Junior Golf Page

The United States Blind Golf Association takes great pride in promoting the great sport of blind and visually impaired golf to youth around the country. Many thanks to all the organizations and individuals who took the time to demonstrate to all that, "YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEE IT TO TEE IT!"

Los Angeles Area Jr. Blind Golf Clinics Chester Washington Golf Course range

Junior Blind of America Camp Blumfield Golf Clinic on Blumfield Camp Grounds

Golf was introduced for the first time two years ago at this annual event. Contests are held with prizes award in track, swimming, and go-ball.

Expecting 50 individuals from State School for the Blind and from surrounding school districts and communities.

Morning sessions, 3 hours of instruction for a total of 12 hours instruction.

Expecting 10 – 20 students per session from the San Antonio / South Texas area

The First Tee Citizenship program is included in the instruction. All students become members of the First Tee.

Morning session, 2 hours of instruction for a total of 28 hours of instruction.

Visually impaired children practice their technique at a Cypress golf course.

By SCOTT MARTINDALE

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Maya Johnson

CYPRESS – They couldn't necessarily see the ball or the iron in their hands, but for the 30 blind and visually impaired children who played golf Tuesday with the help of volunteer instructors, the putter managed to hit its target – almost every time.

"It's one of the few sports we can participate in," said Bill Davis, a legally blind golfer and member of the United States Blind Golf Association who helped organize the two-hour golf clinic at the Navy Golf Course in Cypress. "Football, soccer, basketball – the ball's always coming at you. With golfing, if you have a sighted person watching the ball, you can golf."

With hands-on guidance and some words of encouragement, the 50 volunteer instructors helped their students – all from a one-week summer camp in Malibu for the visually impaired – to make contact with the golf ball and send it flying through the air.

"I did pretty good," proclaimed 11-year-old Billy Slason of Ventura, who has played miniature golf in the past but never professional golf. "It's not as hard as mini-golf. In mini-golf, you have to make it in eight tries."

Actually getting the ball in the hole, of course, was a much tougher feat, but it was no different than any other novice golfer's luck, the instructors said.

Billy's instructor, 17-year-old Curtis Pyres of La Palma, said he was blown away when the youngster sent a ball 130 yards down the driving range.

"I love seeing the smile on this guy's face when he crushes 130 yards," said Pires, captain of the men's varsity golf team at Kennedy High School in La Palma.

The Navy Golf Course's annual clinic for the visually impaired, now in its third year, was formed to prove vision is not necessary to play golf, said founder Joe Grohman, the golf course's head PGA professional.

"When they're out there, they don't think they have any problems," said Grohman, who modeled the program after one he started at the Whittier Narrows Golf Course in Rosemead.

The key to teaching sight-challenged children to play golf is to focus on technique, instructors said. Vision is only necessary to orient a golfer and explain the terrain and relative distances – all things that can be accomplished with the help of a buddy.

"They do exactly what we're telling them," said 16-year-old volunteer instructor Charlotte Hatfield, captain of the women's varsity golf team at Pacifica High School in Garden Grove. "I think anybody would be doing the same thing whether they can see or not."

Said Hatfield's student, Meztli Fierros, 12, of Mesa, Ariz.: "I hope I'm getting better. I like this sport because it helps me release my energy."

Contact the writer: 714-445-6692 or smartindale@ocregister.com

This clinic met 4 times and each session was for 6 hours. There were 41 participants

This clinic was held for the Overbrook School for the Blind and students from St. Lucy Day School & the Philadelphia Public Schools