Kaua‘i’s Wailua Golf Course in Lihue, Hawaii will host the 13th World Deaf Golf Championships Oct. 17 – 21, with 116 deaf and hard of hearing golfers from 14 countries competing in a 72-hole stroke play tournament over 12 divisions. The divisions include Men’s and Women’s’, Men’s and Women’s’ Team, Men’s and Women’s’ Senior and Senior Team, Men’s Super Senior and Super Senior Team, as well as Junior Boys and Girls.
The World Deaf Golf Championships were established in 1995 and are held every two years. The event will be held for the first time since 2018, after the 2020 World Deaf Golf Championships were canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Previous World Deaf Golf Championships locations include England, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, Sweden, Japan, Scotland, Denmark and Canada.
More than 200 visitors, including golfers, family members and tournament officials will visit Kaua‘i for the Championships. Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort in Lihue will serve as the host resort, with a traditional Hawaiian Luau and the event’s opening ceremony taking place fronting Kalapaki Beach. Countries represented include: USA, Canada, England, Australia, France, Norway, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Sweden, India and the Netherlands.
Photo: From left to right: State Representative Jimmy Tokioka; Dan Urwiler, Wailua Golf Course Director of Golf Operations and Maintenance; Pono Tokioka, WDGC Tournament Chairperson; Kaua‘i Mayor Derek K. Kawakami (Troon)