Florida pro learns sign language so he can teach deaf children golf

From The Destin Log in Florida:

After numerous injuries forced Destin Golf Pro Rob Strano (pictured) to leave the PGA Tour after 15 years, he found himself looking for something that could fill the void left by professional golf.

He knew he wanted to do some kind of outreach work, but he wasn’t sure what kind until meeting a lady from his church. Donna Pierson, who teaches sign language, inspired Strano to reach out to deaf children. His golf program for the deaf took off from there.

“People use the word calling, and that’s kinda what it was,” Strano said. “It was just God pulling me in that direction.”

Strano began taking sign language courses from Pierson at Northwest Florida State College and was mentored by Jimmy Peterson, the director of deaf and hard of hearing services in the Florida Panhandle. He also coached a local deaf child early on who gave him some practice.

“He helped me learn the language, and I helped him learn golf,” Strano said of the young man.

Before long, Strano spoke the language of the deaf and was ready to begin his real work. Strano began looking for PGA and LPGA tour cities that were also home to schools for the deaf.

The first deaf golf camp was held in Pensacola in 2003. Strano spent the day coaching and talking with 15 deaf children at the Marcus Pointe Golf Club.

“They got to see what professional golf is like,” Strano said. “They wouldn’t have had that opportunity before because no one could bring it to them in their language.”

Since that first camp, Strano has worked with over 1,800 deaf children. Instead of telling them how to improve their swings, he signs. And instead of typical golf balls and clubs, the children learn with tennis balls and specially-designed plastic clubs.

“Up until that point, I had never even met a deaf person,” Strano said. “Now, as far as I know, I’m the only pro in the world that teaches deaf and hearing golfers.”

Strano said that understanding the language of the deaf enables him to help in ways other than golf instruction. Deaf and hard of hearing people struggle daily to make themselves understood in a hearing world, and whenever Strano encounters them, he can ease that struggle by translating.

In addition to running his United States Deaf Golf Camps, Strano is the director of instruction at Kelly Plantation Golf Club in Destin. He said that his instruction is so effective because he understands that each person has to be taught the game differently.

“Everybody’s swing has its own DNA,” Strano said. “I’m not just going to say swing like Tiger.”

Although, Strano said, one of his most exciting moments with the kids involved the golf great. Strano was running a camp at the Memorial Columbus Jack Nicklaus Tournament when Tiger hit an iron for two bounces from 180 yards that rolled in for an eagle on a par four.

“The kids went crazy,” Strano said. “What a great moment for them to cherish.”

Strano said there was great satisfaction in being competitive in the top half percent of professionals in the world, but being able to take that knowledge, share it and see the kids’ faces light up when they hit a good shot is just as satisfying.

“The thing about these kids is that I see greatness in every one of them,” Strano said. “Their only limitation is that they can’t hear.”

Strano is planning his next deaf golf camp in Jackson, Miss., in two weeks. The event is free for the children, so he is looking for someone who loves kids and golf to sponsor the event. For information on how to help or to get your child into one of Strano’s camps, visit aslgolf.com.

“Being an emotional Italian, when I have a passion for something, it moves me, emotionally, to act,” Strano said.

“I think that’s why things have been so successful.”