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http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/golf/13811106.htm
At some point this week, Kevin Hall will step onto the tee box at No. 18 at Pebble Beach Golf Links. On his arrival, he'll smell the Monterey pines. He'll taste the salt air. He'll see the waves crashing into the rocks, the grandstands surrounding the green, maybe a few seagulls flying overhead. Reaching for his driver, he'll next feel the ball being compressed against the clubhead.
All amid complete silence.
For Hall, 23, the world has been silent for more than 20 years because of a severe case of H-flu meningitis that he contracted at the age of two. While Hall was lucky enough to survive the virus, his ability to hear didn't.
Nevertheless, his disability hasn't stopped Hall from making noise whether it be on on the golf course or anywhere else.
This week, Hall will be making his third appearance on the PGA Tour when he tees it up for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Last summer, Hall made his debut on the tour, playing in the U.S. Bank Championship on a sponsor's exemption.
He later played in the Valero Texas Open. Hall failed to make the cut in both events, yet his presence spoke volumes. Prior to his appearances, a deaf golfer had never played in a PGA Tour event.
"I think it's awesome that I'm playing in the (AT&T)," Hall said via e-mail. "God has given me this opportunity and I am blessed to be able to do this."
Hall has indeed been blessed. While he was in the hospital as a toddler fighting the flu, doctors told his parents that there were two options -- either Kevin would die or he would end up in a persistent vegetative state.
Instead, Hall has never quit fighting. He has become the epitome of the old adage, "Still waters run deep."
Having just recently turned professional, Hall's golf career began as a prep playing for Winton Woods High in Cincinnati. At the time, Hall was attending Saint Rita School for the Deaf, yet that school didn't have a golf team so Hall petitioned to play for Winton Woods. By the time he graduated, Hall was named to the All-Ohio prep team and was named Cincinnati's top prep player.
Next up was a sensational stint at Ohio State University, the collegiate home for a number of big names including Jack Nicklaus. As a freshman, Hall was second on the team with a stroke average of 73.9.
In his sophomore season, his average climbed a bit to 74.7, but he would earn academic All-Big Ten honors. As a junior, Hall tied for ninth at the Big Ten championships.
To cap things off, it was during his senior season (2003-04) as a Buckeye that Hall really exploded. Along with being named team captain, he earned First Team All-Big Ten honors.
That season, Hall also won the Big Ten championship by a whopping 11 strokes and picked up a degree in journalism.
"Kevin is obviously a unique player," said Monterey Peninsula Foundation executive Vice President Ollie Nutt, who allotted Hall a sponsor's exemption to play in this week's AT&T. "We're thrilled that he's here and we're thrilled to open a door for him to compete."
On the course, Hall, who also played in five Nationwide Tour events last season (his best finish was a tie for 30th at the Xerox championship) and is sponsored by Phonak Hearing Systems, communicates by relying on an intricate system that includes using his Blackberry, reading lips, gesturing and simply writing notes on a piece of paper.
"Most of the time I try to read lips. Then again, I try to communicate any way I can," said Hall, who stated the five things he'd most like to hear are his parents' voices, applause on the golf course, music, laughter and the sound of a golf ball rattling in the cup after a good putt. "One of my biggest challenges in being deaf has mainly been trying to understand different types of people. Some people are easy to understand, some are not."
Looking ahead, Hall plans on pursuing his dream. While he did graduate from OSU with a journalism degree, for now it's all about earning a chance to play regularly on the PGA Tour. At the age of 16, Hall met Tiger Woods during a clinic. Woods told Hall, "I'll see you on the Tour."
Along with this week's AT&T, Hall plans to enter a number of Monday qualifiers for the Nationwide Tour throughout the 2006 season. Hopefully, there will also be a few more sponsor's exemptions, not just on the PGA Tour but also the Nationwide Tour. The main target will then be a shot at the PGA Tour Q-School in November.
During his days at OSU, Hall coined the phrase, "Quit being afraid and reach for the sky."
The response as always? Nothing but thumbs up.
At some point this week, Kevin Hall will step onto the tee box at No. 18 at Pebble Beach Golf Links. On his arrival, he'll smell the Monterey pines. He'll taste the salt air. He'll see the waves crashing into the rocks, the grandstands surrounding the green, maybe a few seagulls flying overhead. Reaching for his driver, he'll next feel the ball being compressed against the clubhead.
All amid complete silence.
For Hall, 23, the world has been silent for more than 20 years because of a severe case of H-flu meningitis that he contracted at the age of two. While Hall was lucky enough to survive the virus, his ability to hear didn't.
Nevertheless, his disability hasn't stopped Hall from making noise whether it be on on the golf course or anywhere else.
This week, Hall will be making his third appearance on the PGA Tour when he tees it up for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Last summer, Hall made his debut on the tour, playing in the U.S. Bank Championship on a sponsor's exemption.
He later played in the Valero Texas Open. Hall failed to make the cut in both events, yet his presence spoke volumes. Prior to his appearances, a deaf golfer had never played in a PGA Tour event.
"I think it's awesome that I'm playing in the (AT&T)," Hall said via e-mail. "God has given me this opportunity and I am blessed to be able to do this."
Hall has indeed been blessed. While he was in the hospital as a toddler fighting the flu, doctors told his parents that there were two options -- either Kevin would die or he would end up in a persistent vegetative state.
Instead, Hall has never quit fighting. He has become the epitome of the old adage, "Still waters run deep."
Having just recently turned professional, Hall's golf career began as a prep playing for Winton Woods High in Cincinnati. At the time, Hall was attending Saint Rita School for the Deaf, yet that school didn't have a golf team so Hall petitioned to play for Winton Woods. By the time he graduated, Hall was named to the All-Ohio prep team and was named Cincinnati's top prep player.
Next up was a sensational stint at Ohio State University, the collegiate home for a number of big names including Jack Nicklaus. As a freshman, Hall was second on the team with a stroke average of 73.9.
In his sophomore season, his average climbed a bit to 74.7, but he would earn academic All-Big Ten honors. As a junior, Hall tied for ninth at the Big Ten championships.
To cap things off, it was during his senior season (2003-04) as a Buckeye that Hall really exploded. Along with being named team captain, he earned First Team All-Big Ten honors.
That season, Hall also won the Big Ten championship by a whopping 11 strokes and picked up a degree in journalism.
"Kevin is obviously a unique player," said Monterey Peninsula Foundation executive Vice President Ollie Nutt, who allotted Hall a sponsor's exemption to play in this week's AT&T. "We're thrilled that he's here and we're thrilled to open a door for him to compete."
On the course, Hall, who also played in five Nationwide Tour events last season (his best finish was a tie for 30th at the Xerox championship) and is sponsored by Phonak Hearing Systems, communicates by relying on an intricate system that includes using his Blackberry, reading lips, gesturing and simply writing notes on a piece of paper.
"Most of the time I try to read lips. Then again, I try to communicate any way I can," said Hall, who stated the five things he'd most like to hear are his parents' voices, applause on the golf course, music, laughter and the sound of a golf ball rattling in the cup after a good putt. "One of my biggest challenges in being deaf has mainly been trying to understand different types of people. Some people are easy to understand, some are not."
Looking ahead, Hall plans on pursuing his dream. While he did graduate from OSU with a journalism degree, for now it's all about earning a chance to play regularly on the PGA Tour. At the age of 16, Hall met Tiger Woods during a clinic. Woods told Hall, "I'll see you on the Tour."
Along with this week's AT&T, Hall plans to enter a number of Monday qualifiers for the Nationwide Tour throughout the 2006 season. Hopefully, there will also be a few more sponsor's exemptions, not just on the PGA Tour but also the Nationwide Tour. The main target will then be a shot at the PGA Tour Q-School in November.
During his days at OSU, Hall coined the phrase, "Quit being afraid and reach for the sky."
The response as always? Nothing but thumbs up.
