The 51-year-old Alfredton resident received the call-up to represent Australia in the senior division of the World Deaf Golf Championships in Copenhagen after claiming the men’s A-grade nett title at the Victorian Deaf Golf Championships.  

The Ballarat Golf Club member also featured at the Australian championships, held in Adelaide earlier in the year.  He managed to get his handicap down to seven, and will playing off a mark of a mark of 7.4 in Denmark.  

While Bourke usually wears a heading aid, he is not allowed to use any form of hearing device when playing in the tournament.  

Bourke said while the inability to hear does not impede his golfing ability, it does make communication around the course more difficult.  

“I can’t hear people but I can watch my opponents,” Bourke said.  “The aim is to win the team seniors against the other countries and bring home the trophy, but also have fun.’

The competition will feature 107 players from 18 different countries, with nine Australians expected to take to the course.  He will have to beat 29 players over 50 in order to bring home the senior’s trophy.

The trip to Denmark will be Bourke’s first trip overseas.  He narrowly missed out on wearing the green and gold at the last two championships in Japan and the USA due to injury.  

He has also been a formidable force in local golf in recent years.  Coached by Ballarat Golf Club pro Andrew Cartledge, Bourke has taken out the Lexton club championship as well as winning the Victorian deaf golf championship on four occasions.  

The Ballarat golfer has also represented Victoria at the Australian Deaf Games.

Players will arrive at Copenhagen’s Royal Golf Club on July 22, with the first round to start on July 26 before concluding July 29.