What are the qualifications to play in the National Championship?

INFLUENCE

When a Blind or Visually Impaired person is introduced to competitive golf, barriers disappear.

INSPIRE

Our Members journeys fuel our mission.

IMPACT

Our Jr Golf clinics and lessons leave a lasting imprint.

COMPETE

Membership provides Blind & Visually Impaired golfers to complete with others in the same sight categories.

LEGACY

Since 1953 the USBGA has served the Blind & Visually Impaired community

Clinics

we strive to grow the sport by offering clinics to blind and visually impaired people and teach them the sport of blind golf.

Nationals

What are the qualifications to play in the National Championship?

Members are not automatically eligible to play in the annual National Championship tournament.  Qualifications are detailed in our Polices & Procedures:

 

INITIAL QUALIFICATION: To play in a National Championship Tournament a new blind or vision impaired member must submit three (3) scores that meet the following criteria. The new blind (B1) member must have a Maximum handicap of (54) fifty four or lower for men and (63) sixty three Maximum for women. The new visually impaired (B2) member must have a Maximum handicap of (45) forty five or lower for men and (54) fifty four Maximum or lower for women. The new visually impaired (B3) member must have a Maximum handicap of (36) thirty six or lower for men and (45) forty five Maximum or lower for women that is played on a regulation golf course from the men’s regular tees, the ladies’ tees or the senior tees. Score cards must be attested to by the player, coach and golf professional. All efforts should be made for the attesting coach to be the coach for the player in his/her first National Championship.

 

If the new member cannot meet the Initial Qualification requirements to play in the Stroke category in a National Championship, then they are allowed to play in the Stableford category until they can meet the Initial Qualification criteria as stated above.


RE-QUALIFICATION: Any blind (B1) Member scoring over one hundred sixty five (165); vision impaired (B2) Member scoring over one hundred forty five (145); vision impaired (B3) Member scoring over one hundred twenty five (125); of any regulation eighteen (18) holes played in a National Championship Tournament must re-qualify in order to compete in their next National Championship Tournament. The requirements outlined in paragraphs VI.A.1 and VI.A.2 also apply for re-qualification.

 

If the Member cannot meet these re-qualification scores to play in the Stroke category in a National Championship then they are allowed to play in the Stableford category until they can meet the Initial Qualification scores as stated above.

How can you get your fees waived to the National Championship?

MEMBERSHIP FUNDRAISING FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP:  If a player raises at least $1,000 for the USBGA through a fundraising event such as their personal Classy fundraising page, an event at their local golf club, a GoFundMe fundraiser or a donation from friends and/or family, their entry fee for a National Championship may be waived.  The member may select which year’s National Championship their entry fee will be waived for. Fundraising efforts will only impact entry fees for the National Championship and no other USBGA tournaments.