History of the MGDA: 57 Years and Going Strong

Back in 1947, the late Herbert Spohn of Madison, Wisconsin and Roger Crocker of Sheboygan, Wisconsin conceived the idea of starting a tournament of deaf golfers in the Midwest area.  The response to the first tourney at the Elkhart Lake Golf Course exceeded expectations as 20 golfers showed up during the first week of August.  Ray Kessenich of Madison, Wisconsin won the original 18-hole outing.  After Ray was crowned, the golfers held a meeting at which the association was officially formed with the name it now bears.  Dues were only $1.00 a year.  Frank Sullivan of Chicago, Illinois was the first president and Larry Yolles of Milwaukee, Wisconsin was the secretary-treasurer.  These two men alternated in office during the formative years until the untimely passing of Yolles in 1953.

Once the MDGA was off the ground, it grew rapidly by leaps and bounds.  Although membership was first limited to the Midwest states, deaf golfers all over the country began to request the chance to play.  Their requests were approved and after a short three years, membership soared to 68.  In 1958, a record 111 golfers convened at the Golf Bowl Course in Milwaukee for the annual tournament The 25^th Anniversary celebration of the MDGA was held in 1972 at the Yahara Golf Course in Madison, Wisconsin; a new record was established as 116 men turned out.  Another record in 1980 was recognized when 123 golfers arrived at Raisin River Country Club in Monroe, Michigan. In 1997, the MDGA celebrated its 50th Anniversary tournament in Mishicot, Wisconsin.  The outing attracted 230 players from all over the nation and this record number of participants still stands today.

From time to time since its infancy, many changes emerged making the MDGA a more recognizable organization nationwide.  From time to time, proposed changes threatened the 10-state recognized area, but the association stayed strong.  The MDGA remains the same in its true area as first proposed back during the initial years.  In the early days of the MDGA tournaments, efforts were made to keep the tournaments family-oriented so that all could enjoy their stay.  From inception in 1947, 888 different golfers have participated in the MDGA tournaments to date.

Only three golfers have made a hole-in-one during MDGA history.  The first was Kevin Kiefer of Washington in 1976 at Jesper Park Golf Course in Granger, Iowa.  The second was Howard Wahl of Illinois in 1989 at Pine View golf Club in Three Rivers, Michigan.  The third was Barry Barron of South Dakota in 2000 at Briarwood Golf Course in Ankeny, Iowa.

In 1981, the MDGA Hall of Fame was established and 10 men were recognized for their exceptional service to the MDGA.  Inductees were Waldo Cordano of Wisconsin, Roger Crocker of Wisconsin, Herbert Deurmyer of Nebraska, Ray Kessenich of Wisconsin, Jack Kunz of Minnesota, Wilbur Sawhill of Iowa, Herbert Spohn of Wisconsin, Frank Sullivan of Illinois, Larry Yolles of Wisconsin and Philip Zola of Wisconsin.  Today, the   MDGA has 48 members in the Hall of Fame.