Blind Golf Association to hold 67th championship in Oceanside

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The United States Blind Golf Association is holding their 67th Annual National Championship at Middle Bay Country Club in Oceanside. This highly recognized event brings qualified blind and visually impaired golfers from across the United States to compete and bring awareness of golf to the community. The competition starts on Aug. 6 at 7 a.m. and continues on Aug. 7 at 10:30 a.m. Members of the general public may observe the competition rounds at no charge.

Competitors include 2012 Championship Chair Ted Fass from Rockville Centre. Other golfers will come from as far away as California, Oregon and Washington to vie for the title of “best blind or visually impaired golfer in the nation.”

Fass, who has been blind since age 11, started playing golf eight years ago and it has become his passion. “I really love golf, but what I enjoy the most is being able to give back to the community by creating opportunities for other blind and vision impaired individuals to participate” said Fass.

The National Championship is a two-day, 36-hole competition. Golfers are pre-classified by authorized sight acuity testing into three categories: B-1s are totally blind or have no usable light perception. B-2s have little usable vision, and B-3s have better usable vision. All participants compete under regular U.S. Golf Association rules except for allowing a coach to assist with shot description and alignment.

The tournament is organized and produced by the U.S. Blind Golf Association. The USBGA was established in 1953 and its mission is to teach and promote blind and visually impaired golf as well as conduct tournaments.

“I am proud to help promote this tournament in any way I can,” said New York State Assemblyman Brian Curran. “The U.S. Blind Golf Association should be commended for their commitment, time, and exemplary efforts on behalf of the blind and visually impaired.”