Life Journey – Ireland and Germany

I’ve had the privilege of living in two very different countries for long periods –
and benefiting from the richness of both cultures in countless ways.

Roots and Influences

I was born and raised in Ireland –
for me, a land of stories, rhythm, and wild beauty.

Most of my adult life, however, was spent in Germany –
a place of structure, discipline, and depth.

That mix of Irish soul and German clarity has become a core part of who I am.

In Ireland, I grew up with two beliefs I never questioned:

👉 Don’t go against what your father thinks.
👉 A university degree is the foundation for a good life.

I respected these beliefs – and I followed them.

But I also paid a price for doing so.

At 21, I left Ireland to work in Germany.
The official plan was to gain two or three years of experience, then return home.

But deep down, I knew:
This wasn’t a stopover. This was a new life.

When I left, I’ll never forget the look on my mother’s face –
silent sadness mixed with quiet certainty:
"You’re not coming back, are you?"

She was right.

Success – but without Fulfilment

A framed photo of me in my graduation gown was placed in our living room.
It was the symbol of my success – my parents were proud.
My siblings too.

Everyone, really.

Except me.

Because that photo reminded me of a moment of quiet shame – my graduation day.

I hadn’t given my best.
I had done just enough to get by – no more.
It was enough for a basic degree, but not with distinction.

At the ceremony, graduates were called up in order of grades –
I was among the last.

I still remember my parents’ puzzled faces:
"Did they skip his name?"

When my turn finally came, I walked up smiling –
but inside, I felt small.

That photo stayed in the living room.
And on every visit –
first as a fleeting thought, later as a gnawing feeling –
I sensed:
Something isn’t right.

Eventually, I understood the quiet message the picture had been sending me for years:
"This isn’t your path."

Career Turning Point at 52

At 52, I finally faced that truth.

For over 30 years I had worked in IT – all because of that degree.
It was the logical path.
The safe path.

Over time, I took on more responsibility – international projects, large budgets, global teams.
On the outside, I was successful.

On the inside, a quiet doubt followed me:
"What if I’m not good enough?
What if it all collapses?"

That doubt never fully left – fueled by a degree that had never truly satisfied me.

No project of mine ever failed.
But the pressure cost me many nights of sleep.

Then, after 20 years in the same company, came the announcement:
Complete restructuring.

My role would no longer exist.

For the first time, I seriously asked myself:
"Where does your life go from here?"

I was given the option to apply for an even more senior role.

And although deep down I knew my time at the company was over –
I didn’t listen to that voice.

Colleagues reassured me:
"You’re the natural choice."
I thought so too.

I applied – and was rejected.

The disappointment was huge.
I was hurt, frustrated, and confused.

I even requested a personal meeting with the CEO.

But once the dust settled, I saw the truth:
It wasn’t failure.
It wasn’t rejection.

It was life taking away my last excuses.

It was the wake-up call:
"It’s time for a new path."

Golf – and a New Perspective on Life

While all of this was unfolding in my career, something else was quietly growing in the background.

I was playing the best golf of my life – and enjoying it immensely.

Being in nature.
Moving.
Competing.
Reflecting.

Golf had become more than a sport –
it had become a teacher.

And for the first time, I felt it deeply:
"Golf has a lot to do with life – and life has a lot to do with golf."

Everything that truly mattered to me came together in this game:

Nature.
Movement.
Focus.
Growth.
Joy.
Presence.

I realised I wasn’t necessarily more talented than other golfers with a similar handicap.
But I had one big advantage:
I was using my mind differently on the course.

And I knew: other golfers could benefit from this.

This insight didn’t come with a loud bang – but the seed was planted.

While my IT life was unravelling, this quiet seedling began to grow.

That inner voice I had ignored for so long grew louder.
Deep down, I knew:
This is my path.
Here, I can be my authentic self – and create real value for others.

The Second Photo – and the True Turning Point

Then came the second framed photo of my life:

I had become a single-handicap golfer. A huge achievement.

I thought: "You’ve made it."

But that feeling was deceiving.

Suddenly, it was no longer about joy.
It was about defending. About image.

And that killed my freedom.

Being attached to the label "single-handicapper" was like carrying 20 invisible strokes every round.

Not just in performance – but emotionally.

The pressure.
The fear.
The loss of lightness.

I wasn’t playing anymore.
I was proving.

And you can’t play freely like that.

During that time, I came across a story told by Shi Heng Yi:

A man lived at the foot of a great mountain.
Every day, he looked up and wondered what it would be like to stand at the top.

One day, he decided to go.
But before setting off, he asked everyone who had been there:
"Which path did you take? What did you see?"

Everyone gave a different answer.
The man collected notes, studied maps – and finally said to himself:
"I know so much about the mountain now… maybe I don’t even need to climb it."

And so he stayed.
He never climbed.
He knew everything – except how it felt to stand at the top.

That story hit me hard.

Because I was that man.
With the degree.
With the handicap.
With the image.

But without true inner freedom.

New Dimension Golf – The Journey Begins

Today I know:

Success is not bad.
Excellence is good.
And yes – you can take advice.
Earn degrees.
Pursue goals.

But never forget:
These are all states.
They are not your true self.

You can only play your best golf when you are free:

👉 Free from the weight of past achievements.
👉 Free from the need to prove.
👉 Free from the fear of losing something.

It took me 52 years to understand this.
Some realise it earlier.
The tragedy is if you never realise it at all.

And what does all this have to do with golf?

Everything.

Because the patterns in your life – are the patterns in your game.

That’s why I founded New Dimension Golf –
not to teach you how to swing better,
but how to play freer.

Because golf is not just a game.
It’s a mirror.

And if you’re ready to let go of your “old photos” and start a new chapter –
your true journey to lasting success begins.

With NDG you will discover:

✅ Golf is a mirror of your inner state
✅ Technical training only leads to short-term gains if you ignore the inner game
✅ Emotional and mental mastery is the key to real enjoyment
✅ Sustainable improvement comes from a mid-term perspective – not quick fixes
✅ The freer you are, the better you play – and the more you enjoy the game
✅ Your game runs in waves – your habits decide the direction
✅ Age or current handicap are no barriers to improvement
✅ You gain an edge over 90% of golfers when you apply universal laws correctly
✅ The future of your game can be brighter than ever – especially for golfers 60+

On the course, you will experience:

✅ More body-friendly, fluid, and energy-efficient play
✅ Far greater benefit from technical training – your mind stops getting in the way
✅ A more consistent and stable game
✅ More enjoyment – less frustration, less overthinking, more freedom

Why NDG is so effective:

✅ You tap into your full natural potential
✅ Small steps lead to big changes – if you take them consistently
✅ You focus on what you can truly control – which gives you clarity and ease