International Blind Golf Association

International Blind Golf Association (IBGA) (in Japanese) was established in 1998 as a disabled sports entity to organize, acknowledge and support international blind golf (visually impaired and blind golf) tournaments. As of 2014, it has around 500 registered golfers.[1]

International Blind Golf Association
AbbreviationIBGA
Formation1998 (1998)
TypeNon-profit
ServicesBlind Golf
AffiliationsJapanese Blind Golf Association
Websiteinternationalblindgolf.com

History

In 1996, Haruhisa Handa who was the founder of Japanese Blind Golf Association appealed to blind golf associations around the world to set up a governing organization. In 1997, the World Blind Golfers Conference was held in Perth, Australia, where representatives from six countries participated to propose the articles of association and handicap system. In 1998, the proposal was resolved at a meeting held during the 5th Blind Golf World Championship in Florida, US, so that a global governing organization could be established. Handa was elected as the first president, and David Blyth from Australia became the first chairman (responsible in administration).[2][3][4]

There were eight organizations that took part in the World Blind Golfers’ Conference held in 1997 from 6 countries; Japan, United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.[4]

As of 2014, International Blind Golf Association has 18 member organizations from 16 countries including 4 associate organizations from 4 countries.

Tour
TitleCountry
ISPS HANDA World Blind Golf Championship
The ISPS HANDA Ressmeyer Vision Cup Italy
Blind Golf Japan Open Championship Japan
ISPS HANDA US Blind Open Championships United States
ISPS HANDA British Blind Golf Open England
ISPS HANDA Canadian Blind Golf Open Canada
ISPS HANDA Irish Blind golf Open Ireland
ISPS HANDA Australian Blind Open Australia
ISPS HANDA Italian Blind Open Italy
South African Blind Golf Open South Africa
Handa Cup United States

Members
  • Japanese Blind Golf Association (JBGA)
  • United States Blind Golf Association (USBGA)
  • Northern Ireland Blind Golf
  • Scottish Blind Golf Society
  • English Blind Golf Association
  • Germany Blind Golf Association
  • Ireland Blind Golf
  • Republic of South Africa Blind Golf Association
  • Australian Blind Golf Association
  • Canadian Blind Golf Association
  • Hong Kong Blind Golf Association
  • South Korea Blind Golf Association
  • Italian Blind Golf Association
  • Austrian Blind Golf Association

Associate members
  • France
  • Israel
  • Malaysia
  • Netherlands

References

Notes
  1. "About". International Blind Golf Association. Archived from the original on 2011-09-10. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  2. "Letter from IBGA - JBGA". JBGA. Archived from the original on 2013-12-07. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  3. "Blind Golf". JBGA. Archived from the original on 2014-03-14. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  4. Haruhisa Handa 2006, p. 60.

Works cited
  • Haruhisa Handa (2006), ブラインドの皆さん、外へ出てゴルフをしよう！, Tachibana.inc, ISBN 978-4-8133-1894-1
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