It’s now February 2025, and it’s time for a fresh start, and a new chapter in my golf journey.
Looking back over the past few years, I’ve faced my share of health scares, physical setbacks, and challenges that could have easily knocked me off course. But here I am, standing at the start of a new season, believing for the first time in a long time that my body and mind are ready to take the next step in my golf journey. The main goal? A single-figure handicap index.
The 2024 season was a big one for me. Somehow, surviving five heart attacks in March 2024 gave me a new mental resilience on the course. I managed to cut my handicap index from 20 down to 13.2, and it was a shift in belief that changed everything. I realised that if I worked harder and put in more effort than most, I could become better than most. That’s the plan.
At the start of the month (Feb 2025) I took a step I’d never taken before: I sought out a golf coach.
I’ll admit, I approached this with a bit of apprehension. Having never had a lesson before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But after some research, I found a coach who seemed like a genuine, down-to-earth guy, someone who came highly recommended with nothing but positive reviews. His YouTube videos were simple but insightful, and his Instagram page was packed with practical tips and great content.
The More I Practice, The Luckier I Get.
Why I Never Took a Lesson Before
For years, I took pride in being a self-taught golfer. I liked the idea that I’d figured things out on my own. When single-figure handicap players complimented my swing and asked where I took lessons, I felt a quiet sense of achievement. Like most golfers, I absorbed as much as I could online until it became too much.
One coach says, “Do this.”
Another says, “Do that.”
Suddenly, there’s a mountain of conflicting information, and it’s overwhelming.
So, I stopped the instructional videos and online noise. I trusted my instincts and stuck with what worked, and for a while, that was enough.
Then, in my third year of playing golf, arthritis hit me hard.
Holding a club became nearly impossible.
Walking the course felt like climbing a mountain.
Mobility? Gone.
But I kept playing. Not just because I love the game, but because I love the banter on a Saturday morning, the camaraderie, and the feeling of being part of something.
At one point, it got so bad that one of my playing partners, a guy fifteen years older than me, was on the verge of tears watching me try to swing a club. That’s when it hit me: I was doing more harm than good.
For a long time, lessons weren’t an option. What was the point? I’d be canceling left, right, and centre, frustrating both myself and any coach. It wasn’t just about wasting time and money, it would’ve crushed my mental health too.
But here’s the good news: I’ve just had a full year with minimal pain and improved mobility. And now? It’s time to push on.
The Plan: Coaching, Mobility, and a Smarter Approach
How do I feel about coaching? Honestly, I’m not entirely sure.
I know I’m doing the right thing. I know I’m excited about the long-term goal. But the real question is: how far can I go in the next 12 months? That’s what I want to find out.
By next February (2026) I want to be writing about even bigger golf goals for 2026. The coaching is just one part of the puzzle.
Another Change
The second major change? I’ve also approached a coach who specialises in mobility and flexibility training.
This involves:
Pilates
Suspension Training
TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) assessment
TPI is a game-changer, it’s a physical handicap that measures how flexible and mobile you are in the golf swing. After an initial assessment, my coach will create a custom plan to improve my flexibility, mobility, and overall movement.
And this isn’t just about golf.
This is about my health. My longevity. My life off the course.
The Goal? A Better Golfer, A Better Me
By adding these two elements, golf coaching, and mobility training, I’m finally doing something I was never in a position to do before.
I don’t just want to improve. I want to unlock my potential. Let’s see where this journey takes me.
A Coach, A Coach, My Kingdom for a Coach!
After researching a few golf coaches in the area and checking out their content online, I decided to reach out to Callum Beveridge. As a qualified P.G.A coach based at Caprington Golf Club in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, he seemed like the right fit for what I was looking for.
What stood out to me straight away was how genuine Callum was. The way he comes across in his videos? That’s exactly how he is in person. No act, no hidden agenda, just a down-to-earth guy who knows his stuff. That kind of authenticity matters to me, and right away, I knew I’d made the right choice.
We start with a bit of lighthearted chat to break the ice, and have a laugh, and then it’s down to business.
Callum kicks things off by asking about my game, what my shot shape looks like, where my misses tend to land, and what I feel I need to focus on to shave my 13.2 HCI down to single figures.
It’s clear from the get-go that this is going to be a great learning experience.
Callum has probably worked with countless golfers like me, losing shots to the right, struggling with power, and chasing that elusive consistency. He gets straight to it, asking me to take my setup position before I start hitting a few balls into the simulator. As I swing away, he’s locked in, watching, analysing, and capturing videos to break everything down later.
Then comes the moment of truth. On the big screen in his studio, Callum pulls up the footage and lays it all out for me. No surprises here, classic mistakes. My club face is too open at the top of the backswing, still open at impact, and a swing path that’s cutting across my body to the left. Standard fade, power fade… alright, alright, slice, there…I said it. Are you happy now?
And that’s when Callum drops the line every golfer dreads: “Things are gonna start feeling weird.” (Just to clarify, we’re still talking about the golf swing here before anyone lets their mind wander…)
The first change? Strengthening my left-hand grip slightly from my usual neutral position. That seems manageable, not too wild. Then Callum drops the next adjustment: bowing my left wrist. This is meant to stop the clubface from pointing toe-down at the top of my swing, the classic open clubface position.
Immediately, my mind jumps to Dustin Johnson. The only thing I have in common with that guy? The beard. And honestly, this is the first moment I feel a twinge of dread. But I remind myself, Callum’s the expert, and I’m here to learn. I have come to the lesson with an “Empty Cup” mindset. The empty cup mindset is believing that you know nothing.
So, we get to work. A couple of duffed shots, some serious brain rewiring, and then… something clicks. I hit a ball, and the sound it makes, that pure, crisp contact, only happens once in a blue moon. Callum isn’t even watching, but without missing a beat, he says, “That sounded really good.” He looks up just in time to see the tracer on the simulator. The ball has a slight draw, a powerful and straighter flight.
But we’re not done yet.
Callum pulls up more videos, and already, my clubface angle has improved. Then, he introduced me to the HackMotion Wrist Sensor, and let me tell you, this thing is cool. You strap it around your left wrist and slide your fingers through another band, kind of like putting on a glove. Or a gauntlet. A gauntlet of extreme power. The Infinity Gauntlet, if you will. (Okay, maybe I’m getting carried away.)
This device vibrates when my hands and left wrist are in the optimum position. If there’s no vibration, I’m off-track. I love this kind of real-time feedback. Callum has me bow my left wrist as much as I physically can to show me just how far it can go. Having suffered from extreme arthritis since I was about 38 I was never inclined to bow my wrist like this, and at first I was a bit apprehensive, but…Spoiler: you can bow your wrist further than you’d think.
Armed with this new awareness, I step back into the simulator. It still feels weird, but hey, I’m undoing 11 years of muscle memory here. I hit a few really solid shots, and suddenly, I saw it. The benefits. The progress. The potential.
As the lesson wraps up, Callum asks how I feel about what we worked on.
Honestly? It’s been an eye-opener. The session has made me think about my swing in an entirely different way, more focus, more control, and more power. I also know I’ve got a lot of work ahead, but instead of feeling overwhelmed, I feel genuinely excited about the next few months.
I’ve already booked my next lesson for four weeks. In the five days since this session, I’ve been to the range twice, working on exactly what we covered, and filming my swing to track my progress session by session.
This is just the start.
Check Callum out Online
My First TPI Screening with Paul Moultrie (Game-Changer)
I turned up at the Mind Body Golf Studio, where I met founder and coach Paul Moultrie.
First impressions? The place is unreal.
His studio, tucked away at the bottom of his garden, is massive. It’s got everything, a top-of-the-line simulator, a dedicated fitness area, and all the equipment needed for TPI Screening, Pilates, Weight Training and Suspension Training.
In short, it’s a golfer’s dream setup.
But before I even start taking it all in, something else catches my eye, Paul’s Scottish Golf Seniors Order of Merit Trophy that he won in 2024.
We start chatting about his win and everything he’s battled through over the last 12-18 months, and suddenly, the trophy takes on a whole new meaning. Knowing what he’s overcome makes his achievement even more impressive.
Check Out Paul’s video produced by Scottish Golf – Two Down, Five to Play – A Champions Story
Meeting Paul – The Right Coach for the Job
Paul is one of the nicest guys you’ll meet. From the moment you step into the studio, you’re greeted with a warm, genuine smile. There’s no ego, no posturing, just a guy who genuinely cares about helping people improve their game.
Here’s the thing: Paul plays to a plus handicap.
Most people might wonder, “Why would a guy that good care about a 13-handicapper’s goals?” But after just 10 minutes of chatting with him, I knew I was in the right place, working with the right person.
TPI Screening – How Do I Stack Up?
Now, onto the TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) screening.
Paul explains how most golfers in my position tend to score in the low 30s on their first test. Based on our initial phone chat and my goals, he already has a rough idea of where I might land. Just for reference, Tour Pros usually score in the single digit category for this assessment.
Before we even start, I tell him straight: I want to be stronger.
I’ve never been naturally strong, but if I can build strength in the right areas, it’s going to elevate my game. Paul agrees, and we dive in.
The TPI screening consists of 12 exercises designed to test flexibility, mobility, and motion across all the key areas that impact a golf swing.
As we work through the first few movements, Paul surprises me, he tells me he’s actually really impressed with my mobility.
We pinpoint a few areas that need work, but overall, he’s giving me solid feedback. What I appreciate is his way of explaining things, no overcomplicated jargon, no unnecessary detail. He doesn’t just tell me what’s wrong; he shows me. He physically gets into the same positions, demonstrating the difference between good mobility and great mobility.
At this point, I’m loving the session. The chat, the information, the insights, it all makes sense. And to hear someone like Paul say my mobility is pretty solid? That’s a huge confidence boost.
The Score – Where Do I Stand?
We finish up the screening, and Paul submits my results.
First TPI score? 26.
That’s below the average score of 30 most people in my position get on their first session, and I’m buzzing with that. It gives me something to build on, something to push towards.
The Plan – What’s Next?
Paul puts together a structured plan, tailored to my goals and what I want to achieve. Armed with a set of exercises and my next session already booked, I jump in the car and head home.
As I drive past all the Troon golf courses, my mind wanders.
“I wonder what the course record is for these courses?”
Maybe one day, I’ll find out.
