UPDATE: The 79th United States Blind Golf Association (USBGA) Championship is set to kick off on September 17, 2023, at Oak Marsh Golf Course in Oakdale, Minnesota. This year’s event showcases the incredible resilience and talent of blind golfers, a community that continues to defy odds and inspire.
Jeremy Poincenot, now 35 and a nine-time USBGA champion, was just a teenager when he learned he was going blind due to Leber hereditary optic neuropathy. Despite the devastating news, Jeremy picked up his golf clubs and has not looked back. “I said, ‘If I swing and miss the ball, then I’m done,’” he recalled. However, the feeling of making solid contact reignited his passion. Today, he stands as one of the world’s top blind golfers.
The event also features Bob Banks, the USBGA President, who has experienced gradual vision loss himself. “Anger and depression are common,” Banks stated, reflecting on his initial reaction to losing his sight. However, a chance encounter with a YouTube video showcasing blind golfers reignited his love for the sport. “I went and got my clubs out of the trash,” he added, highlighting the community’s spirit of perseverance.
Players at the USBGA compete in classifications based on their vision: B1 (no vision), B2 (little usable vision), and B3 (better usable vision). Each golfer is paired with a coach who provides vital support, from reading the course layout to assisting with alignment and distance. “Our coaches are essentially caddies on steroids,” Banks emphasized.
The emotional bond between players and their coaches is profound. Poincenot’s father, Lionel, serves as his guide, verbalizing crucial information that allows Jeremy to visualize his shots. “It’s like he’s had to learn a whole new language to become a guide for a legally blind golfer,” Jeremy explained.
Another standout, Jake Olson, who lost his sight to retinoblastoma at age 12, credits his father, Brian, for his success both on and off the course. Olson has made history as the first fully blind athlete to play in a Division I college football game, and he has also claimed multiple blind golf tournament victories. “I’m beyond grateful that I still get to play the game I love,” Olson stated.
Meanwhile, Mario Tobia, a two-time USBGA champion who lost his vision at 40, emphasizes the joy golf brings to his life. “Golf was one of the few sports I could still play as a blind person,” he shared, expressing gratitude for the opportunities it has provided him.
As the championship approaches, anticipation builds within the blind golf community. “You don’t have to see it to tee it!” is a mantra echoed by players and officials alike, highlighting their commitment to the sport regardless of their visual challenges.
The USBGA championship promises thrilling competition and heartwarming stories of triumph. Viewers can expect to witness the incredible skills of these athletes as they hit the greens, showcasing not just their talent but the unwavering determination that defines the sport.
Stay tuned for updates as the championship unfolds and these remarkable athletes continue to inspire and uplift.
