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Join a World Wide Blind Golf Association as a Player, Assistant or Volunteer
Welcome to International Blind Golf Association [IBGA]
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 400 registered IBGA players and many more playing who are not yet registered. The number is growing all the time.
Blind Golf Explained
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.
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.
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 enjoy a growing database of players and supporter including Coaches and Volunteers and appreciate the opportunity to get together at official functions.
R&A Women in Golf Charter
The IBGA fully supports the R&A Women in Golf Charter and is committed to increasing the number of women and girls involved in the various aspects of blind golf, including playing, guiding and administering. We encourage all of our member associations to do likewise.
International Blind Golf Association
Join Us And Enjoy Participating In Blind Golf
• e-Mail: office@internationalblindgolf.com •
