History of the Queensland Deaf Golf Association
Sometime before approximately 1964, Des Hooper was the very first known Deaf Golfer in Queensland. He lived in Redcliffe and was a supporter of QRL "Redcliffe" and was a full member of the Redcliffe Golf club with a handicap of 20. In 1964, he was very active with the Australian Deaf Sports Federation for the game of Golf. He went by himself from Queensland, and attended the 1st Australian Deaf Games (1964-65) to promote the founding Australian Deaf Golf Championship to be played at a golf course in Sydney, New South Wales with about 20 golfers from all over Australia. He played well but true to his nickname "Dolphin" he took friendship more seriously than the golf competition.
Ian McGregor arrived in Brisbane from Scotland:
In the year of 1964, Iain D. McGregor appeared in Brisbane with a set of golf clubs with him from Scotland. He was a full member of the Kirkintilloch Golf Club (Scotland) with a handicap of 6. Although he had just arrived in Bisbane and was brand new to anything in Queensland let alone Australia, he had already heard about the founding Austrlaian Deaf Golf Championship being played during the 1st Australian Deaf Games organised by the founding Australian Deaf Sports Federation. But he did not take his chance with golf until about 1966 when he started playing the social game of golf with his work mates from "English Electric Co." of the Rocklea works, and then subsequently with other social clubs such as the "Highway Hotel" Rocklea, Queensland with a handicap of 10. He had already become a golf champion here in Australia by winning the Highway Hotel's Shield and also winning many other golfing competitions, especially the "Nearest Pin" - the results are still shown at the Highway Hotel up to the present day.
Early 1960's
Early in 1967 through social golf competitions, Iain meet Des for the first time at the Redcliffe golf course. They made arrangements to meet regularly with a view to attend the still founding Australian Deaf Golf Championship being played at a golf course in Melbourne, Victoria during the 2nd Australian Deaf Games (1967-68) organised by the established Australian Deaf Sports Federation. Again Iain did not attend, Des went by himself again being the only golfer from Queensland.
Leith Hesuton - handicap of 20:
Sometime in 1968, Leith Heuston with a handicap of 20, played the Social Game of Golf with his friends from the Hi-Way Social Golf Club. He met Iain at the Pacific Golf Course for the first time and met again during the Brisbane Social Golf Championship at Jindalee golf course. Neither Leith or Iain took their chances in attending the still founding Australian Deaf Golf Championship being played at a Golf Course in Perth, Western Australia during the 3rd Australian Deaf Games (1970-71) organised by the fully established Australian Deaf Sports Federation. Again Des was the only Deaf golfer from Queensland to attend.
Australian Deaf Golf Association formed in 1970's:
The Australian Deaf Golf Association was founded by the increased number of Deaf Golfers from everywhere in Australia attending the 1st Australian Deaf Golf Championship at Perth, Western Australia, During the 3rd Australian Deaf Games (1970-71). During 1971, The Australian Deaf Golf Association became established with a its first Constitution and Rules with an affiliationto the Australian Deaf Sports Federation, as fully witnessed by Des Hopper and also a new Queenslander, Gordon Veal, who would later become a member of the Queensland Deaf Golf Association (QDGA).
More talented golfers in Brisbane:
Des arranged to meet with Iain, Leith and a new commer, Frank Pickering, for a game of social golf at Redland Bay Golf Course with the view of estabishing the Queensland Deaf Golf Association and affiliating with the Australian Deaf Golf Association. They did this in preparation for the 2nd Australian Deaf Golf Championship in Brisbane during the 4th Australian Deaf Games (1973-74).
Nicknames - Deaf golfers within Queensland Deaf Golf Association:
During this inaugral meeting of the Queensland Deaf Golf Association at Redland Bay Golf Course, Des, Iain, Leith and Frank realised that they had their own way of playing golf. So they decided to to have their own "nicknames". For instance, Des always talked about his Redcliffe so we gave him the nickname "Dolphin". Iain always played very close to the Green and Flag like he was the King and hence the nickname "King". Leith seemed to love the green trees anywhere and kept hitting his Golf Ball directly into the trees bringing down a numerous amount of leaves floating down, and hence his nickname "Leafy". And finally, Frank, trying his very best with his Golf Balance but every time when he would hit his golf ball in full he went backwards! Hence the nickname "Cannon".
New name formed - Queensland Deaf Golf Association:
From our own nicknames we went on to work and establish the new Deaf Golf Club called the Queensland Deaf Golf Association with Iain working as the Pro-Tem Secretary for some time until the QDGA's inaugral (first) Annual General Meeting in 1972.
Please note that this information is from memory only and may not all be correct. Any corrections to be added at a later date when other sources are found.
Thank you,
Iain D. McGregor
(Author)
