A Fresh Start: Michael's Return to Golf With an Old Approach

Golf has always been my escape—the fresh air, the camaraderie, and the challenge of the game itself. But last season was a tough one. A prolapsed disc meant I only managed to play three full rounds, with a handful of six- or nine-hole outings with my daughter, dad, and friends. Truthfully, it was hard to find the motivation to get out there, knowing that every swing would come with pain and that my game wouldn’t be at its best. But trying to get Ellie into golf kept me going—if she was excited to play, then so was I

The hardest part of being sidelined wasn’t just the missed rounds—it was missing the moments. The regular Saturday four-ball game, the needle over a fiver, and, most of all, the twilight golf. I had come to love those quiet evenings on the course, the golden light stretching across the fairways, and the simple joy of walking along, carefree, chasing the sunlight. That was a big miss.

Fast forward to now. After a successful surgery in September and ongoing rehab, I’m finally able to swing a club again—without the l nerve pain that made last year difficult. I’m not 100% yet, and it could take up to 18 months for full nerve recovery, but I’m optimistic. The thought of playing golf again, regularly, with the boys, my dad, and hopefully Ellie, is something I’m really looking forward to.

Some people have joked, “Oh, your handicap will suffer now that you’ve had back surgery.” Honestly? I don’t care. I’m just grateful to be able to play again without pain. Of course, give it a few months, and I’m sure I’ll start caring again!

Over the years, I’ve switched between playing a full set and a short set, and I’ve gone back and forth between carrying and using a trolley. Both approaches have their advantages, but nothing beats the freedom of carrying. That said, carrying a full set is no longer an option. So, for this season, I’m committing to an eight-club setup in a pencil bag.

I enjoyed the experience of short set golf before. It forced me to be more creative and play with a bit more freedom. Sure, there were times when I didn’t have quite enough club for a long par four or missed the perfect yardage gap, but I liked the simplicity—the “hit it and see” mindset.

So, that’s it. It’s in black and white. Now, the only thing left is the small matter of choosing the clubs to start the season.

If you are looking for inspiration for your own short set, follow @lessthan14 and @shortsetking on Instagram!

Best of luck for the season ahead.

Play Rock Solid!

Michael