A good result for the Spanish representation in the third edition of the ISPS Handa Spain Open for the Blind, a tournament sponsored by the Adapted and Inclusive Golf Committee of the RFEG together with the international federation (IBGa) which was held at Costa Ballena Ocean Golf Club (Rota, Cadiz) with the presence of about forty golfers.

On the second and final day, Marc Oller (194 strokes total, rounds of 96 and 98) moved up one place to second in the B2 category, where he was only surpassed by American Paul McCormack. The other Spaniard in B2 was Malcom Elrick, seventh with 208 strokes (97+111).

Also noteworthy is the participation of Alejandro de Miguel (222 strokes, distributed in rounds of 121 and 101) in the B1 category, where he was the only participant, and of Miguel Cuerva, eighth with 53 points (26+27) in the Stableford competition. In this same category, the other Spanish competitors were Antonio Repullo (T14, 42), José Ignacio Vaillant (T15, 35), and José Luis Ortega (T18, 24).

The rules of this ISPS Handa Spain Open for the Blind established four visual categories according to which the tournament was developed: B1, B2, B3 and B4. Each player was assigned a visual category after the initial classification to compete against the other participants in that category.

What is golf like for the blind?

It's barely distinguishable from golf for sighted people; contrary to what one might think, there are no adaptations whatsoever on the course itself. The holes aren't bigger, nor are the rounds shorter. The main difference lies in the presence of a guide, whom the player relies on for support throughout the 18 holes.

This guide plays a fundamental role, their tasks being to help the blind person move around the course, place the ball, describe the shot (meters to the flag, bunkers, water, etc.) and guide the player to the desired spot.

There is no single working methodology for blind golfers and their guides; both develop their own language as they work together. Some players prefer more information about the shot they need to make, while others prefer less; some rely on auditory tools for orientation, some walk the distance from the ball to the flagstick to gather more information…

A tournament that became a reality after a long journey
The project for blind golf in Spain was born in 2017 by Marc Oller and Alejandro de Miguel, member of the Adapted and Inclusive Golf Committee of the RFEG, replacing Marc himself.

Initially, the goal was simply to give blind people the opportunity to enjoy the sport, but a blind player from abroad told them about the existence of an international federation (IBGa), and that opened a new door. This federation brings together countries such as the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Japan, and Australia and has its own international circuit, holding events in each of the member countries.

Following this experience, and after gaining firsthand knowledge of the level and operation of European competitions, Marc and Alejandro set out to establish blind golf in Spain. To this end, they contacted the Adapted and Inclusive Golf Committee of the RFEG (Royal Spanish Golf Federation). This marked the beginning of the tournament being played this week.

May 2020 was the chosen date to hold the first Open in Spain, but Covid-19 thwarted this exciting adventure. Cancellation was also forced in 2021 for health reasons, but in 2022 there were no barriers to stop the tournament, so eagerly awaited by blind golfers and so vital to society.

Check out the full results, the honor roll and the photo gallery below, in the Related Links section.