The year I was reminded how much golf means to me

THIS has been a year that I will not forget in a hurry.

Regular readers will know that I was diagnosed with kidney cancer and had to have my right kidney removed. All this in the year when I was installed as Seniors Captain at Dunston Hall Golf Club.

This was something I had been looking forward to for months. There were lots of things I wanted to achieve. I wanted to introduce some mixed matches with our ladies section, I wanted to ensure my charity day was a huge success, I wanted to see more seniors taking part in our inter-club matches and I wanted Captain’s Day to be something special - and I did manage to achieve all of those things.

As I have previously recorded, I have never known pain like it. But the pain has long subsided and I am now playing golf again.

During my illness I asked my vice-captain to step in for me and he did a wonderful job.

I was sent for a CT scan and was confident that all would be well. I had lost 16lb but had put back on an impressive 12lb. I felt really well.

So you can imagine how I felt when I was told that the scan had found some “anomalies” on my liver and my pituitary gland.

I was informed that I would be fast-tracked for an MRI scan and, sure enough, within a week I found myself strapped in for 45 minutes as they carried out a full scan on my head and torso.

It was a scary experience.

The day before, I had sat down with my consultant, who told me about the possibility of immunotherapy. My scan was on the Friday and I was promised that a nurse would call me on the Monday with my results. I sat by my phone all day, but the call never came. I had been given a number to call but, yes, you’ve guessed it, I couldn’t get an answer.

The following day I was on the golf course when the nurse called. I didn’t want to hear what could be bad news while playing golf, so I asked her to call back in the afternoon.

Sure enough, at 2pm I received the call I had been dreading. But I was told that the cancer had gone.

She asked if I wanted to go ahead with immunotherapy but, having read about all the possible side-effects, I opted out. I will be called back every six months for tests and am happy to take my chances.

There was more.

They had also found some irregularities with my oesophagus, which meant another hospital procedure later that week. Thankfully, they found nothing wrong.

Two days later it was off to see another specialist, this time to talk about a hernia in my groin! He had a poke around and informed me that I actually have two hernias. He asked me if I was in pain or discomfort and, when I replied that I wasn’t, he recommended leaving well alone.

I went home and sighed with relief. It was over. Finally!

I had been away from the golf course for almost eight weeks while I recovered and there were feelings of some trepidation when I returned to the course. Would I still be able to play the game to a decent standard? How would I feel physically? My first couple of rounds were a real struggle. I played well enough but by the time I reached the ninth hole I was almost on my knees. I didn’t keep my score - being out there again was enough.

I now had to decide whether I wanted to resume my captaincy duties.

I have to tell you that all of this has taken a huge toll on me emotionally and physically so, with a heavy heart, I informed my vice-captain that I would not be taking up the reins again.

This was the hardest decision I have ever had to take but, for the good of my health, it was the right call. And he had been doing such a wonderful job that I felt it would have been grossly unfair of me to step back in.

My final act as captain had been my charity day, which raised a record £12,000 for the East Anglian Children’s Hospices, which cares for terminally ill children and offers invaluable support to their families.

It seemed like the perfect way to bow out. I feel like a massive weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

Oh, and I somehow managed to win the September medal. This came as a huge surprise to me and, after everything I have been through, it felt extra special.

My wife and I are now planning a week in the sun soon and we are hoping to visit family in Australia in January on an extended break.

Hopefully, this brings the curtain down on a chapter of my life I have no designs on repeating.

I am now living a healthier lifestyle. I have reduced my alcohol intake dramatically and am enjoying my golf like I have never done before.

I no longer care about what I score. It is more than enough for me to be out there swinging a golf club once more. And it sure as hell beats the alternative. I also have to say that getting back on the course has helped my mental wellbeing. Who knew?

Sometimes, you don’t know what you have until it is almost taken away from you.

Happy golfing to you all.