Coaches Corner – Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association

Revised 02/14/2026

Coach Assistance and Responsibilities

The Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association (MABGA) supports blind and low vision golfers by promoting access to qualified golf coaches who understand the unique needs of adaptive golf. While golfers are encouraged to secure their own coaches when possible, the MABGA Coaches Committee is available to help connect golfers with experienced volunteer coaches for tournaments, outings, practice rounds, or longer-term arrangements when available.

If you need assistance finding a coach or would like more information about coaching opportunities, please contact:
Coaches Committee Chair: James Donofrio
Email: coaches-corner@mabga.org
Phone: 856-701-9182

Under the leadership of James Donofrio, the Coaches Committee recruits, registers, and matches volunteer golf coaches with blind and low vision golfers throughout the Middle Atlantic region, ensuring every golfer has the guidance, safety support, and on-course assistance needed to enjoy and succeed in the game of golf.

Registering as a Coach

If you are currently coaching blind or low vision golfers — or are interested in becoming a volunteer golf coach — please complete the appropriate registration form:

Coach registration allows MABGA to maintain accurate program records, match blind and low vision golfers with appropriate volunteer coaches, and support safe, structured, and effective adaptive golf instruction. Volunteer coaches are a vital part of blind golf, and we welcome individuals with golf experience, patience, and a commitment to service who are interested in making a meaningful impact by helping golfers build confidence, develop skills, and fully enjoy the game.

Definition of a Coach and Their Responsibilities

In blind golf, a coach plays a critical role in both safety and performance. A coach assists a blind or low vision golfer with physical orientation, strategic decision-making, and course navigation throughout a round.

A coach’s responsibilities may include:

Assisting with transportation to and from the golf course
Guiding the golfer safely around the course and clubhouse
Helping with alignment and stance before each shot
Describing course layout, terrain, and hazards
Providing distance information and club selection guidance
Offering constructive feedback and encouragement

While responsibilities may increase during competitive play, most golf at MABGA events is recreational or casual. The level of assistance should always reflect the golfer’s preferences, independence level, and vision classification. A coach is more than a guide — they are a trusted partner who enhances safety, strategy, and overall enjoyment of the game.

General Responsibilities of a Coach:

The degree of support a coach provides varies depending on the golfer’s level of vision, experience, and comfort on the course. Effective coaching in blind golf requires attentiveness, clear communication, and an understanding of each golfer’s individual preferences.

Some low vision golfers may independently move between the cart and ball and require only alignment and distance guidance.
Others may need assistance navigating uneven terrain, locating their ball, or identifying subtle changes in elevation.
Blind golfers typically require more comprehensive mobility support both on the course and in surrounding areas such as practice greens, tee boxes, and the clubhouse.

Coaches should remain nearby and attentive at all times to promote safety, particularly around slopes, water hazards, bunkers, cart paths, and other potential obstacles. Providing clear verbal cues before changes in terrain or direction is essential.

In addition to physical guidance, coaches are responsible for maintaining steady, concise communication. Instructions should be consistent and easy to understand, allowing the golfer to build trust and confidence throughout the round. As the coach and golfer develop familiarity, communication styles, pacing, and support levels naturally become more refined, creating a stronger and more effective partnership on the course.

Common Tasks for a Coach:

Coaching blind and low vision golfers requires structured, consistent support throughout the round. A coach serves as both a technical guide and a trusted on-course partner, helping the golfer make informed decisions while maintaining safety, confidence, and pace of play. Effective coaching in adaptive golf combines communication, awareness, and a clear understanding of the golfer’s individual preferences. The following responsibilities represent the core tasks typically performed by a blind golf coach:

Distance and Direction Assistance:

Accurate distance and directional information are foundational in blind golf and directly influence shot execution and scoring.

Alignment Support: Provide clear, step-by-step verbal instructions to properly align the golfer with the intended target. This may include positioning feet, shoulders, hips, and clubface to ensure a consistent setup before each stroke. Coaches may also use intermediate targets to simplify alignment.
Distance Estimation: Determine yardage using pacing, rangefinders, GPS devices, course markers, or yardage books. Accurate distance information helps the golfer confidently select the correct club and control swing strength.
Directional Guidance: Communicate specific aim points for tee shots, approach shots, chips, and recovery shots. Include relevant information about wind direction, elevation changes, and ideal landing areas.

Consistent alignment routines and clear directional communication help build rhythm, trust, and repeatability in the golfer’s swing.

Terrain Description:

Blind and low vision golfers rely heavily on detailed and accurate course descriptions to form a mental picture of each hole.

Course Layout Overview: Describe the overall shape and strategy of the hole, including fairway width, doglegs, carry distances, landing zones, and elevation changes. Clarify ideal positioning for the next shot.
Surface Conditions: Explain fairway firmness, rough thickness, bunker placement, green surrounds, and any environmental factors that may influence ball flight, bounce, or roll.
Green Reading Assistance: Provide a thorough description of the putting surface, including slope direction, tiers, grain, speed, and pin placement. Offer insight into anticipated break and recommended pace for putts.

Clear terrain descriptions enable golfers to develop a strategic plan before stepping into the shot, increasing confidence and course management skills.

Hazard Information and Strategy:

Strategic awareness is essential for risk management, confidence, and consistent scoring in blind golf.

Hazard Awareness: Clearly identify and describe potential obstacles such as water hazards, sand traps, trees, out-of-bounds areas, cart paths, severe slopes, and forced carries. Provide specific information about their location, distance, and relative position to the intended target.
Depth and Severity Description: When appropriate, explain the size, depth, or difficulty of a hazard (for example, whether a bunker has a steep face or whether water runs the full length of one side of the fairway). This helps the golfer weigh risk versus reward.
Strategic Planning: Offer guidance on conservative versus aggressive play options, safe landing zones, lay-up distances, and preferred angles for approach shots. Assist the golfer in selecting the smartest option based on skill level, match situation, and course conditions.
Decision Support: Help the golfer think one shot ahead by explaining how current positioning may affect the next stroke, particularly when navigating around hazards or setting up an approach shot.
Preference Sensitivity: Some golfers prefer comprehensive hazard detail, while others prefer minimal information to maintain focus. Coaches should tailor the level of detail and tone of delivery to the golfer’s comfort and competitive style.

Thoughtful hazard communication and sound strategy not only reduce penalties but also promote smarter course management and greater confidence throughout the round.

Shot Feedback and Encouragement:

Constructive feedback and emotional support are central to effective blind golf coaching.

Performance Feedback: Immediately after each shot, describe ball flight, trajectory, carry distance, roll, direction, and final resting position. Clear and objective feedback allows the golfer to understand results without distraction.
Adjustment Guidance: Provide concise, actionable suggestions when adjustments are needed, focusing on one or two key elements rather than overwhelming detail.
Reinforcement of Success: Highlight well-executed shots and smart decisions to reinforce positive habits and strengthen confidence.
Emotional Support: Maintain a calm, steady, and encouraging tone throughout the round, particularly after challenging holes or missed opportunities.

Balanced feedback helps the golfer remain focused, resilient, and motivated from the first tee to the final putt.

General Assistance on the Course:

Beyond technical instruction, coaches provide essential logistical, safety, and situational support.

Safe Navigation: Guide golfers between shots and alert them to elevation changes, steps, wet areas, cart paths, bunkers, and other environmental hazards.
Ball Location and Positioning: Assist in locating the ball and positioning the golfer appropriately, particularly in rough, bunkers, or uneven lies.
Club Selection Guidance: Recommend clubs based on yardage, lie conditions, wind direction, and overall strategy for the hole.
Pace of Play Management: Monitor the group’s pace and course flow. When necessary, help determine when it is appropriate for the golfer to pick up their ball and move to the next hole to maintain pace of play, particularly during casual rounds or instructional settings.
Weather and Course Conditions: Provide insight into wind strength, temperature, turf conditions, and how these factors may influence club choice and shot shape.

Strong communication, patience, adaptability, and situational awareness are essential qualities that allow coaches to perform these responsibilities effectively and consistently.

USGA Rules for Blind Golfers and Coaches

The United States Golf Association (USGA) provides guidance and clarifications regarding the role of coaches assisting blind golfers during competitive play. These rules ensure fairness in competition while recognizing the unique support required in blind and low vision golf.

During tournament rounds conducted under USGA Rules of Golf, coaches must understand the boundaries of their role, particularly regarding advice, alignment, equipment handling, and positioning. While most MABGA events are casual, competitive play requires adherence to these standards to maintain consistency with national governing body regulations. Coaches should familiarize themselves with the following clarifications to ensure compliance during sanctioned events.

Definition of a Coach:

The status of the coach and the duties which he may perform should be defined clearly. Without such clarification, it would be difficult, for example, to determine how a blind golfer must proceed if his ball were to strike his or another player’s coach after a stroke. Therefore, the following definition is suggested:

A coach is an individual who assists a blind golfer with alignment and addressing the ball prior to making a stroke. Under USGA Rules, a coach has the same status as a caddie during competitive play.

In this capacity, the coach may provide guidance related to alignment, setup, target direction, and permitted advice before the stroke is made. However, the coach must avoid any actions that would violate the Rules of Golf, particularly during the execution of the stroke itself. Understanding the limits of the coach’s involvement helps preserve the integrity of competition while ensuring that blind golfers receive the necessary assistance to compete effectively. A player may ask for and receive advice from their coach.

Notable USGA Rules:

A coach is someone who helps a blind golfer with alignment and addressing the ball before a stroke. Under the USGA rules, a coach has the same status as a caddie.
NOTE: A player may ask for and receive advice from his coach.
Rule 6-4 (Caddie) – There is nothing in the Rules which would prohibit the coach of a blind golfer from functioning as his caddie. For a variety of reasons, however, a coach may not be able to perform the duties of a caddie. Therefore, there should not be a prohibition against a blind golfer having both a coach and a caddie. In such circumstances, however, the coach may not carry or handle the player’s clubs except in helping the player take his stance or align himself prior to making the stroke, or in assisting him as permitted by analogy to Decision 6-4/4.5. Otherwise, the player would be subject to disqualification for having more than one caddie.
Rule 8-1 (Advice) – In view of the Definition of “Coach,” it is suggested that Rule 8-1 be modified as follows:
- 8-1. Advice – A player shall not give advice to anyone in the competition except his partner. A player may ask for advice from only his partner, either of their caddies or, if applicable, their coaches.
Rule 13-4b (Grounding Club in Hazard) – The following additional Exception under Rule 13-4 is suggested:
- Exceptions – Provided nothing is done which constitutes testing the condition of the hazard or improves the lie of the ball, there is no penalty if a blind golfer grounds his club in a hazard preparatory to making a stroke. However, the player is deemed to have addressed the ball when he has taken his stance.
Rule 16-1f (Position of Caddie or Partner) – Due to the complexities involved in aligning a blind golfer on the putting green, it may be difficult or unreasonable to expect the blind golfer and his coach to comply with Rule 16-1f. Therefore, there should be no penalty if a player’s coach positions himself on or close to an extension of the line of putt behind the ball during a stroke played from the putting green provided the coach does not assist the player in any other manner during the stroke. However, given the intent of Rule 16-lf, it may be appropriate to prohibit a coach who is simultaneously functioning as a double caddie from remaining in a position which contravenes this Rule.

For more information regarding these rules, contact the USGA:
P.O. Box 708
Far Hills, NJ 07931-0708
Phone: 908 234 2300
fax: 908 234 986

Why Coaches Are Important in Blind Golf

Coaches play a vital role in the success and continued growth of blind and low vision golf. They provide the orientation, safety awareness, technical guidance, and encouragement that enable golfers to develop skills, build confidence, and participate fully in the game. Through alignment support, distance judgment, hazard awareness, and strategic planning, coaches help golfers navigate the course effectively and make informed decisions. Their guidance allows players to visualize each hole, understand course conditions, manage risk, and adjust their approach as needed throughout the round. Strong coaching relationships also foster trust, independence, and consistency. With clear communication and steady support, golfers are able to focus on execution and personal improvement rather than uncertainty about their surroundings. Whether during tournaments, organized outings, or casual rounds, a knowledgeable and attentive coach helps ensure a safe, rewarding, and enjoyable experience for every MABGA participant.