It takes two to play blind golf. Five-time Canadian Open blind golfer Gerry Nelson, standing, relies on the eyesight of his friend Chris Villeneuve to position his club behind the ball. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
Move over golfing sensation, Nick Taylor.
While the new Canadian Open champ hopes to become the first Canuck to win the U.S. Open, underway Thursday, Canada’s Gerry Nelson is the reigning U.S. Open champ for blind golfers.
He is also the only five-time Canadian Open champ and the defending champion from Meadow Lake Saskatchewan, with his playing partner and best friend, Chris Villeneuve, sharing the glory.
Taylor became only the second Canadian in 69 years to win the Canadian Open last Sunday with two good eyes by sinking an unbelievable 72-foot putt on the fourth playoff hole to win the event.
Nelson, on the other hand, has been totally blind from diabetes since 1988 and relies on the sight of Villeneuve to line up his shots.
The dynamic duo are both Lions Club members who talked about their unique partnership while helping to raise funds and awareness at the Lloydminster Lions Club Golf Tournament at Rolling Green Fairways on June 9.
Nelson says he took up blind golf in 1991 and Villeneuve came into the picture about 10 years later. They’ve been together ever since.
“We’ve been to the World Championship three times, the English Open, the British Open, the U.S. Open, the Canadian Open. We’ve been to Japan four times,” said Nelson.
He says he golfs the same way sighted people do, only he can’t see the ball, or anything for that matter.
“Chris sets me up and holds the club stationery to the ball. I position myself and he gets out of the way and I hit it, and we go do it again,” explained Nelson.
He noted he was a golfer before he lost his sight, so he knew what a nice golf swing is supposed to look like.
Villeneuve says as a tandem, they are very competitive on an international level at the moment, having won the U.S. Open this past March with another Canadian Open later this summer.
“Gerry and I were friends before he lost his vision,” said Villeneuve.
“When the day came when he needed my help, of course, I said ya. I just fell in love with the game. We got really good at it really fast. He’s so competitive when it comes to the game of golf.”
Villeneuve notes golfing is just a great game in general, but to be able to go out with your buddy and support each other the way they do and do as well as they do, is totally enjoyable.
“As long as we stay competitive, I’ll be here,” he said.
His wife, Terry, thinks the secret sauce to their chemistry is their lifelong friendship.
“They are awesome together when they’re out there on the golf course and any place else. Chris is Gerry’s eyes and Gerry depends on Chris to be there for him,” she said.
Darryl Oster says having Nelson and Villeneuve at the tournament fits in well with the organization’s support of eyesight and diabetes causes.
“One of the things we are very big supporters of is sight,” said Oster.
“We invited Gerry to attend our local charity golf tournament today and he was able to make it. We’re excited to have him.”
Oster says they are hoping to raise up to $7,000 in their second annual tournament with a focus on funding local diabetes programs this year.
“We’re looking at setting up a support group for Type 1 diabetics in the area,” said Oster.
Nelson added it’s been close to 75 years that Lions clubs in Canada have supported blind golf financially, as well as by hosting tournaments and providing transportation.
He came to Rolling Green with Villeneuve to play nine holes and help raise funds for local causes.
“It’s just nice to give back to the community,” said Nelson.
The 59-year-old is a past-president and current vice president of the Western Canadian Blind Golf Association and is in his second term as president of Blind Golf Canada.
He is also in his second term as a director on the board of the International Blind Golf Association.
He retired as a provincial client service coordinator with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind in 2021.
