(Men’s Disability & Sport Series)
The incidence of vision impairment globally is estimated at 2.2 billion people according to a World Health Organisation report. Within Australia, the AIHW estimates that over 13 million citizens have ‘one or more chronic (long-term) eye conditions’.
Vision impairment is defined as a state in which a persons eyesight cannot be corrected to a normal level. Examples of conditions which can reduce and impair eyesight include– macular degeneration, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy.
Golf is a popular and growing sport according to a Golf Australia report. For example, during the 2022-23 period, 3.5 million adult Australians had played golf, with golf club memberships increasing 10.2% over that same time period.
The first recorded history of a blind competitor playing golf was in Minnesota in 1924 . From the 1950’s onwards, blind golf associations began developing across North America, the UK, Japan and Australia.
Golf tournaments for the vision impaired range from social games to international sanctioned golfing events. According to the International Blind Golf Association, ‘each year six or seven national open championships take place, and every two years the World Blind Golf Championships are held’.
Vision Impaired Golf study
European researchers have published findings in the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation regarding the golf practices of people with vision impairment. The stated aims of this piece of research was to identify the facilitators and the barriers to participation in vision impaired golf.
Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 vision impaired golf participants (11 were men). The interviews were held during the British VI Golf Open tournament at the Galgorm Castle Golf Club, Northern Ireland.
Vision impaired golf research participants
A total of 12 participants (11 male, 1 female) consented to be interviewed in this unique golf research study.
- The golfers were aged between 39-84 years age.
- Golf handicap ranged from 13-45 (mean 38)
- Four players started golf as vision impaired golfers, and 8 had golf playing experience prior to acquiring vision impairment.
Vision impaired golf research findings
The golfers in this study spoke of the 5 key facilitators they identified towards playing vision impaired (VI) golf:
1.Accessibility- being able to participate in VI golf provided players opportunity to improve golf skills, as one player remarked (all quotes have reported verbatim from the original text),
“So, for me, it’s been fascinating to try to continue to play the game without sight. And I’m surprised I’m able to do it. I can still explore the technique of the swing without sight”.
Golf was also perceived as an inclusive game despite their disability,
“It’s a skilled game, but it’s not a fast pace, heavy exercise type of sport that I would feel like I’d not be able to do”.
2. Support- the golfers described a supportive culture for VI golf including from sponsors,
“I’ve been quite fortunate as I’ve had lots of sponsorship. Just gets me to tournaments and stuff like that”.
Both VI and sighted golfers were an immense supportive benefit,
“I’ve got a great fan club that follows what I’ve done when I’m away at places like this, they send text messages and say keep going, you know, well done, etc, etc. And that, from the club that’s from my church, that I go to it from all sorts of people, you know, the family as well, of course”.
3. Suitable guide- a knowledgeable and supportive golf guide was absolutely pivotal to engagement and confidence on the golf course,
“When you’ve got a guide that you’ve got the confidence in, it gives you confidence, you don’t have to think about anything else other than hitting the ball”.
4. Personal skills– for all golfers, the ability to refine and develop technique aids enjoyment and competition,
“They said you’ve got a good swing and that’s something to build on and that was encouraging to sort of continue playing”.
5. Clubs being accommodating– to receive encouragement and feel part of an inclusive golf club environment was a significant facilitator for VI golfers,
“My guide rang and told the manager that he was going to bring down a couple of VI golfers. And, they were so welcoming, it was unbelievable. They also kept the tee time after us free”.
Acceptance was appreciated and almost unexpected for some members,
“The club gave us a buggy and thought of everything we needed, and I think it was probably the most important thing. We really appreciate it”.
Barriers to participation in VI golf included: requiring a guide on the course, financial costs, logistics, practice challenges, eligibility criterions and personal barriers.
Vision impaired golf study conclusions
The authors of this research concluded their findings into the enablers and barriers for vision impaired golfers by observing that, ‘vision impairment sport participation has numerous benefits and helps VI persons identify sports that are suitable to them and may encourage social interactions and participation in physical activity’.
Health professionals and disability advocates ought to make themselves aware of signposting options for vision impaired men who have an interest in golf.
Expert Opinion: Darren Solly, Vice President of Blind Golf Australia.
Blind/Low Vision Golf is a sport that continues to grow across the world providing people with a serious visual impairment an opportunity to not only compete against other golfers with a visual impairment, but also a chance to play and compete with golfers who do not have a disability on a level playing field due to its unique handicap structure.
This in practical terms, allows golf to be the ultimate integration sport as players can play and compete at their local golf club with sighted golfers and expand their social networks to include sighted golfers whom they can play and compete with anytime.
Golf is a sport for life and in Australia we have a wide variety of ages playing blind/vision impaired golf ranging in ages from 90 down to 16 who still compete on the blind golf “circuit”.
Blind Golf is a team sport consisting of two people because all players require a caddie to “act as their eyes”. It is very much a relationship built on trust, and without a caddie blind/visually impaired golfers could not play the game they love. The physical benefits of playing golf are obvious, however just as importantly the mental health benefits are significant. People with disabilities often struggle with mental health issues and can feel isolated and alone.
Sport can, and regularly does play a major role in addressing these issues, and golf is no exception. Speaking from personal experience I can say without doubt that finding blind/vision impaired golf has had a major positive impact on my health both physically and emotionally. We have a very well organised and supportive structure in place to support players and caddies both existing and new, and I would encourage anyone who has a significant visual impairment to make contact with us so we can assist them to see if they qualify under the international blind golf criteria to play with us!
Interested in Vision Impaired Golf?
Blind Golf Australia offers support, resources and golf events across all Australian states. Their website can be accessed here.
