Blind golf is a team game comprising of a visually impaired player and a sighted guide or caddy. They follow the same rules that all golfers follow with a few minor adjustments. (R&A Rule 25)
The player, once set up, gets comfortable and makes the swing or putt just like any other golfer.
The guide is the players eyes and describes how the ball is sitting, the distance to the hole, hazards, bunkers and direction. They line up the player and club. Once the ball is hit they describe how the ball fly’s and the result. On the putting surface they line up the putt.
England & Wales Blind Golf has 4 categories. Categories B1-B3 are internationally accepted. More info can be found here at British Blind Sport.
For EWBG these categories are:
B1
This category encompasses no light perception in either eye up to light perception, but inability to recognise shapes at any distance or in any direction.
B2 and B3
Both of these categories involve a low level of usable partial vision, those in the B3 category will be able to see more than those graded as B2. B3 is the highest category used for international & Paralympic sport
B4
This category includes those who are registered as severely sight impaired (blind) who do not come into the B1-B3 categories. This will usually include severe loss of field.
