Fr om July 8 to 11, near the famed historical fountains of Petrodvorets, the Peterhof Golf Club hosted the Russian Golf Championship for the deaf. Ten athletes — six men and four women from four regions (the Leningrad and Moscow regions, St. Petersburg, and Moscow) — competed for the title of the nation’s best.

Golf is more than just a sport; it’s an entire world with its own philosophy, traditions, and strict set of rules. Adhering to these rules is as crucial as mastering swing technique. Understanding the game’s fundamentals allows players to seamlessly integrate into the golf community, avoid mishaps on the course, and fully enjoy this aristocratic sport.

The course, new and challenging for most competitors, featured numerous water hazards and other obstacles, demanding strategic play. The first hole proved particularly difficult, with many players struggling to navigate the narrow fairway leading to the green. Athletes also battled unpredictable weather — fierce winds, rain, cold, and even a scorching, windless day. Despite these challenges, the golfers delivered strong performances and maintained their competitive spirit throughout the tournament.

Russia’s reigning champion, Dmitry Zotov, successfully defended his title. However, an intense battle unfolded for second and third place. Among the women, Marina Varfolomeeva from the Moscow region once again dominated the competition.

Dmitry Zotov, Russian Champion:

“The wind was strong at times, making it harder to aim accurately at the green. I lost about 10 points because of it — for example, when hitting with an 8-iron, which usually carries 150 meters, the ball sometimes flew only 130. That’s a huge difference. The course was fascinating. During practice, it seemed overly tough, but by the third day, I realized it was just a matter of adjustment. Many thanks to the club director for their hospitality. Overall, it was a fantastic experience, especially considering the weather forecast predicted heavy rain in St. Petersburg. Instead, we played all four days in decent conditions — perhaps luck was on our side.”

Final Standings:

Women:

1st place – Marina Varfolomeeva (Moscow region)

2nd place – Elizabetta Arkhipova (St. Petersburg)

3rd place – Galina Bulanova (Leningrad region)

Men:

1st place – Dmitry Zotov (Moscow)

2nd place – Maxim Bulanov (Leningrad region)

3rd place – Alexander Guzeev (Moscow region)

Olga Valova, Development Director and Press Secretary of the Russian Golf Association, attended the awards ceremony, wh ere all participants received gifts from the Association.

The competitors praised the tournament’s high level of organization.

Elizabetta Arkhipova shared her impressions:

“The event conditions and organization were top-notch. Today’s weather was perfect, though the earlier days were windy and rainy. Still, it was a joy to compete.”

Dmitry Timoshenko, Senior Coach of the Russian National Golf Team:

“We aim to hold our tournaments at new courses each time, presenting fresh challenges. This year, we chose the Peterhof Golf Club, which boasts excellent facilities for international competitions. The championship tested the team’s strength and skill ahead of the Deaflympics in Tokyo. There’s still much work to do to reach peak competitive form, but the golfers gave their all — for that, I sincerely thank them!”

Text: Maria Mazhenina, Dmitry Timoshenko, Nurlan Tazhigulov

Photo: Maxim Chistov

Translation: Daria Kudelina