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), celebrates its third edition this week, on May 21 and 22, at the Costa Ballena Ocean Golf Club course (Rota, Cádiz).

Once again, the tournament has attracted the interest of top blind golfers not only from Spain but also from Europe. A total of forty-one golfers are participating, including an Argentinian, an American, and a Canadian.

Among the registered players are the Spaniards Marc Oller, winner last year in category B2 and in 2022, in B3; Alejandro de Miguel, winner of the World Blind Championship last year in South Africa, Malcolm Elrick, José Ignacio Vaillán, José Luis Ortega, MiguelCuerva and Antonio Repullo.

The rules establish four visual categories according to which the tournament is developed: B1, B2, B3, and B4. Each player is assigned a visual category after the initial classification and competes 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.

See the list of participants below, in the Related Links section.