Blind and visually impaired people do play golf. They play on the same courses and by the same rules as sighted golfers. There are minor modifications to the rules, covered under Rule 25 of the official Rules of Golf.
Barriers exist even before the golfer leaves home. For most people golf is a social game, but it can be played alone. A sighted golfer can drive to the course, join a group on the first tee and play their game with or without interaction with others. Some enjoy the solitary pleasure of playing alone.
A blind golfer never plays alone.
They need transportation to and from the course.
They need assistance in navigating the golf course itself (where to aim, or how to find the next tee).
They need help to find their ball after making a stroke.
For these reasons, most blind golfers will not be comfortable joining a group of strangers on the first tee and asking for their help throughout the round.
Often, that help comes from friends or family who also golf. Sometimes it comes from a friend, family member or volunteer who is willing to devote their time and energy to assisting a blind golfer, but who has no desire to play golf themself.
While courses are generally welcoming, most blind golfers have experienced a visit to a golf course with a volunteer, non-playing guide who is challenged at the pro shop or on the course. The course may insist on charging a green fee for liability reasons. If the blind golfer opts for a golf car for health reasons or just for pace of play reasons, the course may charge the full cost of the car because there are two riders. Once on the course, a marshal may challenge them for having two riders and one set of clubs.
These issues can lead to a negative experience, discouraging further visits or even discouraging the blind golfer from playing at all. Most blind golfers can’t afford to pay two green fees and a full cart to play one round of golf. They will likely walk away and find somewhere more welcoming.
It is also not advisable to just leave it up to the pro shop staff to decide when the situation arises. All courses should consider having a policy that covers these issues for blind and visually impaired golfers. If the club has a no rider policy, there should be an exemption for the guide of a blind golfer. At a minimum, the guide should not be charged to drive the golf car for the blind golfer. Some courses even provide the golf car free of charge. When the guide is also playing, they often need to accompany the blind golfer to their shot and then go play their own. This can result in slower play and the golf car helps to offset that.
If a course requires proof of blindness, just require the golfer to show a valid Canadian National Institute for the Blind identification card.
If your course has a policy that welcomes and encourages blind and visually impaired golfers, please let us know. We would be happy to promote your club on our web site and Facebook page.