THE SCOTTISH BLIND GOLF SOCIETY

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Playing the game of golf to any degree of success, is a daunting challenge to everyone, whether you're a professional or a keen club amateur. It's no different for a blind or visually impaired person, only we need a caddy or "guide" as we call them, simply to act as our eyes. The amount of work the guide has to do depends on how much residual vision the golfer has, and of course, how much natural ability the player can utilise. The golfer may be totally blind, in which case the guide has his work cut out! Not only will he have to help set up the shots, he'll need to assist his player around the course, and he'll even be asked to go to the bar to collect the drinks in the 19th hole! Some players are visually impaired and have varying degrees of residual vision. Many of them can get around the course with minimal help, but generally they all need a guide to set up the shots.

>Just like being a Tour Professional, the player & guide will discuss the shot. The guide will tell him a distance, and suggest a club selection, and may also describe the landscape ahead, though sometimes it's better not to know you've got a 90 yard carry over the lake! Once they've agreed their strategy, the guide may verbally instruct the player on his set up, or he may physically set the club head directly behind the ball and align his player up as he feels best.

This is where the guide's input is done.....it is now firmly in the hands of the golfer to trust his guide, trust his swing, and of course, trust his luck!

If all of this appeals to you as a challenge, and you'd like to get involved in our group as a guide, we would be delighted to hear from you. Our members are constantly looking for volunteers who can come along and help us round the course, we guarantee you will not regret it, we all have great fun, and we are competitive too!

Finally, it must be noted, that blind golf is played strictly to the Rules of Golf as laid down by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, where the only concession officially approved by them, is that a blind golfer may ground their club in a hazard.



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