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SJ-R.COM - Deaf Golf Association members find joy in standard job
Bill Curtis and Jim Todd, both State Farm Classic standard bearers, got an up-close view of some of the world's best golfers earlier this week at The Rail Golf Course.
They were the first, but far from the only hearing impaired individuals to volunteer at the State Farm Classic. Over the course of the four-day tournament that started on Thursday, 14 hearing impaired individuals are expected to volunteer as standard bearers.
"To get involved with professional women was amazing - the swings, how far they can hit - it was amazing," Curtis, 48, said with the help of interpreter April Poole. "It was different than watching it on TV.
"I can't wait (until tomorrow). I was thinking about bringing my sleeping bag and staying here."
Curtis and Todd, Bloomington residents and avid golfers, are members of the Central Illinois Deaf Golf Association. They also plan to play in the 2007 Midwest Deaf Golf Association tournament that will be held at The Rail. The August tournament will feature 140 male and between 30 and 40 female golfers.
The pair, however, almost never got the chance to be involved in the tournament. The LPGA now requires all standard bearers to be adults, unlike in 2005 when both grade school children and adult volunteers served as standard bearers.
LuAnn Johnson, who organizes the standard bearers for the tournament, first met with the Central Illinois Deaf Golf Association members in June to discuss participating in the State Farm Classic. She was pleased with the volume of volunteers.
Although both Curtis and Todd were pleased with their assignments - Curtis on Friday was the standard bearer for the trio featuring then-leader Maria Hjorth - they also know their high-profile presence at the tournament may bring attention to the deaf community.
"We want (the hearing community) to know about and feel comfortable with deaf people," Curtis said. "We accept that we can't hear."
Instead, the standard bearers watched the LPGA players' body language to make sure they weren't too close to the athletes who were playing. They also were responsible for making sure that the standards, heavy metal signs with the athletes' names, did not rattle in the wind. Although neither could hear the signs, they watched the crowd to make sure the signs didn't distract the fans.
Todd, 55, told one of the caddies he worked with on Thursday that he was hearing impaired before the round began.
Neither the remaining caddies nor the athletes realized that Curtis couldn't hear until the end of the round.
That's when Todd asked the players for autographs after the round, a common practice for standard bearers. Poole helped interpret his request, teaching several inquisitive LPGA players the sign for thank you.
"They were surprised (that I was deaf)," Todd said. "It was a great experience...the deaf can do."
Bill Curtis and Jim Todd, both State Farm Classic standard bearers, got an up-close view of some of the world's best golfers earlier this week at The Rail Golf Course.
They were the first, but far from the only hearing impaired individuals to volunteer at the State Farm Classic. Over the course of the four-day tournament that started on Thursday, 14 hearing impaired individuals are expected to volunteer as standard bearers.
"To get involved with professional women was amazing - the swings, how far they can hit - it was amazing," Curtis, 48, said with the help of interpreter April Poole. "It was different than watching it on TV.
"I can't wait (until tomorrow). I was thinking about bringing my sleeping bag and staying here."
Curtis and Todd, Bloomington residents and avid golfers, are members of the Central Illinois Deaf Golf Association. They also plan to play in the 2007 Midwest Deaf Golf Association tournament that will be held at The Rail. The August tournament will feature 140 male and between 30 and 40 female golfers.
The pair, however, almost never got the chance to be involved in the tournament. The LPGA now requires all standard bearers to be adults, unlike in 2005 when both grade school children and adult volunteers served as standard bearers.
LuAnn Johnson, who organizes the standard bearers for the tournament, first met with the Central Illinois Deaf Golf Association members in June to discuss participating in the State Farm Classic. She was pleased with the volume of volunteers.
Although both Curtis and Todd were pleased with their assignments - Curtis on Friday was the standard bearer for the trio featuring then-leader Maria Hjorth - they also know their high-profile presence at the tournament may bring attention to the deaf community.
"We want (the hearing community) to know about and feel comfortable with deaf people," Curtis said. "We accept that we can't hear."
Instead, the standard bearers watched the LPGA players' body language to make sure they weren't too close to the athletes who were playing. They also were responsible for making sure that the standards, heavy metal signs with the athletes' names, did not rattle in the wind. Although neither could hear the signs, they watched the crowd to make sure the signs didn't distract the fans.
Todd, 55, told one of the caddies he worked with on Thursday that he was hearing impaired before the round began.
Neither the remaining caddies nor the athletes realized that Curtis couldn't hear until the end of the round.
That's when Todd asked the players for autographs after the round, a common practice for standard bearers. Poole helped interpret his request, teaching several inquisitive LPGA players the sign for thank you.
"They were surprised (that I was deaf)," Todd said. "It was a great experience...the deaf can do."