DEAFNESS is no handicap for golfer Mark Forrest.

For the 40-year-old Lancastrian has been selected by England for the fifth time to play in the biennial World Deaf Golf Championship.

And on July 12 he will jet to the United States to compete against 14 other international six-man teams at the Jack Nicklaus designed Grand Traverse Resort in Michigan.

The five handicap member of Oak Royal Golf and Country Club, in Withnell, has already represented his country in Canada, Australia and Scotland but had to rule himself out of travelling to Japan in 2012 through lack of funding.

“England Golf sponsor us and provide a golf bag and shirts but we have to pay our own way and I simply could not afford to go on the last occasion,”said the father of three boys who lives in Clayton-le-Woods.

“But this time I’m taking Taylor, my youngest at 14 months, and wife Colette to America.”

Forrest has been crowned England Deaf National champion three times in the last decade but it will be all about the team in Michigan.

“We’ve never won the world title so we’ll be doing our best.”

The six players will be picked from a squad of eight with the top four gross scores counting over 72-holes.