It all started with a simple question. Where do my fees go, and what are some of the benefits of being a member of OBG? Perhaps it would make a quick FAQ addition. It still would, but it became apparent quickly there was a level of detail that is informative and quick to review. It would make an awesome post. Let’s start at the beginning, your annual $50 fee that you pay to become a member. OBG also has Associate Members that join to support their fellow golfers and the organization.
The fee for 2021 remains at $50. It is quite the deal, subsidized heavily by OBG as a registered charity. However, often people don’t consider all of the benefits that come with being a member of OBG, and other organizations. Your membership pays for a BGC (Blind Golf Canada), IBGA (International Blind Golf) and Golf Canada membership also.
What are some of the direct benefits of becoming an OBG member, and how does that really make a difference to me as a golfer?
First and foremost, by becoming a member and paying your fee it shows a commitment to being part of blind and visually impaired golf in Ontario, and through association, with BGC and the IBGA. This means you are joining a group of people that want to make a difference in the world of blind golf. Each swing of the club is another move forward for the sport and our members. Life is a magic carpet ride, enjoy the trip.
You also get to travel to any OBG event in Ontario, and your costs can be subsidized based on your travels and your need for accommodations. One fantastic event every year is the OBG Ontario Championships in August where golfers meet, play golf and attend the OBG AGM to learn about what has happened, and where the organization is headed in the year ahead.
Canada is a member country within the International Blind Golf Association, and along with thirteen other member and five associate-member countries, they host and partake in tournaments held in Canada and around the world. The Canadian Open Blind Golf Championship, hosted inaugurally in 1997, is a bi-annual event and is always a prominent stop on the IBGA tour. Canada has hosted two of the most successful World Championship events held to date and being a BGC member allows blind golfers to participate and compete.
Canada is a full member country of the IBGA. The IBGA sanctions and organizes events around the world. Every year a host country becomes part of blind golf history. IBGA rules dictate that blind golf is played according to the Rules of Golf produced by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) and United States Golf Association (USGA).Noteworthy is a published guide, “A Modification of the Rules of Golf for Golfers with Disabilities” which allows blind golfers to ground their club in a hazard and their coach/guide to stand on the line of the shot without penalty while the shot is played. Also of note, the IBGA has developed a Handicap System that is operated and maintained by all member associations, and this system is used for all international competitions. Again, if you qualify and want to play, you can travel the world as a blind and visually impaired golfer ambassador.
Golf Canada has a range of benefits that will benefit any golfer from the beginner to the professional players, including:
- Protect your Gear: Up to $2,500 reimbursement for damaged, lost or stolen equipment and up to $1,000 for travel incidents.
- Improve your Game: Keep track of your game and improve with a Golf Canada Handicap Index, which can be used for your tournament and competitive events at the local, provincial, national or international level. Posting a score is less than 30 seconds of selection (date, course, tees, etc. are pulldown options) and you just type in the scores – the cursor even moves automatically. It’s all done for you. Voila. You now have a running handicap. Congratulations!
- Club Roster: In our case, we are members of the BGC Roster. All of our members, and other Canadian members, are included. This means you can track your favourite players, and even create your own favourite lists, including favourite courses.
- Ultimate Scorecard: A great new way to challenge yourself when you play multiple rounds at your favorite course. Each time you play, your Ultimate Scorecard tracks your best round on a hole-by-hole basis.
- Online and Mobile Tools: Track your game through the Golf Canada Score Centre which also affords you the ability to track details of your play like the professionals do. Greens in regulation, Sand Save Averages, and much more detailed statistical data that can be collected and tracked both online and through the Golf Canada mobile App.
- Savings: Enjoy deals with our partners Avis, Hilton and Level Wear as well as with Golf Canada gear and event tickets for the RBC Open, Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and other regional tournaments.
- News and Updates: Anything and everything you can imagine related to the news, events, players of all skills and ages, and of course, fundraising. The 3 main publications are the Global Golf Post, the eGolf Canada Newsletter, and Provincial Association Newsletters.
- Tips & Tricks: Emails that deliver content tailored to what you want to hear. Always something to read and learn from. Free golf content about golf in Canada.
- Membership: Full members are also registered with their provincial golf association, in the case of OBG, Golf Ontario.
- Rules, Education, Answers: Golf Canada allows members to become as well versed on the game and the rules of golf and handicapping as they wish. Members at all levels have FREE access to the Level 1 Rules training online, which can be accessed through your Golf Canada Dashboard.
- Vision: Change the face of golf to reflect the multicultural strength of the Canadian population creating a safe, diverse, and welcoming environment within our organization and across the sport.