“I Had Prostate Cancer — And This Is What It Did to My Golf”
By a Golfer Who’s Still Inspired.
Many of our clients and members have had prostate cancer, so we wanted to share this story to inspire you if this is you.
It’s a collection of many conversations we have had, so we wanted to share what we’d learned in one article
………………………………………
I never thought I’d say this, but prostate cancer taught me something about golf and my seniors golf swing, and even more about myself. When I first heard the diagnosis, everything felt like it stopped. My world, my routines, my confidence… and yes, even my golf game.
Let’s be honest, golf isn’t just a game. For people like me, it’s a lifeline. It’s where I clear my head, compete, relax, and feel alive. So the thought of losing that? Devastating.
Here’s what prostate cancer did to my golf the good, the bad, and the surprising.
The Physical Toll on my seniors golf swing
Treatment was tough. Surgery left me feeling weak. Radiation drained my energy. Hormone therapy took away my strength and stamina. Rounds that used to feel easy became exhausting. I started using a cart (buggy) more. I couldn’t always make it through 18 holes. I lost a bit of distance, a bit of flexibility, and for a while, a lot of my confidence. This was not something I was used to. I had a successful business and I can honestly say that rarely did I have suffer from a lack of confidence.
There were also less spoken about things. Like needing to know where the toilets were on every course. Wearing protection, just in case. Managing unexpected side effects that no one had ever prepped me for. As we know, finding the bathroom on some courses can be quite tricky so this in the first place really played on my mind.
But I adapted. I had to. Here’s what I did. I lightened my bag taking out the clubs that I never use very much (this taught me a lot in its own right). I shortened my backswing – that was something new that I had to learn. I warmed up properly (neer real. I started hitting smarter instead of harder. Funny thing my score didn’t get worse. In some ways, it got better. All the aspects that are integral in the Proper Golfing Methodology which is really helpful.
The Mental Game
Golf is already a mental sport, and cancer messes with your head. It’s hard to focus when you’re carrying fear in your gut. Some days I didn’t want to play. Some days I played just to feel normal.
But something shifted. Golf became my therapy. A place I could go where cancer didn’t define me. The course didn’t care about my diagnosis. It just asked me to show up.
And when I did, when I made that crisp iron shot, I felt like myself again. Not a patient. A senior golfer.
The Unexpected Gift for a seniors golf swing
I found a new community, other golfers going through the same fight. We shared tips, frustrations, laughs, and encouragement. Turns out, the 19th hole is a great place for real conversations. so were the people at Proper Golfing.
And I learned to ask for help. To accept support. To slow down. To appreciate just being out there on the grass, chasing a little white ball under the sun. Being a member of Proper Golfing has taught me the value of appreciation so it underpinned
everything I needed to do from the mental side of the game
My Message to You
If you’re reading this and you’re going through something similar, don’t give up your game.
You may have to change the way you play, but you don’t have to stop. Make the most of the support you can get from Proper Golfing. Learn new ways and appreciate the good days.
Golf isn’t just about perfect swings and long drives. It’s about presence, challenge, joy, and resilience. And those things? Cancer can’t take them.
Final Thought
I had prostate cancer. And it changed my golf. But it didn’t end it.
In some strange way, it made me a better golfer, and a better man.
So I’ll keep teeing it up. One shot, one step, one breath at a time.
To download HERE your FREE guide to Unleash Your Ultimate Golf Swing
To download HERE your FREE sample of The Proper Golfing Handbook
If you’d like to help raise funds for Prostate Cancer you can do so here The Big Golf Race 2025
