30 Jul 2026
A 68-year-old Redbourn golfer has surprised herself by winning not only the 2026 England Deaf Golf Senior Women’s Championship but also the 2026 Women’s Scratch Championship too.
Karen Ellam, who previously had a golf handicap of five but now plays off 10, was unaware of England deaf golf and its nationwide events until 18 months ago when a County Senior Golf friend bought it to her notice.
Since then she has represented Great Britain in deaf golf at the 2025 Deaf Olympics in Tokyo where she finished among other similar handicap players.
The England Deaf Golf Championships were held at Worsley Park Golf Club near Salford last weekend, and consisted of three medal rounds played in mixed four balls.
Karen comfortably won the Senior Women’s Championship, and then in the Women’s Scratch event, she and two others carded gross 85 in the first round on a windy Friday.
On an even windier Saturday, Karen crept away from the pack with the England deaf golf number 2 ranked player, Donna Cross, a seven handicapper and previous champion.
Karen said she did not focus on the exact scores: “I knew I’d be playing in the same four-ball group as Donna on the Sunday and wanted to focus as much as I could on playing my best stroke play round rather than it become too much like a matchplay.”
The final round on the Sunday was played in reverse order and was not only just as windy but also wet with rain showers on and off throughout, but Karen came through to win by two shots.
“It certainly helped make the three hour drive back from Worsley late on Sunday an easier one!” she said.
Karrn attributes her success to golf professional Finlay Mitchell – who has been her coach for the last 14 months – and Redbourn Physiotherapy Clinic who have provided first class treatment at all times, often at short notice.
Her success has resulted her being selected to represent England in the European Deaf Golf Championships at Worsley in August 2027. But first stop is Baersbeck Golf Club in Sweden, a former Solheim Cup venue, for the World Deaf Championships which start on August 9.
England are sending 25 players to this event which last took place in 2024 in Australia, and Karen is due to play in the senior event.
“I’ve been totally overwhelmed by the warmth of welcome and inclusivity I have received throughout deaf sport at all levels and I am hoping that my efforts to help further publicise the sport means that other deaf people won’t have to wait until they are 67 to hear about the opportunites it offers.”
To compete internationally one needs to have a hearing loss of 55 decibles or more in one’s good ear, but to compete in local or national events anyone with a hearing loss can join in.
More details can be found at https://www.england-deaf-golf.com or https://ukdeafsport.org.uk
Photo by Leaderboard Photography
