Blind Golfer Wins Local Championship

Imagine not being able to see where your ball ends up or which way you are hitting it.

That is something that Mario Tobia has had to deal with for years. As a man who has progressively lost his sight, Tobia never lost his love for the game of golf. For Tobia, everything for golf is the same, he steps up to the tee, squares his feet, bends his knees and visualizes where he wants the shot to go. The only difference is that because Mario is unable to see, mental visualization is all he can rely on.

And keeping that visualization in his head, Tobia has been able to produce results that most golfers can only dream of.

Since he lost his vision, Tobia has shot consistently in the 90s with his best score ever being an 85. And he’s able to drive the ball 240 yards down the fairway. That’s only 50 yards shorter than the PGA TOUR average.

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Tobia is incredibly thankful that he gets to play the game that he loves even without the ability to see it. “Blind golf gave me a goal and something I wanted to accomplish,” he says. “With the help of my kids I started improving my game and, as time went on, I started seeking professional assistance with coaches like Frank. It’s really changed my life and given me something to look forward to.”

If you’re wondering how Tobia is able to locate the ball and navigate the course, the man ‘Frank’ that he refers to is his guide on the course. It’s Frank Hesson’s job to help Tobia in the logistics of the game. He basically picks up clubs for Tobia, tells him the lie/condition, lines him up, and lets him know if he needs to open or close the club face. And from there, Tobia is the same as any other golfer.

It’s pretty remarkable how well Tobia is able to play given his conditions but he has now won four blind golf championships. And if he keeps bombing balls like he does, I bet he’d be a serious contender in a regular tournament.

Cover Image via Twitter