To the editor:

On Saturday, July 1, I had the pleasure of attending the Blind Miniature Golf Tournament, which was originally an idea put together by Mike Ulrich.

Both sighted and blind were invited to participate in a mini- golf tournament and enjoy an upbeat environment of just plain fun.

My original purpose there was to help out as a sighted guide, but there were already enough volunteers, so I got to participate in the event by playing, with a blindfold. The purpose of this was to get an idea as to what it’s like not having sight, and relying on other senses.

Of course there were sighted guides on the premises, who were the volunteers. They were extremely helpful to participants like me who were blind folded, and to those with actual sight disabilities. They would explain to the participants how to place their golf clubs to gain the easiest access to hitting the golf ball. They would also guide participants throughout the golf course, using only their voice. For example they would stand next to the hole and communicate by explaining that their voice was coming from behind the hole.

This was so helpful due to the fact that they would basically serve as your sight, and help you in every way possible, while ensuring you had a good time and enjoyed the event to your full extent. To my surprise, there was a numerous amount of young people participating in the event. It was really great to witness younger people helping out, but also to see them enjoying themselves while doing it, as well as those who were actually blind and who were around my age, but still had a day of fun.

At this event I got the opportunity to play both with and without the blindfold. The difference between the two was amazing. When blindfolded I had to do something new which was completely different, and that was to rely on other senses. Not having the ability to see where I was hitting the ball, forced me to rely on my hearing more than usual and to listen to my sighted guide telling me where and how to hit the ball.

This brings up another major difference between being blindfolded and not being blindfolded.

When blindfolded I was told approximately how hard or soft to hit the ball depending on how far I was from the hole. When not having the blindfold, I myself could approximate how hard to hit the ball because I had the ability to see how far the actual hole was. But when blindfolded I couldn’t rely on this usual ability. Instead I had to listen as to whether I’d have to hit hard or softly.

I myself, and the other girls participating noticed that when blindfolded everything seemed farther away then what it really was. When blindfolded I always thought everything was far away, but when I would take off the blindfold at the same course I realized I would overestimate the distance by at least two times the actual reality. I walked the majority of the course blindfolded, and in all honesty it was a bit scary, finally being relieved when I removed my blindfold.

My whole life I have had my sight to depend on, but it was different during this experience because I had to rely on others to guide me throughout the day. It made me feel a bit helpless.

The most amazing thing besides the pleasure of experiencing while helping out at the Blind Miniature Golf Tournament, was getting to witness the actual blind participants keeping such positive attitudes. It really made me admire them enormously. My experience really made me develop so much respect as to how they handle daily activities, and the fact is I didn’t even get a full experience, I got a small “taste” of not having the ability of sight. It definitely made me more thankful for what I am blessed to have. It really makes you think about and admire those who go through difficulties in their everyday life and still manage to be immensely happy and optimistic, no matter their situation. It really lets you believe you can overcome anything in life and still be as happy as others.

Dulce Laureano