Hearing-impaired professional tees it up in Vodacom Origins on Sunshine Tour

German professional Allen John is a hearing-impaired golfer who has surprised all on his debut on the Sunshine Tour, and he hopes to continue doing so in this week’s Vodacom Origins of Golf tournament at the Parys Golf & Country Club.

John made his Sunshine Tour debut in last week’s FNB eSwatini Challenge and finished tied fourth. It was this performance that earned him a place in this week’s R2 million Vodacom Origins of Golf tournament in Parys, which tees off on Friday and finishes on Sunday.

But he does so playing the game in a completely different way from every other professional in the field.

John was born completely deaf, and although he now wears hearing aids, which he admits take his hearing up to 85 per cent, there are still elements of professional golf that he has to deal with uniquely.

“When I was born, they didn’t do the hearing tests in the hospital. It was only later that my mother started to realise I wasn’t reacting to voices and sounds, and she then had tests done which confirmed my hearing impairment,” says John.

“When it comes to golf, every noise has a certain frequency, and high-pitched tones like birds are almost impossible for me to hear even with the hearing aids. And when it comes to the actual playing of the game, a professional golfer would normally react to the sound of the ball on the club or how the club hits the ground. But I don’t recognise those sounds. I do everything based on touch and feel. So I’ve had to teach myself to take my feedback directly from touch. That’s one of the main differences for me compared to other players. Also, when there’s wind on the course it’s annoying because the hearing aid becomes like a microphone in the wind. But I get along just fine.”

FOCUSING ON THE SUNSHINE TOUR

John has played in South Africa before in tournaments co-sanctioned between the Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour. But when he lost his playing status on the HotelPlanner Tour last season, he decided to focus his efforts on the Sunshine Tour alone.

“I basically got the email on the Saturday before the FNB eSwatini Challenge to say I was into the tournament. I was still in Germany, so I had to be really creative in terms of how to get there. It was adventurous. It was a spontaneous trip and I’m enjoying it. I always thought of the Sunshine Tour as a good option. It’s very competitive and there are a lot of good players. I’m still learning the golf courses here, but it’s a very professionally organised tour.

"The Sunshine Tour gives incredible exposure and it’s a great opportunity to put ourselves in the spotlight. The pathways with the co-sanctioned events on the DP World Tour and HotelPlanner Tour and also the exemptions into the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School are also incredible. These are all avenues that help us as players. It’s a great opportunity to be playing here.”

There has never been a German winner on the Vodacom Origins of Golf series since it first teed off in 2004, never mind a hearing-impaired champion. And John is hoping to change all of that in Parys this week.

“I had a chance to win last week and finished tied fourth. My form is definitely trending in the right direction. I know I’m capable of winning golf tournaments. I just need to keep working hard and be patient.”