A training session to help golf coaches provide more effective instruction to visually impaired golfers has been held at the St Andrews Links Trust golf academy.
Delivered by RNIB Scotland in collaboration with Scottish Golf and Scottish Disability Sport, the session was attended by PGA Professional coaches and staff from the St Andrews academy, all eager to learn how they could make golf more inclusive.
Neil Atkinson, Community Connection Coordinator for RNIB Scotland, who led the session at the St Andrews Links Golf Academy, alongside Alan Oliver from Scottish Golf, said: “The facilities were brilliant. It’s the perfect environment for aspiring golfers to develop their skills with some of the best coaches and equipment available. They aren’t experts in supporting visually impaired players, but with the help of our training, we hope they now have the confidence to offer assistance and sighted guidance when needed.”
One of the highlights of the session involved coaches using ‘sim specs’ to replicate different sight conditions. “This really put theory into practice,” Atkinson said. “It gives the coaches an opportunity to think about the practical barriers that someone with sight loss might face in a driving range or on the course.”
Atkinson believes golf has great potential for inclusivity. “All of the movement and actions take place within a very close space, so those with some useful sight can often set up and hit the ball independently. Those with little or no sight can be supported by a fellow player, caddie, or volunteer.”
Modern technology is also making a difference. “Some driving ranges use Trackman systems, which provide players with detailed information about their shots. This means they don’t need to rely on sight to track where the ball went; the data gives them that feedback.”
One area where Atkinson sees room for improvement is the use of volunteers. “I think golf clubs could enhance accessibility by offering opportunities for volunteers to assist blind golfers. Whether it’s guiding, ball-spotting, or helping set up shots, this would be a fantastic way for existing golfers to give back while continuing to enjoy their own game.”
RNIB Scotland’s training is part of a broader effort to break down barriers in sport and encourage greater participation. “Many sports clubs are willing to be more inclusive but need guidance on how to do it,” Atkinson adds. “By providing awareness and training, we’re ensuring that more people with sight loss can enjoy the benefits of sport.”
Every six minutes, someone in the UK begins to lose their sight. RNIB is taking a stand against exclusion, inequality, and isolation to create a world without barriers where people with sight loss can lead full lives. A different world where society values blind and partially sighted people not for the disabilities they’ve overcome, but for the people they are.