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MEMBERSHIP

MEMBERSHIP -
COACHES -
JR. GOLF -
TOURNAMENTS -
Hall of Fame

Benefits of Membership

The United States Blind Golf Association (USBGA) offers a great opportunity for golfers who are blind or vision impaired to play golf with others who have the same or similar vision loss. It has many benefits including: the chance to play golf and travel to spectacular places, meet some very interesting people and have a great time.

We play golf by the USGA Rules of Golf and the Modifications of the Rules of Golf for Golfers with Disabilities. This includes grounding the club in a hazard plus permitting the coach to stand in the line of play while the golfer is executing the shot.

The golfers compete with other golfers within their sight classification. The sight classifications include: B-1 no vision, B-2 little usable vision and B-3 better usable vision. To be eligible to become a member of the USBGA you must have corrected vision less than 20/200 in both eyes. This must be documented on the USBGA sight form by an Ophthalmologist or Optometrist.

Every golfer has a sighted person to assist them and we call these folks Coaches. The coach gives the golfer course description, gives correct yardages, and helps with club selection and proper alignment.

The organization is always looking for new members, volunteer Coaches, support members and people or businesses to be sponsors.

Become a Member

Members must meet the specific visual guidelines accepted by the International Blind Golf Association in order to compete in all USBGA and International Blind Golf events. Prospective playing members must understand that a visual acuity of 20/200 will not qualify under the sight classification standards set by the International Blind Golf Association. Visual acuity in best eye with best correction must be less than 20/200 i.e. 20/201 or below. For clarification of this standard, please contact us. The official sight categories are as follows:

B-1 Category Totally Blind

No light perception, or light perception which is not functional, central or peripheral, with or without light projection, up to the inability to differentiate between a blank sheet of white paper and a sheet of white paper with a black symbol on it.  The black symbol is displayed on the IBGA/USBGA Sight Form and is used as part of the exam. 

B-2 Category Vision Impaired

From the ability to recognize the shape of a hand up to the visual acuity of 20/600. 

B3 Category Vision Impaired

From the visual acuity above 20/600 up to visual acuity of less than 20/200.


MEMBERSHIP TYPES

  1. MEMBERS:  Members shall be classified hereinafter.  Members shall have the privileges and obligations as set forth in these Policies and Procedures and By-Laws.
  1. FULL MEMBERS must meet the specific qualifications of their membership classification and must be permanent residents of the United States.  Exceptions apply only to those Canadian Members grandfathered in prior to 1993 and Support Members.
    1. The acceptance of membership into the USBGA shall bind each Member to uphold all the provisions of the Charter, By-Laws, Policies and Procedures and other rules of the USBGA and to accept the decisions of the Board of Directors (Board) acting within provisions of the By-Laws.
    2. Exception: ASSOCIATE PLAYER MEMBERSHIP  Players from Central America and other Regional North American Countries that do not have sufficient players to form their own Member Association through the IBGA may apply for Associate Player Membership to the USBGA. 
    3.  Associate Player Members meet the specific qualifications of their membership classification and are responsible for paying yearly USBGA membership dues.  They may play in any tournament offered through the USBGA and are responsible for paying all associated tournament fees. Note: Associate Player Members may not vote in elections or run for office.
    4. Exception: DUAL CITIZENSHIP PLAYERS (DCP) – Players who have Dual US Citizenship and wish to apply for Full Membership with the USBGA will have to declare the USA as their “Home” Country and live in the United States for six (6) or more months a year.  Exception: Dual Citizen Players who were granted DCP status prior to August 2022 are grandfathered in for the six-month residency requirement. The remaining requirements are still applicable to all DCP’s. 
      1. The DCP will have to declare their “Home Country” status by November 15th each year for the next calendar year.
      2. The “Home Country” is responsible for submitting the DCP’s scores to the USBGA Handicap Chair / IBGA for establishing and maintaining their handicap.
      3. If a DCP fails to comply with any of the conditions detailed here they cannot apply for Full Membership and may apply for an Associate Player Membership (ref I.A.1.c Exception above.
      4. The DCP may NOT serve on the “Board” of their “Non-Declared Home Country.” In doing so, the DCP will forfeit their Full USBGA Membership rights.
      5. If a DCP applies for membership to the USBGA, lives in the United States for 6 months or more a year, declares the United States as their “Home Country” and does not serve on the Board or hold elected office in their Non-Declared Home Country, they may apply for a Full Membership to the USBGA and may vote in elections, run for office and serve on committees provided they are in good standing with current membership dues and tournament fees.

 

Gender Policy:  The USBGA will employ the policies of the LPGA and PGA as it relates to transgender athletes to provide the athletes an avenue to membership, an opportunity to participate in our events and in an effort to assure fair competition for all members and participants.  Reference PGA of America Championship Gender Policy and the LPGA Gender Policy.  If applicable, applicants will identify themselves during the USBGA membership application process.

STEPS TO JOIN

Step 1 – Print, complete and sign the sight form.  Have your Doctor sign.  This determines your sight category.

Step 2 – Print, complete and sign the application form OR use the online application.

Step 3Mail both completed ORIGINAL forms to the address below. We send your forms to the International Blind Golf Association for approval, so there is no need to include your payment.  However, if you want to save some time, you can include your check for $100.00, made payable to the USBGA with your sight forms.  It will be held until approval is received from the IBGA and then cashed. It will be returned to you if your sight form information does not qualify according to IBGA regulations.

US Blind Golf Association
c/o Membership Chair
125 Gilberts Hill Rd
Lehighton, PA 18235

The Membership Chair will review your application for accuracy then send your completed forms to the IBGA for approval. There is no need to include your payment at this time.  However, if you choose to send payment with your application, you may include a check for $100.00, made payable to the USBGA, with your Sight and Member Application Forms. It will be held until the IBGA has approved your Sight form at which time we will deposit your check. If your Sight form information does not qualify according to IBGA regulations, your check will be returned to you.  You may also pay online using PayPal (see Payment Options below).

Have questions on how to join or other Membership questions?  Email us

PAYMENT OPTIONS

If you choose to pay your membership dues using PayPal or Credit Card:

 

1) Online using PayPal:

  • Click the Membership Dues drop down menu and select the Player (New & Renewal ($100) USD option
  • Add New or Renewal  in the Comments Box

Click on the “Add to Cart” button that will bring you to the PayPal payment page.
Click on the “PayPal Check Out” button if you have a PayPal account

OR

Select the “Check Out” button to complete your transaction via Credit/ Debit Card using the PayPal Guest Checkout option.

*If your Sight form information does not qualify according to IBGA regulations, we will refund your membership dues.

Support and Volunteer Members

If You Would Like to Support Our Organization and Become a Support/Volunteer or Coach Member:

You may submit your “Support/Volunteer or Coach” dues in one of two ways:

1) Online using PayPal:

  • Click the Membership Dues Drop Down menu and select the Coach/Support Member ($25.00) USD option
  • In the Comments Box, provide your contact information (address, phone number and email).

Click on the “Add to Cart” button that will bring you to the PayPal payment page.
Click on the “PayPal Check Out” button if you have a PayPal account

OR

Select the “Check Out” button to complete your transaction via Credit/ Debit Card using the PayPal Guest Checkout option.

2) By Mail

Record your address, phone and email on your check.

Send your check for $25.00 made payable to USBGA:

USBGA
c/o Denise Forsyth, Treasurer
6881 Custer Rd. 
New Plymouth, ID 83655
 

*Have questions on how to join or other membership questions?  Email us

PAY NOW

Online

Membership Dues
Comments

Mail

Record your address, phone and email on your check made payable to USBGA.

 
USBGA
c/o Denise Forsyth, Treasurer
6881 Custer Rd. 
New Plymouth, ID 83655