A powerful new partnership between England & Wales Blind Golf, Southend In Sight, and The Norman Garon Trust is set to transform access to golf for people living with sight loss and visual impairment across Essex.

The collaboration brings together national expertise, local specialist support and outstanding facilities at Garon Park Golf Complex to introduce golf as an inclusive, sociable and confidence-building sport for beginners with sight loss, as well as those who may have played historically but stopped due to deteriorating vision.

Every day, 250 people in the UK begin to lose their sight. For many, this life-changing experience can lead to isolation, reduced confidence and withdrawal from hobbies and social activities they once enjoyed. The new partnership aims to address this directly by creating a welcoming pathway back into sport and into community.

To officially launch the initiative, a dedicated Sight Loss Golf Clinic will take place on Thursday 24th March, from 2pm to 4pm, at Garon Park Golf Complex. The session will be hosted on the venue’s innovative Toptracer Range, where cutting-edge technology is helping to redefine accessibility in golf.

Toptracer technology tracks the flight of the golf ball and displays its path, distance and accuracy on individual TV screens in each bay. For visually impaired and blind golfers, this removes one of the traditional barriers to participation, the need to see where the ball travels. Instead, players can receive instant visual feedback on screen, alongside verbal guidance from coaches and support volunteers

Organisers believe this technology “opens up the sport again,” enabling participants to build skills, confidence and enjoyment in a supportive and adaptive environment

The ambition extends beyond a single event. The partners hope Garon Park will become a recognised hub for visually impaired and blind golf in the region. Participants will be able to progress from the digital driving range to the Par 3 short course, and ultimately to the full-length 18-hole course, creating a sustainable pathway into the sport.

Golf offers far more than physical exercise. It provides fresh air, routine, skill development and, crucially, social connection. For people experiencing sight loss, opportunities to engage in shared activities can play a significant role in breaking down loneliness and isolation. The sociable nature of golf, whether on the range or walking a course with others, creates natural opportunities for conversation, friendship and peer support.

Southend In Sight will work closely with local individuals and families to encourage participation, while England & Wales Blind Golf will provide specialist expertise in coaching and adaptive techniques. The Norman Garon Trust, owners and operators of Garon Park Golf Complex, see the initiative as a natural extension of their charitable commitment to inclusion, wellbeing and community engagement through sport.

Together, the partners are sending a clear message: sight loss does not mean the end of sport. With the right support, technology and encouragement, golf can truly be a game for all.

For further information about the Sight Loss Golf Clinics on 24th March, email matt@garonparkgolf.co.uk or call 01702 601701.