Golf for Visually Impaired People
Golf for Visually Impaired People
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| * Golf for visually impaired people
* VIG's activity * Rule of competition * News Letter * Invitation for members
| ## Visually impaired people too can enjoy golf!
Recently, voice for improvement in living quality has been raised from both ordinary and handicapped people. This is shown particularly in the increase of participants in sports and recreation. However, it is difficult for visually impaired people to enjoy the sports which demand chasing moving objects. Therefore, golf is a gentle sport for visually impaired people. Visually impaired people who play golf for the first time will be impressed with the response from shots and be pleased by using their whole body. They need help from their partners only for collecting the information, such as distance and direction, in order to make shots. It is themselves who continue with the rest of the game. There are not many sports that same rules are applied to both ordinary and handicapped players, and that use the same tools. Golf is one of the exceptions. Golf provides satisfaction with the sense of large space and moderate exercise which is normally difficult for visually impaired people to enjoy. Therefore, golf is also useful for rehabilitation training for partially visually impaired people.
Everyone can play golf without any special training and tools. That is why golf is the most suitable and meaningful sport for visually impaired people. ## Golf brings ordinary and visually impaired people together. Participation of disabled people in sports in presence of volunteers provides opportunities for both parties to understand and harmonize with each other. Visually impaired people play golf using the eyes of their partners. Their partners do not just support, but also make a team with the participants to play the game. Harmony between the players and their partners is indispensable. The golf game is not just for the players. When the players make a shot or get a cup-in just as their partners imagine, they also feel satisfied.
The period of the isolation of handicapped people from the society is already ended. We have to move forward to a new era of the coexistence based on understanding of human beings. Golf provides an opportunity of social communication for all people.
## Present Golf Playing Situation by the Visually Impaired People In many western countries, golf is quite popular as a sport for the visually impaired people. A lot of visually impaired people enjoy golf, and there are facilities for them to play with ordinary players. Visually impaired golfers in these countries organized for themselves some golfers associations. They arrange competitions, establish golf playing environment, and organize activities to arouse awareness from the society. As the result of their effort, the average skill level of visually impaired golfers is quite high, and some can play with under 90 or even 80. However, golf is regarded as a luxurious recreation in Japan. Therefore, it is not easy for most of the visually impaired people to enjoy golf. Furthermore, some golf courses do not allow visually impaired people to play with the partners because of the lack of understanding towards these players. In order to improve the present situation, VIG provides golf information to both visually impaired people and volunteers, and educates golf courses for better understanding of the golf by handicapped players. We hope to contribute to the growth of golf by the visually impaired people and enrichment of their social life. |
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