"How far did that go," asked Tequista Reese with excitement, during an after school golf clinic.
 "It went about 20 yards," said Thelma Ewell, Life Skills & Golf Coordinator at The First Tee of St. Johns County.
Twenty yards doesn't sound like much when you're talking about a game that is dominated by athletes like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson who drive the ball over 300 yards. But try hitting the ball without being able to see it. That's exactly what Tequista Reese and Krista Waters are faced with at their golf lessons at The First Tee of St. Johns County and in everything else they experience. The girls are blind, and taking on the game of golf for the first time.
The two are part of a group of students from the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind (FSDB) who are attending an eight-week golf clinic. They were joined this day, by deaf students Aaron King and Abdiel Montijo, under the guidance of The First Tee of St. Johns County golf instructors Thelma Ewell and Elliott Lavercombe. The group worked on their short game in the first two clinics, learning how to chip and putt, and had moved on to driving the ball.
Ewell taught Reese and Waters the fundamentals of the golf swing, by directing their bodies through the proper motion. Ewell placed their hands on the club and set them up in their stance, coaching them through each swing. They were hitting tennis balls with oversized clubs, designed for beginners, on the fairway of the first hole.
 King and Montijo spent their lesson time on the driving range, hitting balls, with irons provided by The First Tee of St. Johns County. They paid close attention to Lavercombe, as he demonstrated how to keep arms straight and feet planted.
The atmosphere was energetic with each student's enthusiasm toward his or her personal accomplishments. For Waters and Reese, just making contact with the ball brought smiles to their faces. "Working today was challenging, but I enjoyed it," said Reese.
For King and Montijo, they each felt the satisfaction of watching his ball fade slowly into the distance.
"Coming out here gives them confidence," said FSDB Recreation Therapy Manager Joe Shakar. "They improve every week and look forward to coming out."
 "I can't wait until Wednesday," said Reese.
"I love golf," signed King emphatically.
Thelma Ewell was the catalyst who brought the Florida School for the Death and Blind students to The First Tee, in coordination with the United States Blind Golfers Association (USBGA), an organization which provides golf as therapy for those who have lost their sight.
Each blind/deaf student needs individual attention from instructors who understand their disabilities. So Ewell spearheaded the effort to get proper training from Joe McCourt, Director of junior golf for the USBGA to teach the blind. Lavercombe and four veteran participants from The First Tee of St. Johns County also were trained.
"When there is talk about diversity, it is usually referring to skin color and not physical diversity" stated Ewell. "My vision is that we're open to all kids."
Because Ewell's vision extended beyond sightlines, Tequista Reese, Krista Waters, Aaron King and Abdiel Montijo were given the opportunity to enjoy the triumphs and challenges of a game that has no boundaries. Further proof that the clinics were making a positive impact came as Tequista was leaving and inquired about continuing her golf lessons at the conclusion of the eight-week session.
For more information on this program, visit www.thefirstteesjc.org, or visit www.blindgolf.com.
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