Golf: Wife guides Norfolk pensioner to British Blind Masters win

Posted by Admin August 22, 2024 Golf

Di Daniels Guide Di Daniels, wearing a blue tracksuit, looks on as her husband Danny Daniels, in golfing gear, takes a swing with his club at the British Blind Masters tournament — The perfect team – Di Daniels gives her husband advice as he takes a shot on the way to winning the British Blind Masters

An 87-year-old golfer who lost his sight in 2009 and plays with his wife as his guide has won the British Blind Masters.

Danny Daniels, from Swaffham, in Norfolk, who was the oldest player in the tournament, declared: “I’m the master, I’ve done it. I’ve mastered the whole of Great Britain.”

His wife, Di, who is his guide on the fairways, helps him line up shots and gives tactical advice, said: “I never insist, but I will advise. He usually listens to me.”

They won the tournament – held at the Meon Valley Golf Club, Southampton – by six strokes, beating a field of 33.

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read and before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

Called up for national service in 1955, Daniels had a full career with the Royal Air Force, serving for 22 years.

He was a keen golfer in retirement, but gave up in 2009 when he discovered he had macular degeneration, an age-related degenerative eye disease.

Years later, Mrs Daniels coaxed him into blind golf, and has guided him on the course ever since.

She makes sure he knows where his club is in relation to the ball, and gives the occasional tactical advice.

“Without me there to put him in the right places, it just couldn’t happen,” she said.

Daniels has 5% vision in his right right eye, and no vision in his left eye.

He had come out of international retirement after competing at the 2023 World Blind Golf Championships in Cape Town.

Danny Daniels, winner of the British Blind Masters, took up blind golf in 2017

Di Daniels Danny Daniels, who is wearing blue golfing gear and a light-blue baseball cap, swinging his golf club on British Blind Masters golf course at Meon Valley. There are trees, greens and a golf buggy behind him — Danny Daniels, winner of the British Blind Masters, took up blind golf in 2017

Beautiful trophy

Now back home in Norfolk, the couple are revelling in their unexpected success.

“I’m looking to my left sitting here, and there’s a great big cup sitting on the table top there, beautiful thing,” said Daniels.

Mrs Daniels said: “We’re still trying to come to terms with it really. I was worried – three days of him playing golf is really a lot.”

After he won the tournament, organisers England and Wales Blind Golf convinced Daniels to compete next month in Shropshire.

The couple are also part of an England team taking on Scotland in the ‘Auld Enemies’ Cup.