Top Golfers Come to Antrim for the British Blind and Disabled Golf Open – Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council

The Northern Ireland Blind Golf Association (NIBGA) is staging the championship with sponsorship from Antrim and Newtownabbey Council, Golf Ireland, the R&A, Vision Sports Ireland, and several private sponsors.

Kate Daly, Captain at NI Blind Golf, said,

“As captain, it will be my immense pleasure to warmly welcome this international field of blind men and women to Massereene to compete for the British Blind Golf title and, of course, the elusive Claret Jug. This event will not only showcase all that Massereene Golf Club has to offer but also highlight the stunning backdrop of County Antrim and its amazing hospitality.”

The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Neil Kelly, commented,

“It’s a great honour to welcome numerous leading international blind and disabled golfers to Antrim, especially as this marks the first time EDGA golfers have been included in the tournament.

“The Council is dedicated to supporting top-tier sports events like this, and I am confident that this event will draw many tourists to our Borough. I wish all competitors the best of luck, vying for the Claret Jug, and I am looking forward to watching some outstanding displays of golf.”

The inaugural British Blind Golf Open Championship took place in Killymoon, Co. Tyrone, in 1991, and subsequently, it has been held at different locations across Northern Ireland every three years. This year marks a significant milestone as the event has expanded to include golfers with disabilities who are registered with EDGA, previously known as the European Disabled Golf Association. The upcoming event at Massereene Golf Club not only highlights the growth and inclusivity of the tournament but also solidifies the reputation of the Northern Ireland Blind Golf Association (NIBGA) within the global blind and disabled golf community.

Competitors from Australia, the United States, Spain, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland will bid for EDGA ranking points and the Championship over the Co. Antrim course.

Included in the entries are:

• 2022 World Blind (B1) Champion Alejandro di Miguel from Spain,
• 2024 Ladies gross G4D runner-up Fiona Gray from Northern Ireland,
• 2024 Spanish Blind Golf Open Champion and runner-up Barry McCluskey from Scotland and Kate Daly from Northern Ireland, and
• Paul McCormack from the United States, who is bidding to become only the second person to win the British Blind Golf Championship for the third time.

Paul Kelly from Armagh Golf Club has been appointed as the captain of the Irish teams for golfers with disabilities. He is currently competing at Massereene and will be closely monitoring the performance of golfers who are competing for a spot on either of the international teams. The championships in July include the Nations Cup for golfers with handicaps over 18 and the European Disabled Team Championships for golfers with lower handicaps. Kelly’s role as captain involves selecting the best players to represent Ireland in these prestigious events.

For further information about the British Blind and Disabled Golf Open Championship, please visit nibga.org for links to their social media channels.