2020 BC Blind Golf 'Cloud' Championships A Big Success
Blind Golfers Have A Coach/Guide Who Can Line Up The Club Behind The Ball For The Player - Image Courtesy Western Canadian Blind Golf Association
An inaugural 'Cloud' Blind Golf Championship took place at various golf courses across the country last week and proved to be well received.
With the hard work of Creston, BC's Darren Douma, who is the President of the Western Canadian Blind Golf Assoc. and the Vice President of Blind Golf Canada, along with Doug Hastie from British Columbia Golf, sight-impaired golfers from BC to Ontario were able to play rounds at a home course or one near to their residence and submit scores to be compared on the basis of the course rating.
Using this method players were able to play at a time that worked for them and also not have to be concerned with travel which was a big benefit both for health & saftey reasons, as well as without incurring the added expense.
In Blind Golf, players are categorized by their level of sight impairment. B1 players are totally blind, up to B3, comprised of golfers who have vision from 20/200 to 20/600. All are classified as legally blind.
Blind golfers have handicaps just like sighted players and compete against one another in both gross (total strokes, not using handicaps) and net events (includes handicaps). There are some modifications to the Rules of Golf to accommodate blind golfers. e.g. clubs can be grounded in bunkers.
The role of the caddie/coach in blind golf is very important. Guides generally align players, often place club heads directly behind the golf ball and follow the flight of the ball. The guide also ensures the player’s safety when moving about the golf course.
Due to the success of this event, talk had begun with the hope of arranging a North American Blind Golf 'Cloud' Championship for next season.
2020 BC Blind Golf Cloud Championship Final Results
Overall Low Net Champion Johanna Camarta 123.8
Westlock, AB Coach: Ron Camarta
Overall Low Net Runner-Up Kiefer Jones 129.2
Calgary, AB Coach: Deb Frey
B1 (No Vision) Low Gross Category
Winner: Joe Furber 222
Winnipeg, Manitoba Coach: Francis Oliver
Runner-Up: Gerry Nelson 225
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Coach: Chris Villeneauve
B2 (5 percent Vision) Low Gross Category
Winner: Darcy Furber 179
Winnipeg, Manitoba Coach: Ron Oliver
Runner-Up: Kevin Frost 195
Ottawa, Ontario Coach: Loretta Lachance
B3 (10 percent Vision) Low Gross Category
Winner: Kiefer Jones 141
Calgary Alberta Coach: Deb Frey
Runner-Up: Reg Opersko 165 Waterford, Ontario
Ladies Low Gross Champion
Johanna Camarta-Westlock, AB 208
Coach: Ron Camarta
Ladies Low Net Champion
Lillian Haas- Winnipeg, Manitoba 133.4
Coach Gordon Melnyk