News Release Detail | Corporate - The Cliffs Communities

by: Jennifer Mills

It’s Sunday at the annual BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs and I’m not at the Valley Course grinding my way to victory in the celebrity bracket of the very popular Nationwide TOUR event. Instead, I have the day off after missing the cut by two. Yet, I am the big winner. My ‘trophy’ this year wasn’t a Z-4 awarded to the winning celebrity. It was a mental scrapbook of beautiful images I’ll cherish forever… moments, sights and sounds that touched the soul… all the result of my partnering with a remarkable young man named Kevin Hall. Twenty-four-year-old Kevin Hall is a fabulous golfer but an even better person.

At the age of two, Kevin suffered a life threatening illness which left him completely deaf. When his parents, Jackie and Percy, were told their son would never live a normal life, they refused to accept it. Through determination, persistence and most of all faith, the Halls have been proving doctors wrong ever since.

As a youngster, Kevin attended the St. Rita School for the Deaf near his home in Cincinnati. A terrific student and athlete, he received a golf scholarship to Ohio State University. St. Rita has roughly 150 students; Ohio State numbers more than 55,000. His first day of college, Kevin opened the doors of his dormitory to go to class and was overwhelmed at the sight of thousands of students scurrying to and fro. He burst into tears, walked all the way to class crying, sat petrified in the back row of a lecture hall filled with some 400 students and then sobbed the whole way back to his room. Four years later, he graduated with honors, numerous civic accolades, thousands of friends and the coveted Big Ten Championship which he won by an amazing 11 strokes.

Always smiling and full of enthusiasm, Kevin is a star-to-be on the PGA TOUR. Just two years removed from college, he has competed in five PGA TOUR and dozens of Nationwide TOUR events. Last year, Jack Nicklaus gave him a personal invitation to play in the Memorial Tournament. Tiger Woods has taken notice and offered advice and encouragement.

A prodigious driver who averages well over 300 yards off the tee, Kevin is finding his way in the world of professional golf. With father Percy on the bag and serving as interpreter, he is one of the most well liked newcomers on the circuit. His fan base is far more extensive than that as we witnessed at this year’s BMW Charity Pro Am at The Cliffs. Galleries welcomed Kevin with open arms… or rather, wiggling fingers.

On Saturday as we made our way to the 18th amphitheater at the Valley, galleries surrounding the green raised their hands in the air and wiggled their fingers, which, in sign language, represents applause… the higher, the louder. With a sparkle in his eyes, Kevin turned a beaming face to me and said, ‘This is awesome!’

On Tuesday of tournament week, Kevin, Kyle Thompson (Nationwide Tour player and Clemson grad) and I visited the Walker Foundation’s South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind. I had a front row seat as Kevin stood in the middle of the gym and talked with the kids in sign language. He had a captive audience as he told them, ‘I am JUST like you. You can do ANYTHING you set your mind to. Believe in yourself!’ His young peers sat wide eyed and attentive, full of hope and promise for standing right in front of them was living, breathing proof that dreams do come true. Kevin stayed at the school for four hours, moving through the colorful classrooms and dorms, talking and laughing with any kid who crossed his path. I’m not sure who was more touched… the students, Kevin, me, officials from the school or the numerous local media outlets present for the occasion. It was a special day for all.

Early in the week, we played a practice round at the Valley Course. Shortly after the turn, I had to leave for a function. Kevin and Percy continued. A few hours later I got several elated text messages from Kevin on my phone. (One of Kevin’s primary forms of communication is through his Blackberry and text messaging.) Gary Player was a few groups behind us and joined him on the 12th. They played the final 6 holes together. Kevin told me how Player talked non-stop, offering advice, encouragement and fitness tips…even going so far as to lie down on one green and show Kevin proper stretching techniques! Kevin was beside himself with glee, yet it was the Grand Slam winner and Hall of Famer who said, ‘I got much more out of that visit than he did. What a remarkable and inspirational young man!’ Again, Kevin touched a life.

There were plenty of funny moments throughout the week. Perhaps the greatest cackle came during one goodbye when I attempted the ‘love ya’ hand gesture as we were going our separate ways. (Kevin is teaching me sign language.) Kevin and Percy stopped in their tracks, looked shocked, then exploded in laughter. Apparently a misplaced thumb meant I instead produced a strong bit of profanity. Safe to say my sign language needs work. Kevin is committed to teaching me and I’m committed to learning.

Kevin and I missed the cut, but we were both winners at the 2007 BMW Charity Pro Am at The Cliffs So too were the kids at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind, Gary Player, the galleries and all those who came into contact with this smiling, grateful, talented young man.

Kevin Hall may be deaf, but he can hear. He hears with not only his eyes and but with his heart. What he heard at The Cliffs was beautiful. He’ll be back in 2008 and we can all wiggle our fingers high in the air for that!