News

Coming Events

The 2019 Victoria Event Calendar has been updated.

Handicaps

Updated BGA handicaps as at March 31 2019 are now available. You will find them at Handicaps.

Glenn Niciejewski easy winner of 2019 BGV Victorian Open

The 2019 BGV Victorian Open was played at Rosebud Country Club South Course on March 25/26 with a good field of 19 blind/vision impaired golfers. BGV once again expresses sincere thanks to the Rosebud Country Club for their invaluable assistance over 29 years .

Congratulations to Glenn Niciejewski (Qld) and his caddy Peter Harrington who had a wonderful score of 85 points over the two days ( 13 under Glenn’s handicap) to easily be the Victorian Open winner. Glenn is a B1( totally blind) and has been working very hard on his golf.

Gary Sargent (NSW) , the 2018 winner, was runner up with 71 points on a count back from Brad Carver (Qld) . Doug Sloan ( Vic) won the B1 trophy with David Blyth (Vic) runner up. Stephen Mitchell and Graham Coulton both NSW won the B2 winner/runner up trophies. Brad Carver (Qld) won the B3 trophy with Jeff Ellis (Vic) runner up

New BGA Member - Blind Golf Queensland

In 2016, BGA decided to conduct the first Queensland blind golf open at Virginia GC with the aim of establishing blind golf in Queensland . In a little over 3 years with a lot of hard work from a lot of people, Blind Golf Queensland was incorporated in January 2019 with 8 members and had its application for full membership of BGA approved by a General meeting of BGA members in March. Initial office bearers are Brad Carver, President, Glenn Niciejewski Vice President, Glen Baxter Secretary and Steve Art Treasurer. If you require more details on blind golf in Queensland please contact Glen Baxter email glenbaxter@gmail.com

Blind Golf in South Australia

The process to resurrect blind golf in South Australia is making great progress with a Committee formed and incorporation now under way . For more details please contact Cameron Reid email Djcruiser@protonmail.com . BGA is conducting the Australian Stableford Championships at Adelaide Shores GC in May and it is hoped to have several SA new members participate

2018/19 Order of Merit

The 2018/19 BGA Order of Merit has been updated following the 2019 Victorian Open . Full details are available under order of merit Order of Merit. The current "Top 5" are Rod Mills NSW with 56 points followed by his fellow NSW players Gary Sargent 44, Graham Coulton 42.5 and Stephen Mitchell 41, with Brad Carver Qld in 5th place on 32.33 points.

New Rules of Golf

The new rules of golf will come into operation from January 1 2019

Explanation of all the changes can be found by going to Golf Australia’s website (2019 Rules of Golf ).

Golf’s New Rules

• Support Resources
• 1 minute videos on each major change
• R&A PowerPoint on New Rules
• Modified Rules of Golf for Players With A disability

All blind golf events in Australia will be played under the new rules from January 1 2019 . It is the responsibility of individual players and their caddies or guides ( or aides) to have a full understanding of the new rules.

2018 NSW Blind Golf Open Championships results

BGNSW staged their 2018 Blind Golf Open at the Bankstown Golf Club on November 12/13 as a 36 hole stroke event. Continuing her excellent form from the recent World Championships in Rome, the net winner and NSW champion with a net score of 136 was Michele Watts(NSW) with her caddy Kevin Munce. Michele had a great round on Monday with a net 60 which made it difficult for the field to catch her on day 2. Gary Sargent (NSW) and his caddy Eileen Sargent were runners up with net 144. Rod Mills (NSW) and his caddy Mike Mills won the gross title with a score of 215.

Doug Sloan (Vic) won the B1 title, Stephen Mitchell (NSW) was the winner of the B2 title and Brad Carver (Qld) prevailed in the B3 event.

Rod Mills won the coveted Erik Royds Perpetual Trophy for the least putts over the 2 days with an excellent 65.

Full details can be found under Results NSW.

Pictures on Blind Golf NSW's Facebook page.

BGA Annual General Meeting

The 2018 BGA AGM was held on October 16. Office bearers elected for the next year were Doug Sloan Vic President, David Martin WA Vice President, Peter North Vic Secretary/ Treasurer, John Hayward NSW and Stephen Jackson NSW Directors, with Geoff Walsh Vic subsequently being appointed by the new Board as Handicapper/Director

New audio

An interview with Michele Watts (NSW) 2018 Italian and World Champion, on Vision Australia Radio, 17th October 2018.

Website Update

This website has been totally updated to eliminate duplication, delete irrelevant and out of date items and add new items which hopefully readers will find of interest. In particular we have added a totally new section on how to get started in blind golf in Australia including a copy of the sight certificate required, updated contacts and revamped all BGA policies governing blind golf played in Australia—the latter is important for current members to read—go to Policies.