gave the students a few minutes at each station, letting them study and practice what was on the photo. He then walked around, adding additional instruction.

"The success is determined by the quality of fundamentals," said Strano, who began the program two years ago after "a calling" to learn American Sign Language. It was after learning sign language that he recognized the opportunity to merge his golf expertise with his desire to work with deaf and hearing-impaired children.

The biggest struggle Strano faces in the program is the translation of golf terminology from the spoken word to sign language.

For example, words that are used to describe golf swings such as "easy" and "smooth," don't have the same meaning in sign language. "Easy" translates to not difficult, rather than don't swing so hard; "smooth" relates to texture.

For the last portion of the camp, the students applied what they learned with real clubs and balls. Although the initial frustrations of learning a new sport are apparent, their smiles still spread as far as the fairways.

Strano enjoys planting the golf seed in these children's minds and exposing them to a sport they may otherwise never have the chance to learn.

"Sometimes opportunity is disguised as an impossible situation," he said.

Josh Weinfuss
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/1123deafgolf1124.html