Eleven visually impaired golfers from SA and the international golfing community took to Glendower Golf Course for the International Sports Promotion Society Handa SA Blind Golf Open.
Hosted by the SA Blind Golf Association (SABGA) the 36-hole open was held between September 25 and 27.
The SA Blind Open comes after the Canadian, British, Austrian, Japanese and Australian opens were played in recent months.
Ernst Conradie, an organiser of the open, a SABGA member and Primrose resident, said the open went well.
“Everything happened when it was supposed to and all entrants went away happy.”
He said most of the participants had visual impairments while one was completely blind.
Visually impaired golfers are classified into one of three sight categories for competitive play.
The first category B1 is for golfers who are completely blind while B2 and B3 are for golfers who have less than five per cent and less than 10 per cent visual acuity.
Before the deduction of handicaps, Garrett Slattery was in first place with 194 points, England’s Peter Osborne trailed closely with 196 and Manie Blom with 210 points.
The sight categories were won by:
• Ronald Boef (Netherlands) – B1.
• Garrett Slattery – B2
• Peter Osborne (England.) – B3.
The ladies gross winner was Charlene Pienaar while the winner of the development category was Jontey Kotze.
After the deductions first place went to Manie Blom, second to Garrett Slattery and third to Peter Osborne.
Visually impaired golfers are often assisted by a sighted guide.
The sighted guide assists the golfer with alignment, club selection and the reading of greens.
The guides are permitted to remain behind the golfer during the player’s shot.
Since the association was founded in 2006 it has hosted 13 opens with the main sponsor being the International Blind Golf Association (IBGA).
Conradie explained that SABGA’s main aim is to promote interest in the sport of golf among blind and partially sighted persons in SA.
He hopes that in the future the sport and its participation will grow.
To compete in the SA Blind Open golfers must have visual acuity of below 10 per cent and an official golf handicap registered with the IBGA.
Contact Garrett at slattery@sun.ac.za or Ernst at Ernst.Conradie@nashua-communications.com to apply to join SABGA.
