During the 19th Annual Western Pennsylvania Deaf Golf Association (WPDGA) Tournament at Rolling Acres Golf Course in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, on August 8–9, 2026, five longtime friends came together to enjoy another round of golf. These five guys have been playing golf together on courses everywhere for more than 40 years. They share a special tradition of enjoying cigars while golfing, along with many years of friendship, laughter, and memories on the golf course.
Todd Behanna (WPSD Class of 1988) shared the story of how the five friends began getting together to play golf. They were students at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD) and had loved golf since high school. Three of the five were residential students at WPSD, while the other two were day students. During the fall and spring, they worked together to find a date and tee time at their hometown golf courses. The students needed to bring a signed permission slip from their parents to WPSD so they could stay at one of the other boys’ homes for the weekend. During the summer, they used a teletypewriter to contact one another and arrange their golf schedules. They continued this tradition until graduation.
The day after the tournament, Stephen Rute (Class of 1974) interviewed Todd Behanna about their early golfing days at WPSD. During high school, their fathers often dropped them off at the golf course, or the boys would meet there on their own. Sometimes, they brought their golf clubs to school and kept them there until their weekend activities. With permission from the school, Todd also practiced his golf swing on the soccer field and the upper field. One of the funniest memories was Todd practicing by hitting golf balls between two thin evergreen trees. He would hit balls up to the upper field and then back down toward the soccer field.
After graduating from college, Todd moved to Wisconsin for a job. He stayed in touch with the other guys and invited them to come to Wisconsin for weekend golf outings. Later, Todd moved back to Pittsburgh, and the five friends began getting together regularly to play golf again. In 2007, the five guys helped establish the Western Pennsylvania Deaf Golf Association (WPDGA) and have continued to support and run the organization ever since. A few years later, WPDGA sought to affiliate with the Southeastern Deaf Golfers Association (SEDGA). Over the years, the five friends have continued to participate together in fundraising golf events, state and regional tournaments, the WPSD Cup, scramble teams, and many other golf events. Their more than 40 years of friendship and shared love of golf have kept the five guys together on and off the course.
There are five guys who have played golf together on courses everywhere for more than 40 years. Over the decades, they have watched each other’s families grow and have gotten to know one another’s children. Through countless rounds of golf, tournaments, travels, and shared experiences, their friendship has remained strong. What a wonderful and lasting memory of loyalty, friendship, and a shared love of golf!
During the WPDGA Tournament at Rolling Acres Golf Course in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, on August 8–9, 2026, the golfers gathered at the clubhouse for dinner after the first round. They enjoyed chatting, sharing memories, and talking about their many years of playing golf together.
Stephen Rute shared a story about how the Pittsburgh-area Deaf golfers got started. He explained that the first annual golf tournament sponsored by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf was held at Butler’s Golf Course in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, July 13, 1991.
There were 24 golfers, including two women. Paul Blahut, WPSD Class of 1987 recorded the lowest score in the men’s group with a 98. As a special prize, John Jablunsky made a unique trophy out of railroad nails. The following day, Paul brought the railroad-nail trophy and proudly showed it to the other golfers.
Unfortunately, Stephen was unable to continue running the golf event after he moved to Ohio for a job. No one replaced him as chairperson, and the golf event eventually came to an end.
Many years later, five long-time golfers came together and helped establish a new organization, the Western Pennsylvania Deaf Golf Association (WPDGA). Their dedication to golf and friendship helped keep the tradition alive among Deaf golfers in Western Pennsylvania.
Thanks to these five guys and all the Pittsburgh-area golfers who have continued to enjoy the game, build friendships, and keep the spirit of Deaf golf going strong.
Written by Stephen Rute