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Welcome to International Blind Golf Association [IBGA]
Join the World Wide Blind Golf Association as a Player, Assistant or Volunteer
Be Part of the Growth
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
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 23 years ago 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.
New Associate Member Country: Mexico
We welcome Mexico and Ricardo Silva Da Luna to the growing list of Associate Member Countries.
The OCTOBER Handicaps and Sight Database Lists are NOW ONLINE
2018 ISPS Handa World Blind Golf Championships Results are NOW ONLINE
2018 ISPS Handa Italian Blind Golf Open Results are NOW ONLINE
2018 ISPS Handa South African Blind Golf Open Results are NOW ONLINE
2018 ISPS Handa US Blind Golf Open Results are NOW ONLINE
We now look forward to the 2018 major tournaments and more details are expected soon.
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