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John Paton grew up in Scotland where golf wasn’t just a hobby, it was part of the landscape. He played whenever he could, but then life took over - family, work, everything else that fills a calendar.
When his mum was diagnosed with cancer, golf became something different. It wasn’t about scorecards anymore. It was space to breathe, a few quiet hours where the world slowed down. After she passed, John started SRV Golf - a purpose-led golf glove brand that puts mental health at its core. One pound from every product goes to mental health charities, but the real aim is simpler: get people playing, talking, and looking out for each other.
He’s open about grief, about what it takes to find rhythm again when life flips upside down. He talks about how a solo round with headphones on can do more for your head than most conversations.
These days, he’s a dad, a husband, and the driving force behind SRV - proof that golf can be more than a game. It can be connection, community, and a way to keep moving forward.
Grief isn’t tidy. It doesn’t follow a timeline or wait for life to calm down. For John, it arrived in the middle of everything — marriage, fatherhood, launching a business. And instead of collapsing under it, he found rhythm in the things that kept him moving: work, golf, and family.
He talks about pre-grief - the strange space of losing someone before they’re gone. That slow heartbreak that happens when you’re holding things together for everyone else. It’s a part of grief few people name, but many recognise.
After his mum passed, John channelled the chaos into SRV Golf - a golf glove brand with a big purpose. It gave him structure, meaning, and a way to turn something painful into something useful. That’s often how people begin to adapt after loss: by building around it rather than waiting for it to disappear.
John’s story reminds us that grief doesn’t always look like falling apart. Sometimes it looks like staying busy, finding focus, and talking about it when you can. Those small acts of momentum are how most people keep going.
If parts of John’s story connect with you, these might help:
Grief and Bereavement Support – Cruse Bereavement Support offers free, confidential help for anyone coping with loss.
🔗 cruse.org.uk
Coping with Loss – Mind: Understanding Bereavement explains what grief can feel like and how to find support.
🔗 mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/bereavement
Therapy and Support Options – NHS Talking Therapies lets you self-refer for free counselling in England.
🔗 nhs.uk/talking-therapies
Community and Connection – Andy’s Man Club runs free men’s talking groups across the UK.
🔗 andysmanclub.co.uk
If You’re Struggling Right Now (24/7) –
• UK: Call Samaritans on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org
• US: Dial 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988lifeline.org)
• Worldwide: Find verified helplines in your country at findahelpline.com
SRV Golf began as a way to turn loss into purpose. After his mum’s cancer diagnosis, founder John Paton found that golf offered something he couldn’t get anywhere else — headspace, rhythm, and community.
Today, SRV makes purpose-led golf gear that gives back. One pound from every product goes to mental health and cancer charities. The goal’s simple: get more people playing, talking, and looking out for each other.
It’s golf with a heartbeat.
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