[SportsandRec] Looking for Blind Golfers

[Peter]

Good evening everyone,

                I’m curious to know if there are members who play golf. I know for 
a fact that blind people have played golf for many years yet sadly the sport was never promoted among 
the blind and blind children were never given a chance to learn the game particularly those who 
attended residential schools for the blind. Golf seems to have taken a back seat to sports like Goal Ball, 
Wrestling, Judo, other martial arts, track, swimming, beep baseball, equestrian ship               and others.

                I know for a fact that there are organizations of blind golfers in the U.S. and abroad, but am not 
sure how active they are in Texas.

       Professional golfers raise lots of funds for many different organizations and causes. I would hope 
that the organizations of the blind would explore the promotion of the game to more blind individuals 
and perhaps establish tournaments to raise funds to support their activities.

                Like many other areas of our lives technology has entered the tgame of golf allowing the game 
to be played indoors in a wide variety of simulated environments,and other technology that assists 
golfers in bettering their game. I have yet to hear of any blind golfers that have tested out any of these 
devices and simulators to determine their accessibility and usability by budding blind golfers.

The PGA Tour Superstore is a nation-wide network of stores that sell just about anything you would 
want to improve your golf game from apparel to the latest clubs and golf balls. In addition many of their 
locations have golf simulators so one can get in a round of golf without having to endure the Texas heat. 
If anyone wants to take up this exploration of golf simulators and related technology you can find your 
nearest PGA Tour Super Store at: 
https://www.pgatoursuperstore.com      

Their Stone Oak Location in San Antonio is holding a golf technology clinic next month and I plan to 
attend this clinic to learn more about how each piece of golf technology is used and to get some clues as 
to it’s usability by blind golfers. It’s also why I’m reaching out to see if other blind golfers have already 
been through this fire. Anything to increase recreational and sporting opportunities and possible sports-
related careers for blind persons is worth exploring.

Peter Donahue