On the green: son of Celtic star who’s taking blind golf by storm
HIS dad was deadly in front of goal for Celtic in the 1970s and 80s, and now he is hitting the target on the golf course in international competitions – despite being partially sighted.
Barry McCluskey, son of ex-Celtic ace George McCluskey, was registered as partially sighted earlier this year.
But the passionate golfer hasn’t let his sight problems deter him, going on to play in the Blind Golfing Open in July this year.
And Barry now hopes to find backing to enter competitions all over the world.
The 36-year-old first picked up his clubs as a 13 year-old, but was diagnosed with serious sight problems in 2000 and had a cornea transplant at just 18.
Barry, from Uddingston, was diagnosed with keratoconus, an eye condition where the cornea thins causing a cone-like bulge to develop.
Barry, a learning assistant by day, said: “I picked golf up with my dad and then when I was a bit older I joined a club.
“In 2000 I was diagnosed with keratoconus, so my eye is out of shape now and it doesn’t take in light perception well.
“My eyes are extremely light sensitive and my pupil doesn’t dilate properly.
“I started to notice it when I was in college doing health and fitness. I couldn’t see the presentations in class right or the balls out on the field.”
Barry underwent a cornea transplant operation soon after his diagnosis to try and improve his sight.
He said: “I basically had my cornea cut out and a new one put it.
“It was a very serious operation because my eye had to accept the new cornea and thankfully it did.
“But while my eye didn’t reject it, my vision is not as good as the doctors thought it would be.
“It has started to develop in my right eye too, now.
“But doctors are reluctant to give me another transplant because I already have so much scarring – they don’t want to give me more if the operation then isn’t successful.
“I also had cataracts removed from both of my eyes in 2008.”
Barry, who tees up at Bothwell Castle golf club, plays off a handicap of 16 but needs a guide to help him get around the course.
He said: “Over the years I was able to see the ball on the green but in the last year I have noticed a big change in my sight for the worse.
“And then in January, I was registered as partially sighted.
“It means now I can’t be on the golf course by myself, I always need to be with someone.
“I have a golfing guide who tees me up and lines up my shots for me. I can see the ball at my feet but as soon as I play it, someone else has to watch where it goes.
“All the colours merge into one, I can’t tell the green apart from the trees, and I can’t see the hole.
“I do get frustrated because I know I can play better. But I am starting to come to terms with the fact I won’t be as good because of my sight.”
“I played at the British Blind Golfing Open in July and finished in the top 10 which I was incredibly proud of for my first international competition.
“There are opportunities to go to competitions all over the world, so to get some sponsorship would be great.
“I would love to get more people involved with the sport.”