What Are International Blind Golf Competitions and How Do They Work?

International blind golf competitions are tournaments for blind and vision-impaired golfers, played under adapted rules that allow a sighted guide to assist each player. They range from national championships run by bodies such as Blind Golf Australia to world-level events coordinated through World Blind Golf. If you are a blind or vision-impaired golfer, a guide, or someone who wants to follow the sport, the key things to understand are who organises the events, how play is adapted, and how players enter.

Who runs international blind golf

The sport is organised through a mix of international and national bodies:

• World Blind Golf is the international body associated with world-level blind golf competition and the global network of member nations.
• National associations run domestic competitions and select or support players for international events. Blind Golf Australia is the Australian national body, providing competitions and tuition for blind and vision-impaired golfers.

This structure means a player usually starts with their national association, which then connects them to international competition pathways.

How blind and vision-impaired players compete

The central adaptation is the sighted guide. A guide stands with or near the player, helps with alignment, describes the shot and target, and confirms the result. The player still selects the club and makes the swing.

Competition is organised so that players of different levels of vision compete fairly. In blind golf this generally means classification categories based on the degree of vision impairment, with separate results for each category. The exact classification rules and category definitions are set by the organising body for each event, so check the specific tournament's regulations before entering.

Typical formats and levels

Blind golf competitions follow conventional golf formats — stroke play and match play are the usual structures — but with the guide and classification adaptations applied.

Levels of competition typically include:

National events are the usual entry point; international events are where players represent their country.

How players enter and how to follow results

Entry normally works through the national association rather than by applying directly to an international event. For Australia, that means contacting Blind Golf Australia, which runs competitions and tuition and can explain eligibility, classification and selection for international play.

For results and schedules, the most reliable sources are the websites of World Blind Golf and the relevant national association, since they publish event information and outcomes for their own competitions.

The short version

International blind golf competitions are mainstream golf formats adapted with sighted guides and vision-based classification categories, organised nationally by bodies like Blind Golf Australia and internationally through World Blind Golf. If you want to play, start with your national association; if you want to follow the sport, go to the same bodies for schedules and results.