Ah, Golf.
I like to joke that if I retired tomorrow, I'd become a really good golfer. Not because I'd suddenly discover some hidden talent, but because I'd finally have more time to play. Not just the game itself, but everything that comes with it. The stories. The laughs. The friendly competitions. The fresh air. The early mornings. The long walks. The peace. The frustration. The one perfect shot that somehow keeps us coming back.
For many of us, golf isn't just a hobby. It's one of the best parts of life. And if I'm being honest, when I imagine my retirement, golf is right there in the picture. Not because I want to escape work. But because I genuinely can't think of many better ways to spend a day. Out in nature. Walking with friends. Talking nonsense. Competing. Laughing. Creating memories.
When I look back on my life one day, I'm not going to wish I'd played less golf.
But imagine getting to retirement and not being able to golf...
A story of two Fathers
The idea for YARDS came from two men. My dad and my stepdad. Both love golf. Both enjoyed being out on the course. Both looked forward to their next round. But as the years passed, their stories became very different.
My dad never really prioritised his health. Like many men, life got in the way. There was always something more important to focus on than looking after himself. And gradually, without really noticing, the things he loved became harder to do...
including golf.
Eventually there came a point where he simply couldn't play anymore. No dramatic moment. Just the slow reality that his body could no longer do what his mind still wanted it to. Too tired, aching body parts, not fit enough to get round a golf course. I know how much he would love to still be out there. But his body won't allow him.
Then there's my stepdad. He took a different path, he stayed active, he exercised, he paid attention to what he put into his body. He looked after himself. And today he's still out there playing. Still walking the course. Still hitting shots (recently had his first ever hole in one!). Still making memories and booking golf trips. Enjoying the retirement that so many golfers dream about.
When I look at those two men, I don't just see two people. I see two futures.
And if you're reading this, so should you. One path leads to more rounds. The other leaves you watching from the clubhouse. The uncomfortable truth is that most of us spend more time planning our next set of clubs than we do planning the health of the body that's supposed to swing them.
The most important number.
That realisation stayed with me. It made me ask a simple question;
What if the most important number in golf isn't your handicap or driving distance... what if it's the number of years you have left playing the game we all love?
Most people want a long life. But I want a long golfing life. Not sitting on the couch. I want to be the guy still booking golf trips. Still walking eighteen holes. Still carrying a little bit of competitive fire. Still telling the same old stories in the clubhouse. Still standing on the first tee feeling excited about the round ahead... only to slice it into the trees.
And I have a feeling every golfer would agree...
That's why I created YARDS.
I believe golfers deserve a brand focused on helping them enjoy the game for longer. A brand built around longevity. Around performance. Around staying strong enough, mobile enough and sharp enough to keep playing.
Everything we do comes back to one simple idea:
How do we help golfers spend more years doing what they love?
More years walking fairways. More years with friends. More years chasing birdies. More years taking golf trips. More years feeling the thrill of a flushed iron shot. More years finding peace on a golf course on a sunny morning. More years creating stories worth telling.
Because one day we'll all play our final round. I just want that day to come as late as possible.
And if YARDS can help golfers stay in the game for a few years longer, then we've achieved exactly what we set out to do.
The number of yards isn't about your driving distance.
It's about something much bigger than that...
Play well,
Mike, Founder of YARDS.
