Hampshire care home resident returns to fairways

A resident at a care home in Hampshire has been celebrating after his wish to return to the golf course was granted – and he even made a hole-in-one!

When the team at Care UK’s Sway Place, on Church Lane, heard lifelong golf enthusiast David Davies wanted to spend an afternoon back on the fairways, they arranged a special trip to Barton-on-Sea Golf Club. 

David enjoyed a buggy tour around the course, taking in the stunning coastal views overlooking the Solent, before heading to the tee for a memorable round of golf.

To top off the day, he achieved an impressive hole-in-one, making the experience even more special.

David said: “Being able to play golf again was a dream come true. I never thought that I would be able to play again or be sitting, having a beer with my son on a golf course. 

Golf has been a longstanding passion for David, who first picked up a club as a young boy growing up in Cheshire.

From 1979 until last year, he was a proud member of Berkhamsted Golf Club in Hertfordshire, where he played three times a week and was a regular winner of the club’s Thursday league. During his time at the club, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, known as the Queen Mother, was also a member and regular player.

David added: “I made some good friends during my time playing golf and we always looked forward to our weekly meet-up.”

The outing took place as part of Care UK’s Wishing Tree initiative, which encourages residents to share their dreams and ambitions – whether that’s reconnecting with a lifelong hobby, revisiting a cherished place or trying something completely new. 

Francis Bosompim, Home Manager at Sway Place, said: “Golf has been such an important part of David’s life, so it was wonderful to see him back on the course doing something he loves.

“Seeing David enjoying every moment of the day, especially after achieving a hole-in-one, was fantastic. Experiences like this help residents reconnect with treasured memories, maintain lifelong interests and create new ones too.

“Our Wishing Tree initiative is all about making meaningful moments possible for residents, and we’d like to thank everyone at Barton-on-Sea Golf Club for helping make David’s wish such a memorable occasion.”

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Sway Place incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The home provides full-time residential care, dementia care and respite care. The building is configured as a series of individual suites and 14 independent living cottages, each with a dedicated lounge/dining room to help foster the creation of close-knit communities.