Golfer left with 'brain of two-day-old' recovers

A golf coach who was told a stroke had left him with the brain of a two-day-year-old has returned to the sport following an "exceptional" recovery.

Andrew Hayes, from Taunton in Somerset, had the life-changing stroke in December 2024 after experiencing high blood pressure and a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) - or mini stroke - days earlier.

He said: "[I] woke up at quarter to three and my life had changed. I lost the whole of my right side and it took five days for me to just move my thumb and five weeks to be able to write."

The 51-year-old returned to work at Vivary Golf and Adventure Centre in March 2025, which his colleagues have called "inspirational".

Mark Washington, contract manager at Everyone Active, which helps run the club, said Hayes' positivity and attitude were "staggering", adding they were "very proud to have him as a colleague".

Hayes was treated in Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, where he said he was told: "I was the body of a 50-year-old but a brain of a two-day-year-old."

"I was completely rebuilding," he said.

"I thought my golfing career was over. Would I have the memory to be able to teach?

"But that was when I had to say not if I can - I will."

The stroke resulted in loss of movement on Hayes' right side and required months of rehabilitation.

After spending six days in hospital, he returned home to begin exercises to regain movement in his hand, arm and leg.

"They would put coins in front of me and asked me to pick them off the table. I had to do as much as I could to get the signals from my brain to my hands, legs and feet again."

The golf professional hopes his experience will inspire others to return to doing what they love after a health setback.

"It was really tough and really dark sometimes, but I got through it with the support of my wife, my family and the guys here," he said.

Ed Cullen plays golf at Vivary and noticed Hayes was unwell following the TIA. He said his return to the sport had been "exceptional".

"It can inspire people who have had a stroke and worry about what can happen to them, what that the future holds.

"I look at Andrew and the future is positive but you've got to have a positive mental approach," he said.

Washington added: "We're thrilled to see him continue what he does best on the golf course by sharing his knowledge and passion all while demonstrating how a person can break down barriers to participating in sport with sheer determination.

"We hope Andrew's story inspires golfers who may be going through something similar."

Hayes added: "If I was on a football field, I had a yellow card, not a straight red. So I've had my warning.

"It's been a journey, it hasn't finished yet, but yeah, I've been very lucky."

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