Robbie Bowie-Cameron is taking on the world this winter as he makes the epic trip from Bearsden in Glasgow to the Wakasu Golf Links in Tokyo, almost 6000 miles away, to battle for Gold at the 2025 Deaflympics in Japan.

Having experienced hearing loss at the age of 16, Robbie has been on a remarkable journey. Initially working around and compensating for his loss of hearing, while also struggling to accept it, Robbie now has hearing aids and lipreads, but on the course he has discovered the community around the sport is one he feels at home with.

Having never taken part in a deaf golf event, Robbie discovered he was eligible to take part in a qualifier. Heading from his home outside Glasgow to the Castle Course in Stafford, Robbie found himself immediately at ease in the company of his competitors; “From the first moment, everyone was super friendly, and I just kept thinking these people are like me!” Impressively, he earned his place on the Deaflympics GB Team by finishing in the top three.

He played a lot as a child and was on the course every day throughout summer holidays with the course he grew up playing at, Eastwood Golf Club, being ‘the cheapest childcare you can imagine’, enabling him to play endless rounds with his school friends.

However, as his hearing deteriorated, he lost elements of his game like the feedback from the sound of how he was striking the ball and was handed the additional challenge of lip reading with playing partners on the course.

Robbie highlighted that in some circumstances, hearing loss can lead to isolation and loneliness, as the stress of having to repeat and explain that you are deaf to playing partners means that it could be easier to just stay home, but he is now able to do this with confidence as he meets new playing partners.

As much as he is thrilled with the opportunity to experience the excitement of the Deaflympics, Robbie is deep in his preparations to not just take part, but to fulfil his ambition of being the best deaf golfer in the world.

Leaving no stone unturned, Robbie is undergoing a thorough training regimen. Strength and fitness coaching to improve his power, a swing coach to improve his technique, as well as competition in Brora and Wales to help him familiarise himself with the pressure of playing in multi-day competitions.

A Team Lead for Developing the Young Workforce within the Scottish Government, Robbie applied for funding from the CSSC Disability Support Fund, receiving the necessary funding to assist him in his training and preparation for Tokyo, and it has made a huge difference to him.

He added: “Preparation like this would not be possible without the support of CSSC and the Disability Support Fund, I would have been a nervous wreck otherwise.”

Not just ambitious on the course with his targets, Robbie is also seeking to ensure fellow deaf golfers are able to follow in his footsteps, by raising awareness of deaf golf and seeking opportunities to improve the offering for other deaf golfers.

By doing so, he jokingly admitted that he might be putting himself out of a job by the time the next Deaflympics come round.

Around 4,000 athletes from across 80 nations will head to Tokyo to compete in the second oldest multi-sport gathering in the world, dating back to 1924 when the first games were staged in Paris. If you’d like to follow Robbie’s journey to Tokyo, you can follow him here: Robbie Golfs 

If you’d like to follow in Robbie’s footsteps and grow your passions, apply for funding through one of our funding streams.

The CSSC Disability and Financial Support Funds are sponsored by the CSSC Community Lottery.

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