Aug 12, 2009 7:16 pm US/Eastern
Disability? Blind Golfer Shines At L.I. Course
Ted Fass Has Always Dealt With Stereotypes, But When It Comes To Ball-Striking He Sees Things Quite Clearly
Reporting
Cindy Hsu
OCEANSIDE, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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Ted Fass hits 'em long and straight. Not bad for someone who has been blind since he was 11.
CBS
If you ever get frustrated on the golf course or have been too intimidated to even try the game there's a player who will inspire you to give it a shot.
CBS 2 HD went to Long Island, where a special player is tearing up the course.
Ted Fass took up golf four years ago at Middle Bay Country Club in Oceanside. He shocked the golf pro when he scheduled his first lesson and told him he was completely blind.
"At first I was a little intimidated to be honest with you," Ronald Wright said.
The 57-year-old said he wasn't surprised.
"I call it the Stevie Wonder Syndrome. I guess people have a stereotypical kind of view of what blind people are supposed to be like," said Fass, a 33-handicap.
Fass lost his sight to illness when he was 11 and has spent his life breaking stereotypes.
"Golf I would say is my favorite right now. I also water ski, I snow ski," he said. "I'm the executive director of a blind baseball team called the Long Island Varments."
Fass and golf pro Wright are now like a well-oiled machine ... with no special equipment, just a lot of communication.
"This ball, you're down wind, down grain, down hill. Other than that it's perfect," Wright said to Fass during a lesson CBS 2 HD had the chance to attend.
The only thing you'll find different in his golf bag are Braille labels to identify his clubs.
Fass played in his first tournament last week.
"As good as he hits it when he's on people would never expect or realize he's blind until they actually found it out. No names to be mentioned, there are a few members here I might bet on Ted," Wright said.
So for everyone out there, who's intimidated to try something new.
"I would call it attitude, mental drive to just try and give it a shot. If it doesn't work or if you feel uncomfortable, don't do it. But you definitely have to try to do it," Fass said.
Fass is on the course about two to three times a week, but said he'd be here every day if he didn't work. Right now, he's training for another tournament.
If you're visually impaired and you'd like to take up the game, Fass suggested you check out the United States Blind Golf Association. Click
here for the link.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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