Name: Michael Leather
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment: 1st Kings Regiment/ 2nd Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment
Date joined: 2004
Length of service: 12 years
Why did you decide to join the military?: It’s been a family tradition going back generations and I joined the regiment/battalion my dad was in.
What was your reason for leaving the military?: Medical discharge.
What is your injury/illness occur and how did it occur?:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder over numerous tours of Iraq and Afghanistan.
When and how did you hear about On Course Foundation?: Through friends who were already beneficiaries.
What was your golfing experience prior to your first event?: I played a small amount as a kid but other than that, nothing.
Your experience of On Course Foundation so far? What do you take out of the events that you attend?: It’s an amazing charity and organisation. It has helped me an immeasurable amount over the past two years that I have been part of it. Golf has changed my way of thinking and provided me with another form of therapy – something I was really in need of.
''Golf has changed my way of thinking and provided me with another form of therapy - something I was really in need of.''
What do you hope to gain from On Course Foundation in the future?: Continuing to socialise with fellow veterans who are in a similar situation to myself - also sharing the same interest in playing golf.
I also aim to move into the golf industry in some capacity in the future.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?: Getting my handicap down to 16.5 over the short amount of time that I’ve been playing. This has mainly been because of the tuition given to me through On Course Foundation events.
What do you like to do in your spare time?: I like to keep myself active - through fitness, golf or out on walks with my family and our dog. I also like to spend days out with my wife and kids.
Who are your heroes?: Tyson Fury, David Goggins and Jordan Peterson.
ABOUT US
On Course Foundation continue to provide positive provision for wounded, injured and sick Service personnel and veterans - supporting their recovery and transition to civilian life through confidence building golf events and opportunities for employment in the golf industry.
As a sport, golf offers a unique platform where players of all skills and backgrounds can compete healthily, improving not only their physical but mental strength too. With many lacking self- belief, it’s our aim to help our beneficiaries realise their potential and set them on a fulfilling path.
Formed in 2010, we have seen first-hand that that participation in golf can have a profound positive effect on the rehabilitation of our beneficiaries.