Whitey, my legally blind husband and former golf professional, often directs golf tournaments for local charities. Right now he is working on the local Optimist Club Golf Tournament, a tournament he has directed for 6 years or more. So how does a legally blind fellow direct a golf tournament?

First, it is important to know that Whitey has a huge list of golfers, friends and acquaintances that he who are serious golfers. A list for Whitey is a stack of 4 x 6 index cards. Whitey writes on the cards with a
20 20 pen which is a very bold point pen. The 20/20 pens do not have the terrible odor associated with normal marking pens. Each 4 x 6 card contains a name, a phone number and some very special “Whitey code”. WCB — means he left a message and they will call back. Of course they will! A check mark and date indicates that he talked to them about the tournament. YES means that the golfer has agreed to put a team in the tournament.

The next project is to find sponsors for each hole. Local businesses make a $50 donation and the club posts a sign on each hole. Again, Whitey has a stack of cards, his list. This includes businesses that have contributed in the past or new businesses that we have heard about through the year. Name of Business, name of contact and a phone number all written with the trusty 2020 pens. And of course, the coding at the bottom of the card indicates the responses.

As his vision has deteriorated, many times throughout the day he brings cards for me to read. This is frustrating for him, I know, and we simply need to research a better system. But for now, it works.

He also finds businesses to donate gifts for the auction after the golf tournament. Tomorrow for instance, one of the Optimist members is taking him on a “pick up gifts” run. They will call on businesses who have agreed to donate a gift for the auction. These gifts are also found via Whitey’s now famous telephone cards.

Of course, we often have businesses who need to receive an invoice or proof of Optimist Club sponsorship, and I email those addresses to the club treasurer and he sends out the bills.

To be continued tomorrow…..

PS The photo was made during a golf trip to Scotland last year. But that’s another story. We just needed a bit of humor in this dry post of details.