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 In
the Spotlight
A Round Of Golf Fits Thomas Bullard To A "Tee"
by Kellye Nelson
"Hole-in-one!" "Bogey!" "Eagle!"
"Par 4!" Ever wondered what these terms mean? Just ask
Thomas Bullard. He has been playing golf for over 17 years! "Golf
was different- it's an individual sport- involves only me!"
Bullard noted. He emphasized that golf requires a lot of patience,
concentration, and mental aptitude.
Bullard was active on the basketball and football teams during
high school in Alabama. However, while a student at Gallaudet University,
Bullard wanted to learn and play a different sport. In 1987, he
decided to take up the game of golf. He hasn't looked back since
first picking up his nine-iron.
Grass is Green in Sweden, Too
Golf challenges the mind and each game is different no matter what
golf course it is being played on. Even if that golf course is halfway
around the world! Recently, Bullard competed in the fifth World
Deaf Golf Championship in Stockholm, Sweden, which took place from
July 23-30, 2004. He was an alternate on the U.S. Men's Deaf Golf
team. Sweden was not Tom's first foray in the international golf
game. In 2000, Tom traveled to South Africa and helped the U.S.
Men's team win the third World Deaf Golf Championship there.
Even as an alternate, Bullard was a valuable asset to the team.
"The USA Deaf Golf team embraced Tom as one of its own,"
Claude Stout, Chief dé Mission with the USA Deaf Golf team,
remarked. "Through his remarkable easy-going demeanor and sportsmanship,
Tom kept the team loose and thinking positive as it played its best
at the World Deaf Golf Championship."
The U.S. Men's team won first place in the World's Men's Team Championship,
beating several teams like England, South Africa, and Sweden. Bullard
was the only African American person to participate in the championship
games in Sweden. Regarding the racial makeup of golf players, he
has hope for the future: "I hope to see other black deaf golfers."
Healthy Competition
Bullard said that it's always "an honor to be a representative
for the U.S." But qualifying for the U.S. Golf team can be
competitive and expensive.
To gain a spot on the 2004 U.S. Men's Deaf Golf team, Bullard had
to compete in the national championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina,
from July 9-12, 2003 and qualify as one of the top 10 golfers there.
After securing his spot on the U.S. Men's team, he then had to raise
$3,500 to pay for his travel and lodging expenses, meals, uniform,
and tournament green fees.
However, this has not deterred Bullard from pursuing his next goal:
playing in the 2006 and 2008 World Deaf Golf Championship in Edmonton,
Canada, and Perth, Australia, respectively. Eventually, Bullard
hopes to purchase land and design a golf course that would truly
fit him to a "tee."
Michael E Graziano
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