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Darren Douma is one of the world’s top blind golfers and vice president of administration for Blind Golf Canada, a not-for-profit organization with a motto that promotes something Douma didn’t always know: “We Can Still Play!”
Published Aug 04, 2025 • Last updated 42 minutes ago • 3 minute read
Anders Mellstrom helps blind golfer Martin Forstner set up a putt on the green on Sunday, Aug. 3 at the Greens at Renton, which is hosting Blind Golf Canada’s provincial, national and international tournaments. The pair travelled to Norfolk County from Stockholm, Sweden to participate. Photo by MICHELLE RUBY /Brantford ExpositorArticle content
Having lost much of his eyesight 16 years ago, Darren Douma was about to pack up this golf clubs.
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“I’d been golfing since the age of 10 but I was ready to give it up. I was frustrated,” he said of struggling with his game and feeling like a burden to fellow players.
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Douma has Stargardt’s disease, the most common form of inherited juvenile macular degeneration, which causes progressive vision loss.
Today Douma is one of the world’s top blind golfers and vice president of administration for Blind Golf Canada, a not-for-profit organization with a motto that promotes something Douma didn’t always know: “We Can Still Play!”
At the Greens at Renton east of Simcoe, about 150 visually impaired and blind golfers and guides from around the world are proving just that.
The 27-hole course has become the official home of Blind Golf Canada and played host to the Blind Golf Canada Ontario Provincials from Aug. 1 to 2. The Canadian Open, which began on Aug. 3 will wind up on Tuesday, and the International Blind Golf Association World Championships will be held at the course from Wednesday to Friday.
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Fifteen countries are represented, including players and guides from Austria, Australia, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, Mexico, South Africa, Sweden, Israel, England, Scotland and the United States.
At 29, Paddy Morgan has been playing golf half his life. Diagnosed at birth with retinitis pigmentosa, he first played soccer in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland, before switching to golf.
Morgan competes in the B2 division. According to International Blind Golf Association rules, golfers compete from B3 to B1, with those in B3 having about 10 per cent vision; B2 about five per cent; and those in B1 being totally blind.
Morgan travelled from Ireland to Simcoe with his dad, Pat, who is also his guide.
Blind golf is played following the same rules as regular golf with some necessary modifications. Guides act as the golfer’s eyes, helping them with alignment, distance and reading the course.
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“We line up, swing and say our prayers,” joked Pat, sitting with his son on a patio at the Greens at Renton on Sunday, a practice day leading up to the national tournament. “Then we do it all over again.
“It’s wonderful until I give him the wrong club and he doesn’t get on the green.”
Twenty-year-old Jacob Detmar of Brantford became involved with the Blind Golf organization as a volunteer. After being invited into a practice round, he said he “got a little lucky,” shooting a hole-in-one.
Mandy Detmar (from left); Darren Douma, vice-president of administration with Blind Golf Canada, visually-impaired golfer Paddy Morgan and his father Pat Morgan of Dublin, Ireland; and Detmar’s son Jacob Detmar, also a visually-impaired golfer, were among those at the Greens at Renton on the weekend, which is hosting Blind Golf Canada’s provincial, national and international tournaments. MICHELLE RUBY/Brantford Expositor Photo by MICHELLE RUBY /Brantford Expositor
Detmar competes in the B3 division, working with Jacob Erwin, the director of golf at Greens at Renton.
“I like the challenge the game brings,” said Detmar who is competing in the Blind Golf Canada tournaments. “I like the feeling of hitting a really good shot.”
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And he said being with other visually impaired golfers, guides and others involved with Blind Golf Canada “feels like a big family.”
“He told me he finally feels comfortable, that he didn’t have to answer a thousand questions,” said Detmar’s mom Mandy Detmar. “They just got it.”
Brad Halyk, general manager at Greens at Renton, said hosting the Blind Golf tournaments allows them to give back to the community.
“I find it very inspiring,” he said. “There is a great comradery among them.”
Douma said the organization is always looking to grow.
“We’re here for people who have never golfed and for those who have played and lost their vision and don’t think they can. We want more members both nationally and worldwide.”
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