Golf: Wilson to represent England at world championship

By charper golf

A LOCAL golfer who has been deaf since birth has been selected to play in a major event.

Paul Wilson, who lives at Festival Park, will represent the England Deaf Association at the world championships to be held in St Andrews, Scotland.

Two years ago, Wilson was picked for event in Perth, Australia but could not raise the required funds.

The 18-year-old earned his selection this time with a good performance in last season's National Deaf championships, in which he finished eighth.

He earned his first England cap two years when he played against Scotland, but now faces the task of raising £1,500 to be among the 12-man England team that will be challenging at the Fairmount golf resort from August 9 to 13.

The English Deaf Golf Association is open to all players with a hearing loss of at least 55 decibles and Wilson has been playing the game from the age of five.

He is from a deaf family, and it was his father who encouraged him to pick up a club.

Wilson learned the game at Gorstyhill, but now plays off a handicap of nine at Wychwood Park near Crewe where he takes part in club competitions.

He practices on a regular basis and has a good friend in Jonathan Slack, from Congleton, who is also an England deaf player.