Dunedoo's Chantell Greaves will have the rare opportunity to represent Australia at a global sporting event in the coming months as she travels to America as part of the national team for the World Deaf Golf Championships.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Greaves, who was Dunedoo's Senior Sportsperson of the Year in 2013, began playing golf as a hobby about five years ago and after playing more and entering tournaments she admits it was unexpected way to be invited to travel to America in July to attend the world championships.
"I just mailed Deaf Golf Australia before Christmas and asked if any NSW competitions were coming up and they came back and asked me if I'd like to play in the World Deaf Golf Championships," she said.
"After telling them my handicap they came back again and said they wanted me to play for Australia.
"I'm excited and I didn't think I'd go this far but I'll take the opportunity."
After going through hearing tests and proving her hearing impairment the biggest hurdle to now overcome for the woman who has been the Dunedoo Golf Club ladies club champion for the last four years is raising money in order to travel to the Grand Traverse Golf Resort in Michigan.
"Chantell is a widowed single mum and it was a matter of the cost factor and who is going to look after her son," said Greaves' mother-in-law Lynn Johnstone.
"But this is an opportunity you can't miss, she's only been playing golf for four or five years and has got a handicap of 10.6 so that's pretty good."
A fundraising golf day will be held at Dunedoo on Sunday April 6 to help raise funds for Greaves and anyone is welcome to attend and take part in the three-man ambrose competition.
Greaves said the support so far had been amazing, adding she had been overwhelmed by the response.
"They support me anyway but everyone is excited, there's been a lot of help from the people of Dunedoo and Dubbo too and hopefully the golf day will go well."
Greaves has been deaf since she was two years old and Johnstone said the whole family was excited for her chance to represent Australia and said they were even hopeful of her coming back with more than just amazing memories.
"You've got to have a handicap of under 22 and she's got the best handicap of the women so hopefully she'll go over there and win but enjoy herself if she doesn't," she said.
The World Deaf Golf Championships run from July 15-18.
