Golfers jet off to participate in world deaf championships

[caption id="attachment_40220" align="alignright" width="300"] GLOBAL STAGE: Gail Klichowicz and Seamus McHugh depart for the US to represent South Africa at the World Deaf Golf Championships. Picture: JUDY DE VEGA[/caption]

TWO Bay golfers left for the US yesterday to participate in the 10th World Deaf Golf Championships.

Seamus McHugh and Gail Klichowicz will represent South Africa at the six-day tournament, which starts on Monday at Grand Travese Resort,Michigan.

They will compete against some of the world's best deaf golfers at the Bear and Wolverine golf courses in Traverse City.

It is the first time McHugh is taking part in the championships and the third time Klichowicz joins the line-up at the event.

McHugh has not always been a lover of the sport. He started out as a footballer in his sporting career, and played semi-professionally from an early age. He turned out for Bay United and was invited to take part in trials with AmaZulu.

Life took an unexpected turn for McHugh when he underwent surgery for cochlea implants in Bloemfontein. He was told he could no longer participate in physically demanding sports as it would negatively affect his implants. It was then that he took a decision to play golf. "I could never imagine going to places like this if I played football," he said.

"But now that I'm playing golf, it's taking me all over the world."

When McHugh takes off the outside components of his implants he can not hear at all.

"With them on I have about 75% hearing ability."

He received a sports management degree from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University this year.

Klichowicz has been playing golf for seven years. She does not have cochlea implants but instead relies on installed hearing aids. "With my hearing aids off I can only hear people close to me," she said.

"With my hearing aids on I hear better; I can hear a lot of people."

Klichowicz said golf was "frustrating, but nice". She took part in the tournament in 2010 when it was held in Scotland as well as in the edition in Japan in 2012.

Both golfers have similar ambitions for the tournament. Klichowicz said she would be happy with a top-five finish, but that she knew it would be difficult to achieve.

"I'd like to win the thing," McHugh said jokingly.

"But realistically, I would be happy with a top- five spot, as I believe I have the ability to do well at the tournament." - Amir Chetty