'Not long ago things weren’t looking so good for people with CF': Golf sensation David Howard on achieving his dream career 

David Howard, who was diagnosed with CF aged seven, said quitting his career as a mechanic to pursue golf as a full-time career in recent years would never have been possible without advancements in medical science. Picture: Bryan Keane/Inpho

A Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patient has made a triumphant return to the hospital where he battled the condition before defying the odds to become a fulltime golfer.

David Howard, who was diagnosed with CF aged seven, said his childhood was an uphill battle pockmarked by medication and hospital stays.

He added that quitting his career as a mechanic to pursue golf as a full-time career in recent years would never have been possible without advancements in medical science. 

Consultant respiratory physician at Cork University Hospital Professor Barry Plant was visibly touched to be reunited recently with David. He was also happy to pose with the East of Ireland Champion trophy which the 26-year-old won in Baltray Co Louth.

The athlete’s success at Baltray, a top-10 finish at the Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open,  and a run to the quarter-finals of the South of Ireland scooped him two international caps this year as he represented Ireland at the Home Internationals in August, culminating in a bronze medal win at the recent European Mid-Amateur Team Championships. 

Golfer David Howard reunites with Professor Barry Plant.

And flush with all of these successes, David is keen to pay tribute to the people who inspired him to fight for his dreams and his future.

“I’m really thankful to the people who looked after me during those difficult times,” David said while on a visit to the CF unit in CUH. 

Not so long ago things weren’t looking so good for people with CF. We didn’t have the medication that’s there today. I can still remember googling my life expectancy as a young teenager. It wasn’t much older than the age I am today. 

"Other kids I knew at the time were talking about the types of houses they were going to live in and how many children they wanted. As you can imagine I had a very different outlook to them because of my illness. 

David said it was not easy to plan or even talk about his future because he didn’t think he'd get that far. 

"With the new medication I find myself planning ahead for longer term stuff. The future looks bright now. All the things I went through in life gave me the mentality I have now. They taught me to stay in the moment and enjoy it.” 

He stressed his gratitude to Professor Barry Plant and his team at CUH.

It’s really nice to be able to come back and show people how well I’m doing because technically a few years I wouldn’t have been able to pursue golf as a fulltime career. It wasn’t possible for people with CF to win tournaments. When I speak to the parents of kids with the condition now they say they are grateful to me because I remind them that their kids have a future.

The golfer from Ringaskiddy in Cork has also opened up about his mental health, including a terrifying spiral into a severe state of psychosis which doctors feared he might never recover from.

As well as being an ambassador for people with CF, the athlete is also keen to promote the importance of mental health awareness. He recalls how the pandemic was an extremely low point in his life. He was just 21 when a combination of his CF medication and the impact of self-isolating during the pandemic left him mentally exhausted. What followed was a rapid descent into psychosis that left his girlfriend and family heartbroken.

David Howard's success at Baltray, a top-10 finish at the Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open,  and a run to the quarter-finals of the South of Ireland scooped him two international caps this year Picture: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

“I went to my bedroom and stayed there because I didn’t think that any part of the house was safe. The doctors said I might never get back to normal. It’s a bit emotional talking about it but I’m glad I got back on my feet.”

The 26-year-old described golf as his saving grace and said the sport has been central to both his physical and mental health. 

And he spoke about spotting the professor who looked after him in hospital on the golf course recently.

“It happened a few weeks ago. While on the golf course I bumped into the professor who looked after me while I was suffering from psychosis but it didn’t instantly register with me who he was. It was only when he said his name that I realised who he was. I was in a very different frame of mind back then which might explain why I didn’t immediately recognise him. 

"He was the person who helped me make it through to the other side. He was always pushing me to take my medication which I wasn’t a fan of at the time. I’m so grateful for all his help now. It’s not exactly something that I like talking about but I hope that my story might be of benefit to someone else. Seeing me so well might be a reminder to people that coming out the other side is possible.”