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= World Blind Golf =

= History & Background = All World Blind Golf games and tournaments offer all blind and low vision golfers a level of inclusion that is unique within blind and disabled golf insofar that all vision and sight categories have been removed. The normal Paralympic Games sight categories and disability classification of B1, B2, and B3 have been eliminated completely, allowing all golfers to play together regardless of their individual level of sight loss or vision impairment.

Instead of using sight categories that are difficult to administer and often based on unreliable testing methodologies, World Blind Golf games are played using regular WHS golf handicaps. In practice, this has also assisted players in integrating more within their local golf clubs, playing groups, and wider golfing communities because blind golfers only need to maintain one handicap, just like regular sighted players. This enables World Blind Golf players the ability to also play club and representative games with sighted players using regular handicaps, thereby allowing blind golfers to enjoy the benefits that come with more fully integrating with their friends, club, and community. By encouraging inclusion and integration, blind and low vision players are also likely to enjoy the increased levels of happiness and satisfaction and, at the same time, minimize the negative effects which come from not participating equitably. Such debilitating effects include isolation, malaise, and depression. Instead, World Blind Golf offers players the opportunity to enjoy all of the benefits of golf in particular and outdoor sports in general.

= Founders = World Blind Golf was established in late 2021 by Neil Herdegen and Dr. Brad Carver. Both Mr. Herdegen and Dr. Carver are current board members of Blind Golf Queensland and are both visually impaired blind golfers. Neil Herdegen is the CEO of World Blind Golf Pty Ltd and Vice President of Blind Golf Queensland Incorporated Association. Both organizations are registered not-for-profit organizations in the State of Queensland. Neil is the first back-to-back champion of the Queensland Blind Golf Open, winning the tournament in 2020 and 2021.

Neil was assisted in both victories by his Coach and Caddy Todd Sleep, PGA, head coach from TS Golf Academy at Robina on the Gold Coast. Neil’s win in the 2021 Qld Open held at Parkwood Golf Club on the Gold Coast was thanks to a record score for a Queensland Open (89 stable ford points). Neil has been awarded degrees in the fields of Arts, Business, and Technology. He has an Honours Degree in International Business from Griffith University, completing his Honours thesis in Business and Political Science at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

Neil also has a master’s degree in Business Process Management from the Queensland University of Technology, where he also gained certification in Project Management, Program Management, Portfolio Management, Risk Management, and Benefits Realisation Management methodologies. Neil continues to consult with public sector organizations, applying cutting-edge project, program, and portfolio management methodologies to ensure reliable outcomes. Dr. Brad Carver has been involved in the NFP sector for the past 45 years. He began working with blind golf in 2016. He has enjoyed bringing in many to join the Game and has been the founding President of Blind Golf Queensland and World Blind Golf.

= Senior and Junior Divisions = World Blind Golf is also the first disabled golf organization to include both juniors and seniors divisions. World Blind Golf has established communities of practice that aim to increase participation and golfing ability of blind and low vision golfers who are below the age of 18 and above 55. Ro date, these demographics have not been provided with opportunities to compete against others of a similar age. World Blind Golf also provides registered PGA coaches with coaching resources based on leading best-practice all-abilities golf instruction.

= Major National Media Coverage = World Blind Golf was featured on Channel 7 (Australia) national Channel 7 Sunrise program on March 31, 2022, in the lead to the Far North Queensland Open. The TV news piece was also featured by Channel 7 Cairns on their official Channel 7 Facebook page. Both World Blind Golf CEO Neil Herdegen and President Dr. Brad Carver were interviewed on camera.

World Blind Golf was featured on Cairns Channel 7 on March 30, 2022, with TV news anchors commenting that they would not want to play against Qld Open Champion Neil Herdegen considering his low golf handicap.

The Cairns Post (owned by News Limited) promoted World Blind Golf's upcoming Cairns come and try day Cairns Post newspaper on April 21, 2022, in a news article titled Barrier-breaking international golf event to be held at FNQ. The article highlighted World Blind Golf's attempts to promote blind golf as a lifestyle choice for Blind and Low Vision golfers.

= Tournaments = World Blind Golf was the primary organizer of the 2022 Far North Queensland Blind and Low Vision Open which was held at Half Moon Bay Golf Club in Yorkeys Knob near Cairns on April 28 and 29, 2022. The event was won by DR Brad Caver, with James Lehn winning the gross division and Steve Art taking honours as runner-up. World Blind Golf CEO and current Qld Open Champion Neil Herdegen did not finish the event after withdrawing after the first day's play as his caddy Tinnerat Meemungtham was forced to retire due to ill health.

World Blind Golf's first tournament was held at Kooralbyn Valley Golf Club. The inaugural tournament was won by current Qld Blind Golf Open Champion Neil Herdegen and his caddy Todd Sleep PGA from TS Golf, Robina, Queensland. World Blind Golf and Blind Golf Queensland will co-present the 2022 Queensland Blind Golf Open showcasing some of the world's best blind golfing talents.

= References = 1.   ^ ''Channel 7 (March 31 2022). ["Channel 7 cairns News". Channel 7.'' : Check |url= value ( help)

2.   ^ ''Harry, Murtough (April 21 2022). "Barrier-breaking international golf event to be held at FNQ". The Cairns Post.'' : |access-date= requires |url= ( help)

3.   ^ ''"Inside Golf". Inside Golf. 194 (December 2021): 14. December 2021. Retrieved May 8 2022.''

4.    ^ ''Fitzgerald, Augustus. "Neil Herdegen & Todd Sleep win the 2020 Queensland Blind Golf Open". Blind Golf Queensland. Blind Golf Queensland. Retrieved May 2022.'' : Check date values in: |access-date= ( help)