About me…

In 2013 I went out to play a game of rugby but little did a know it would be my last in a tackle that just went horrible wrong. I’d suffered many concussions over the years including a compressed spinal concussion all compounding to have a devastating impact on my brain, I made the last tackle of my career which my consultant said “was the final nail”. Along with the multiple traumatic brain injuries suffered in the final tackle including a diffused Axonal brain injury and resulting in a rare condition known as Holmes Aides Syndrome, I suffered a bleed and frontal lobe damage. It’s been a long and arduous journey coming back to a decent or best style of living, learning to cope with my new way of life.

You get the highs and the lows but with the damage to the brain the lows are extremely low, I hit a very dark patch in late 2021 and that was a time of suicidal tendencies; I felt like a burden to my friends and family which got me to the point of “well if I’m not here they’ll have one less thing to worry about”, you lose all sense of empathy and somewhat sympathy due to the brain injuries with no filter. After 6 months of therapy I found myself back on the course competing on March of 2022, I had a handicap starting in March of 23.6 and after applying my sport psychology with a lot of practice and with a great coaching staff I’d got that down to 10 by the end of June and carried on my march to victories throughout the Golf Carts Europe DGA season, 7 wins, 5 runner up positions and three 3rd place finishes.

Alongside my Brain Injuries I suffered severe spinal, neck, shoulder, muscular and nerve damage. Compiling all the result of the injuries it’s left me with severe nerve damage and resulting in a full left hand side global weakness and very limited left side sensation. I have a selection of medicines to take daily (a total of around 22-24 tablets a day) and return to hospital every 3 months to receive 30-40 injections into my spine, neck and shoulder.

After I sustained the injuries I went through a long road of rehabilitation, it was 5 years in total. I was sedated for the first 6 months before being transferred to a specialist Neuro Facility that helped with the rehabilitation in Neuro and Spinal Physio Therapy, speech therapy and neuropsychiatric treatment. After the 5 year spell in rehabilitation I had the urge to compete again, being the youngest of 3 brothers, born in to a rugby family in Northampton and having played contact sports all my life my wife (having gone part time and becoming my carer, she also caddies me on the tour) and I managed to seek out the DGA and disability golf. The first year and a half to two years were going great but I then ended up needing invasive surgery resulting in 18 months off my feet. I then went back to square one again and started a fresh in the 2022 Golf Carts Europe DGA Championship, starting with the first event of the season going my way with a 4 shot lead to victory and kept that firm throw out the whole year to end it with a DGA record breaking season. It also had me compete in the Phoenix Cup for DGA Team England vs USA, Scotland and Wales plus multiple England and South of England representations.

It’s not been easy to come back from those deep seated injuries that still mar me in everyday life but I overcome every day and compete at the highest level in the European Tour with a first season of Top 10 and Top 5 finishes.

It’s not been easy though, saving as much as I can to pay out for accommodation, travel and entry fees for the events. My winning season with the DGA totalled £1,755 without accommodation costs, this year of 2023 has totalled £3,900 with an estimated 2024 cost of £4,375 plus extra fixtures TBC.

I am also part of a collective called the Broken Playaz, 4 disabled golfers from the European Circuit bringing disability golf to the forefront and highlighting the positives that Disability Golf holds for those that want to start the game or are already playing. We held our first promotional content day at Woburn earlier this year. I also got the call that every Disabled Golfer dreams of, that being the selection in to the European Cairns Cup 2025 Disability Team vs USA at OGA Cherry Creek in Michigan.

EDGA Events, Fixtures and Honours 2024

14th January - Portugal 2024 EDGA Algarve Classic Pinta

18th January - Portugal 2024 EDGA Algarve Masters Gramacho

8th May - 2024 Scottish Open Cardrona GC

14th May - G4D Open Woburn

10th June - Irish Open Roganstown and Swords

18th June - Inaugural Broken Playaz Celebrity Charity Golf Day Close House GC

24th June - 2024 English Open for Golfers with a disability Stoke By Nayland GC

Date TBC - Cairns Cup 2024 Charity Sponsors Event Morely Hayes GC

27th July - 3rd August - Cairns Cup 24 PGA Cherry Creek GC Michigan

TBC - The UK Golf Trust Open 2024 The Shire London

TBC - The Ping Open 2024 Karsten Lakes at Thonock Park

Alongside these events I will be representing my club in County Matches, taking part in Charity Events, organising Charity Events and fundraising. I will be helping young players and other disabled golfers in reaching their potential mentally with spirt psychology. Also helping other disabled golfer physically using biometrics to improve their game and introducing disability players in to golf. Opening their potential and showcasing what is available out there and the opportunities that are available to all; be it a seated player, a neurological disorder or muscular disorder. The possibilities are endless!

There are more dates being released and I may well be making a return to some DGA Events depending on my financials and availability, after winning the 2022 Golf Carts Europe DGA Championship with a record OOM League Score to become the England number 1, representing DGA’s England and The South of England Disability Teams before moving on to the European Tour it always good to go back. Showcasing what is possible in the game, I finished the 2023 in the no1 top spot for players representing Scotland on the European Tour and in the T50 players in the Neurological Division.

Sponsorship

I am looking for sponsorship, mainly for financial backing but also equipment. Be it balls, gloves footwear, putters, bags etc.

The financial side to the game is getting more and more as I compete to become number 1. I have a lot of support mentally from former international rugby players who’ve helped me through my journey with their kindness and support and from my family, close friends and of course my coaches and the Broken Playaz.

Financial backers would be amazing to have in side, I have a social media profile of 3000+ followers across my platforms and can offer promotion through those networks but also with logos on equipment and garments. I have found it very difficult to find financial support, Lions International were kind enough to offer their support by covering my England Open Entry Fees and travel costs. I also have had generous sponsorships in the past with ProQuip supplying my clothing, Takomo supplying me with Clubs, Titleist FJ supplying balls, gloves and shoes and R I P I T grips supplying the grips needed on my clubs and putter. I very thankful for the generosity of these Golf brands as my contracts come to an end.

If you can help in sponsoring me in any way shape or form be it with financial backing or becoming my sponsor for equipment I couldn’t thank you enough and would appreciate your support in that way whilst I help boost your company and brand. I have recently done interviews with the BBC, been in the studio for the “mind guru” sharing with John Taylor Podcast, and had many interviews with magazines and online platforms, National and local press plus a TV interview on the BBC. I have attached links of my online media interviews and testimonies. With the latest going in to BBC sport and exclusives with the national news.

I really hope you can help and eagerly await your reply.

All the best

Iain Millar

@golfingpositives

@brokenplayaz

My interaction with the media…

https://www.farnhamherald.com/sport/golf/alton-golfer-iain-millar-impresses-on-european-disabled-golf-association-tour-633474

https://www.headway.org.uk/about-brain-injury/individuals/brain-injury-and-me/iain-millar-rising-from-adversity-to-find-purpose-on-the-golf-course/

https://www.petersfieldpost.co.uk/sport/golf/alton-golfer-iain-millar-impresses-on-european-disabled-golf-association-tour-633474

https://www.progressiverugby.com/media/i-just-laid-there-they-thought-id-broken-my-neck

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/i-prime-life-split-second-8900718

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/special-features/charity-supporting-brain-injury-survivors-27480619

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/golfing-positives?experiments=b2c_041_fundraising_page_donation_prompts_2%2Cb2c_045_donate_button_color%2Cb2c_029_first_to_donate%2Cb2c_040_frp_trust_proposition_bar%2Cb2c_044_donate_to_yourself%2Cb2c_048_show_hide_fitness_data&isMobile=false&successType=StaticDonateButtonClick&alertType=error&alertMessage=donationError

https://www.golfmonthly.com/news/g4d-players-at-ping-open-get-custom-fittings

https://www.golf365.com/news/charity-golf-day-swinging-into-action-for-brain-injury-survivors/

https://www.thegolfbusiness.co.uk/2021/06/popert-wins-english-open-for-golfers-with-a-disability/

https://www.thecairnscup.com/two-more-european-players-announced-for-team-europe/

I have a Just Giving Page if you’re looking to help… and thank you

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/iaingolfmillar