Perceived facilitators and barriers to participation in golf for people with vision impairment: a qualitative study

Objectives: This study aimed to identify facilitators and barriers to participation in vision impaired (VI) golf. Design: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 VI golfers, 10 guides, and 5 novices during the British VI Golf Open tournament in August 2021. Results: Qualitative content analysis identified the benefits, facilitators, and challenges of playing VI golf. The role of guides and future developments of the sport were furthermore identified. The benefits extend beyond those related to health, including personal development and a sense of purpose for players, and of reward for guides. Facilitators were largely organizational and having appropriate support and a guide. The challenges to playing and guiding were practical, financial, and logistical. The need to attract a more diverse range of players, along with a reconsideration of the eligibility criteria were central to the perceived sustainability of VI golf. Conclusion: These results highlight the practical, financial, and logistical challenges contributing to VI golf activity limitations and participation restrictions. Due to the health, personal, and psychosocial benefits, ways of providing practical, financial, and support networks to facilitate engagement in VI golf should be sought. An evidence-based, sport-specific eligibility system was thought to be critical for the future promotion of VI golf.