The game of golf is difficult enough for the average hacker, but imagine trying to hit a tee shot or sink a putt without seeing where the ball goes. On Thursday, May 19, Industries for the Blind Asheville’s A Brighter Path Foundation will give some 22 foursomes the chance to experience this challenge first-hand in its inaugural Tin Cup Classic Golf Tournament Fundraiser at the Omni Grove Park Inn.
The fundraising event kicks off at 11 a.m. With the “Putting in the dark” experience, where participants will try their hand at sinking a 20-foot putt while blindfolded, with prizes awarded to the closest shot. The putting contest will be followed by a registration period and official welcome ceremony from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., when the tournament will begin with a shotgun start. The Tin Cup Classic Golf Tournament will also feature a BBQ dinner and awards ceremony after the tournament.
Students from IFBA’s Student Enrichment Experience (SEE) camp — which provides a variety of summer camp experiences for children with low vision or who are completely blind — will be on hand to speak about the importance of the program and similar services to the local community.
IFBA will also provide demonstrations of products and devices from its Low Vision Center, which provides the visually-impaired community in Asheville with a host of helpful technology to assist them in daily life.
“The Tin Cup Classic is a great opportunity to highlight our message that being blind or visually impaired does not keep you from enjoying sports, building a career or learning new skills,” says Chris Flynt, director of IFBA’s Low Vision and A Brighter Path Programs, who is also legally blind. “Our tournament participants not only get to enjoy a fantastic round at one of the best area courses, but they learn first-hand about the mission and vision of Industries for the Blind.”
Flynt and IFB’s Low Vision Center retail associate Grant Weathers, a former golf pro, will participate in the tournament as well. “I hit a few the other day, says Weathers, who is legally blind. “It wasn’t high and straight with a soft draw at the end, but it went the right way!”
Funds from the tournament will go towards supporting the SEE camp for children and the Brighter Path Foundation, which supports Industries for the Blind Asheville through opportunities for training, employment and services for those with low vision.
Industries for the Blind Asheville is an affiliate of the Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind nonprofit corporation, which has provided employment opportunities and services to the blind and visually impaired since 1936. (See “Employees reduce waste at Industries For the Blind,” April 28, 2016, Xpress)
For more information on the Tin Cup Classic Golf Tournament, the Brighter Path Foundation and SEE Camps for Children, or to find out how you can support IFBA’s mission or access services, visit abpfoundation.org/or wsifb.com.
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