Blind Golf. Sure. It Can Be Fun

Some of you know that I have a vision disability which means I use adaptive software on my computer although real life presents it's problems. I love to play golf getting back into the game last year after 5 years of non-play. You might ask why I put the clubs away. And, why I brought them back out. For starters the game is NOT EVEN CLOSE to the same. So, one has to get past that and ACCEPT the limitations. Secondly, one NEEDS a good buddy that is patient and willing to listen. The sight that I do have allows me to get started in the right direction. But, I don't see the flight of the ball, It is difficult to determine what lie the ball is laying EVEN after a perfect shot down the fairway. And, putting is chancy. Again, there is absolutely NO WAY that I can figure out break without some advice. A good buddy is an necessity. I have him in Dan Tucker. Does he give me more than I need or less at times? Sure. But, it is fun again. So, here are the rules for assisting someone with a visual disability to get back into the game, stay there and enjoy. The rules are not too difficult. LISTEN. BALL FLIGHT. DISTANCE.

1 - ALWAYS tee off first no matter who has honors. It is simply the way I figure where we are going WITHOUT asking alot of dumb questions.
2 - LISTEN to what the impaired golfer needs in the way of information. I don't need alot. I simply need distance to the hole, how the fairway breaks (left or right or not) and distance to the applicable trap or hazard. I will shape my shot accordingly. PLEASE (unless asked) DO NOT provide commentary lessons during the round. Or, move your feet this way or that UNLESS, again, asked. If you want to turn ANYONE into a pretzel during the round that is the sure fire way to do it.
3 - WATCH the flight of the ball. Concentrate during their address. Don't glance at your watch. Or, be distracted by ANYTHING. You are THE ONLY pair of eyes. NOTHING is worse than a lost ball. PERIOD. Or, not being able to provide feedback on the flight of the ball. That is the only way that I CAN ADJUST my play during a round. Saying the shot was great when it sucks does NO ONE any good. My cardinal rule is simple. I know HOW I WANT the shot to shape. I like to hear the results. Stay alert to provide distance to pin on following shots. Your game will get better too. If your guess is off by 50 yards to someone who relies on you and has zero sight perception it doesn't take rocket science to figure out where that shot will end up. EVEN if it is PERFECT. Stay cognizant of distances.
4 - SOMETHING LIKE THIS. I hit a soft fade. If I set-up (my set-up not what you think mine should be) to trajectory the ball down the left side of the fairway to end up in the middle, well, that is what I want to hear. If that is what happened. If it started in the middle and ended up in the right rough I know what I wanted to do and that was not (by my standards) the result I wanted. Well, that isn't a BAD shot, it just didn't fly the way I saw it in my mind. So, GIVE ME THE FLIGHT OF THE BALL. Not just where it ended up. It is the ONLY way that I can learn and adjust.
5 - KEEP THE TALK to a minimum. Don't respond (unless it is an obvious need) EVEN if the golfer talks or mumbles. Golf is hard enough let alone someone talking while you are in the middle of your back-swing. If you are talking, you are not paying attention.
6 - FINALLY. HAVE FUN. I am. I just had my first birdie in 6 years combined with my first chip-in in ten. Who says golf is over when the eyes dim. If they did, they are not paying attention.