‘I’m registered blind, but I can’t play blind golf’: exploring the experiences of golfers with a visual field impairment

Golfers with vision impairment have access to numerous competitive participation opportunities, but their eligibility is dependent on successful classification. Currently, a person’s visual field (VF) is not considered during the classification process in vision impaired (VI) golf, with golfers classified on their visual acuity alone. There is a growing body of qualitative research focused on athletes’ classification experiences, but to date there is a lack of research on golfers with a VF impairment (GVFI). Ten GVFI were recruited for an online semi-structured interview through a video conferencing platform. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, underpinned by a relativist-constructionist philosophical position. Five themes were generated: 1) perception of impairment, 2) playing golf through a limited field of vision, 3) the golfer–guide relationship, 4) classification experiences, and 5) benefits of playing golf. Results demonstrate that GVFI may utilise medicalised language to legitimise their relatively non-visible impairment(s). Furthermore, a social relational understanding of disability is used to show that whilst impairment-effects on performance are evident in GVFI, the classification system and social structures within it ultimately disable and marginalise GVFI. Results suggest that guides are often selected out of convenience instead of performance factors, and socialising with other VI golfers empowers GVFI. This study advances understanding of the qualitative experiences of GVFI and informs future work into the development of an evidence-based classification system specific to VI golf.