If you are a member of a golf club, then it’s highly likely that you know someone in your ladies’ section that has been affected by breast cancer. It’s the most common cancer in the UK, and the charity, Breast Cancer Now (opens in new tab), tell us that around 55,000 women are diagnosed in the UK each year. What we also know is that those female golf club members diagnosed with breast cancer are forever grateful for the invaluable support from the club and their network of golfing friends.
In March 2021, Erica Tuck, a member at Burley Golf Club in Hampshire, felt a pea-size lump in her breast and further tests confirmed that it was cancerous. Two lumpectomy procedures followed without success to remove the cancer, so it was decided that the only option for Erica was to have a mastectomy. She had reconstruction surgery, but three months later during the week before Christmas an abscess developed and burst underneath the prothesis so it had to be removed.
Erica Tuck (pictured centre) with two golfing friends who are also cancer survivors.
(Image credit: Erica Tuck)
Fortunately, Erica, now 75, didn’t require any chemotherapy or radiotherapy, so once the prothesis was out, 2022 was a new beginning, and her main aim was to get back out on the golf course.
“I love my golf and to miss a whole year out of my golfing life was awful. There are other activities that you can enjoy, such as walking, but they cannot take the place of playing golf,” she says.
Erica eased herself back into the game by chipping and putting and practising a half swing in the garden to build her confidence before venturing back out onto the golf course. “It was definitely a mindset problem, but my swing was driving me mad, I wanted to get it back to where it was prior to my diagnosis,” says the 25 handicapper, who sought help from teaching pros John Bullen at Barton-on-Sea Golf Club and Katie Dawkins at Hamptworth Golf Club.
At the time of her diagnosis, Erica was a new member at Burley Golf Club, but she is indebted to the club for the support and kindness she received….
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