How This Golfer Rediscovered His Love For Playing Golf in 2024

When I retired from my full-time job as a sports journalist in January I wondered what on earth I was going to do with the rest of my life. January 13 is indelibly marked in my memory - it was the day I celebrated my departure from the Daily Express with a group of colleagues who had been a joy to work with.

I had not picked up a golf club for a number of years because of shoulder issues but decided that the time had come to see if I could still hit a golf ball with any degree of proficiency.

So here is my golf year in review…

The first step was to head to the driving range and start hitting some golf balls. It wasn’t pretty but I quickly discovered that eliminating a daily routine that saw me spending up to 10 hours a day in front of a computer screen with little more than a 15-minute break meant that the pain in my shoulders quickly began to ease.

So the next step was to join a golf club. I live in Norwich and emailed every club within a 10-mile radius of the city. Only two replied - Royal Norwich and Dunston Hall. To be frank, Royal Norwich wanted more than I was prepared to pay, along with a joining fee.

I took myself along to Dunston Hall Golf Club to meet the team and the thing that struck me immediately was that they actually wanted me as a member. I told the golf team that I was incredibly rusty but they made all the right noises. So I signed up there and then and then joined the seniors section.

My first match was played in the company of the seniors captain, and I could not have been made more welcome. I played horribly. There were some decent shots but by and large it was a morning to forget. But I was quickly introduced to potential playing partners, many of whom are now proper friends.

What made it worse for me was that England Golf had decreed that I should return to the game playing off a handicap of 9.7. Even Dunston’s handicap secretary agreed that this seemed pretty brutal. And it got worse. When the course’s slope rating was changed I was informed that I would now have to play off 7.2. 

Back then, I was struggling to play off 20 on a good day. 

And this is where I have to thank the Golfshake Community. I wrote an article about my struggles and several readers advised me that I could appeal to my handicap committee. With nothing to lose, I did precisely that and, lo and behold, my handicap was increased to 18.2 - the highest it had been since I was 14-year-old. But at least I was competitive again.

What next? 

Oh yes…a dose of the shanks. They came from nowhere and the harder I tried to cure them the worse they got. If you have ever shanked a golf ball I do not need to tell you that it is the most soul-destroying shot in golf. 

I realised that I needed a golf lesson so booked a session with Caroline Grady at Norwich Golf Centre. In two minutes she had sorted me out.

But there was still an issue. I was using a Titleist driver that I could not hit to save my life. Everything went right - and kept going right. And travelled no distance.

I headed up north to see Golfshake’s Equipment Expert, Howley Hall Golf Club PGA Pro Ryan Rastall. With the help of Trackman technology he quickly worked out that the shaft on my driver was all wrong for me. He worked his magic and had me custom-fitted for a TaylorMade Qi10, fitted with a lightweight shaft, a full inch shorter than standard. Eureka! All of a sudden, I was hitting the ball 20 yards further.

I have worked hard on my driving and my draw has returned. From battling to hit the ball 150 yards into the right rough, I am now finding the middle of most fairways and am striking it 220-230 yards. It has been an incredible transformation.

There have been some highlights. I reached the final of the seniors singles knockout. Four down with five holes to play, I would have taken it to extra holes had I not missed a three-foot putt on the final green. And blow me down, I won a monthly medal, shooting a gross 81, nett 66 on a difficult day for scoring. And there was a memorable society day at Barnham Broom where I managed four birdies and scored 44 points - and also claimed the nearest the pin prize. 

I hooked up with an old golfing buddy from my Suffolk days at his home club, Hintlesham Hall, and played the first nine holes in one over par. Sadly, the pace of play was so funereal that we had to give up the ghost after 12 holes.

So it is still in there somewhere.

I have also represented the club in team matches, have made some wonderful new friends - and in January will become vice-captain of the seniors section. I also helped the current captain to raise a record £8,000 for his charity day.

I have played golf at Eaton GC, Diss and Sheringham, I have played on the banks of Loch Tay in Scotland and at Cowdray Park in the South Downs. But best of all was an incredible two days at Carden Park near Chester - this is what all golf resorts should be like.

I have a very significant birthday just around the corner but have set myself a target of getting my handicap down to 12 by the end of 2025.

I apologise for what might seem like a self-indulgent missive but the point of it is to emphasise that you are never too old to enjoy this wonderful game.

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