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Welcome to International Blind Golf Association [IBGA]
Join the World Wide Blind Golf Association as a Player, Assistant or Volunteer
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IMPORTANT NOTICE! NEW CORONAVIRUS STATEMENT - CLICK OR SEE BELOW
Although there have been blind golf tournaments held since the early 1950's the International Blind Golf Association was officially founded in 1998. This came about through the efforts of Dr. Haruhisa Handa (now Honorary President of IBGA) who arranged meetings in Australia and the United States which resulted in bringing together six countries that were each following their own programme. The number of member countries has grown steadily ever since, allowing for a growth in the participation of sight impaired golfers in tournaments all around the world
Currently there are over 500 registered IBGA players and many more playing who are not yet registered. The number is growing all the time.
WATCH THE IBGA INTRODUCTION VIDEO
Blind Golf
Blind Golf is played strictly to the Rules of Golf produced by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) and United States Golf Association (USGA). They have published "A Modification of the Rules of Golf for Golfers with Disabilities". This allows blind golfers to ground their club in a hazard and their coach/guide to stand on the line of the shot without penalty while the shot is played.
Competitions can be played off scratch within each sight category or off handicap across all sight categories. The IBGA has developed a Handicap Scheme that is operated by all member associations and is used for international competition.
WATCH THE IBGA INTRODUCTION VIDEO
STATEMENT ON CORONAVIRUS APRIL 1 2020
Subsequent to our Statement on Corona virus (dated 13 March 2020) the world situation has generally worsened (as could have been expected). We should probably expect that things will continue to get worse before they eventually get better, and we can get back to a normal existence. We hope that you, and all of your members, are staying safe in the meantime.
Owing to the inevitable risk which will persist for at least several months, the IBGA Board of Directors strongly recommends that Member Associations which have IBGA-sponsored events scheduled for the remainder of 2020 consider postponing (or cancelling) these events until next year for the safety of all concerned.
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Member Countries
Members of IBGA are now spread right around the world on all continents after the forging in 1998 of an association of six countries starting with Australia and the United States. With the advent of that association Blind Golf grew in popularity
and is now not only played in more countries but those countries are experiencing the excitement of having Blind Golf Tournaments organised there-in with the support of the IBGA.
The Blind Golf Association Member Countries now enjoy a fast-growing database of players and supporter including Coaches and Volunteers and appreciate the opportunity to get together at official functions.
Honorary President
Dr Haruhisa Handa is the first Japanese to be appointed to the post of vice president at the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), UK oldest and largest charity, in recognition of longstanding contributions to blind welfare. He is a Member of the Board of Directors at the Association for the Blind of Western Australia.
Dr Handa established the first Blind Golf Club in Japan in 1988, and is known to many in Japan as the "Father of Blind Golf". He serves as Honorary Chairman of the Japanese Blind Golf Association (NPO) and Honorary President of the International Blind Golf Association.
Latest News
The latest news and events including the results of recent tournaments can be enjoyed on the pages of the website.
2021 ISPS Handa British Blind Open
The ISPS Handa British Blind Open has now been re-scheduled to take place from 23-25 August 2021.
MORE INFORMATION TO COME
2021 ISPS Handa US Blind Open
It is regretful that the 2021 ISPS Handa US Blind Golf Open has had to be cancelled. Hopefully we can see you all in 2022.
2020 South African Open RESULTS NOW ONLINE
The ISPS Handa South African Blind Golf Open was held at Glendower Golf Club, Johannesburg, SA. December 8th - 9th 2020.
The results along with downloadable pdfs of report and results are now online.
2021 World Championships and South African Blind Golf Event Announced
Owing to the ongoing situation relating to COVID-19 the IBGA Board of Directors asked SABGA to investigate whether it might be possible to postpone the 2021 IBGA World Championships and 2021 South African Open until a later date in 2021.
SABGA is pleased to advise you that they have been able to secure the same golf club and accommodation for the week of 2nd - 9th October 2021.
2020 South African Blind Golf Event Now Listed
The 2020 ISPS South African Blind Golf Open will be held on December 8th - 9th 2020 at Glendower Golf Club, Johannesburg, SA.
This will be only the second Major to be held this year after the Australian Open was held just before worldwide lockdown due to the coronavirus. We hope the SABGA the very best in their event.
INFORMATION SHEET AND ENTRY FORM AS WELL AS EVENT AGENDA ARE NOW ONLINE
VIEW MORE INFORMATION AND DOWNLOAD INITIAL ENTRY FORM
IBGA Player Sight Database
The December Sight Database has been updated for November 30th and is now online
DOWNLOAD NOW AS PDF; OPENS IN NEW WINDOW - CLICK HERE
World Championships and Biennial Meeting 2020
Owing to the continuing threat posed worldwide by the COVID-19 Corona virus the IBGA has no option other than to postpone the World Championships and Biennial Meeting, originally scheduled to take place in Cape Town in September, until April 2021.
Please see the full statement from the link below.
READ FULL BIENNIAL MEETING STATEMENT
2020 Australian Open Results NOW ONLINE
The ISPS Handa Australian Blind Golf Open was held at Rosebud Country Club South Course Victoria from March 19th - 20th 2020.
The results along with a downloadable pdf is now online.
2019 Australian Open Results NOW ONLINE
The ISPS Handa Australian Blind Golf Open was held at Collier Park, Perth, Western Australia, from September 12th - 13th 2019.
The results along with a downloadable pdf is now online.
NEW VIDEO ONLINE
ABC TV News [Australia] has recently featured an item on Blind Golf including interviews with Graham Coulten and guide Sue Carpenter and Ron Anderson on the creating and playing of Blind Golf.
2019 Japan Open Results NOW ONLINE
The ISPS Handa Japan Blind Golf Open was held at Hakonekohen Golf Club, Hakone, Japan, from September 17th - 19th 2019.
The results along with a downloadable pdf is now online.
NEW VIDEO: Sports Illustrated Shows Us How To Play Blind Golf In The USA
Sports Illustrated (SI) in the USA has made a short story/documentary on blind golf. SI has given us permission to put the story on the IBGA webpage. There are 2 versions here, 1 has an audio description for the totally blind and other does not.
NEW VIDEO: Vision Sports Ireland James Joyce Art and Essay Competition Launch
READ MORE ABOUT UPCOMING EVENTS
Special Report from Ernst Conradie from South Africa: Blind Golf Stunt!
"I have decided to do another mad stunt this year to show people that blind and visually impaired people can also play golf and that we can do it sometimes better."
International Blind Golf Association