Helping our Sight Scotland Veterans members rediscover their love of golf after sight loss

Earlier this year, Sight Scotland Veterans arranged for a group of members to visit TopGolf, a high-tech driving range. Organised by our Sports and Partnership team, the day included friendly competition on the driving range and private lessons with a professional golf coach.

For Army veteran Niall Hunter, the event marked a return to a sport he had loved for years before his sight began to deteriorate.

“I played golf for years before I started having problems with my eyes. Once I started developing problems in my right eye, I gave up lots of things because I had to give up driving.”

Like many people adjusting to sight loss, Niall found himself stepping away from activities he had once enjoyed. Through Sight Scotland Veterans work with Blind Golf Scotland, however, he was able to rediscover golf in an accessible way.

“Being introduced to blind golf is fantastic. It’s not just the fact that I’m back out in the course again it’s about the experience of it, the camaraderie, it’s laughing at bad shots and everybody else’s bad shots and having a good time”.

For Niall, reconnecting with golf is about much more than the sport itself. It is an opportunity to socialise, build friendships and enjoy shared experiences with others who understand the challenges of sight loss.

The golf day also brought together veterans from across Scotland, creating new connections through a shared love of sport. Army veteran Jim Morrison enjoyed the opportunity to meet others while trying something new.

“I really enjoy sports and coming along to the golf sounded like a good idea. It’s been fantastic and I’ll be coming back to do more of these events. It great to get out and about meeting other veterans, I’ve just met five guys I didn’t know before from all over Scotland and I’d hope to see them again in the future”.

By creating accessible sporting opportunities, we hope to help members reconnect with activities they once thought they had lost, proving that sight loss does not have to mean giving up the sports and experiences that bring joy.