TGI Golf Partner Parnell Reilly donned a helmet and flak jacket recently as he joined former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie on a moral-boosting trip to the frontline in Afghanistan.

Parnell, Head Professional at Bradley Park Golf Club, Huddersfield, spent five days in the company of the Armed Forces, conducting golf clinics for both service personnel and Afghani children in the war torn country.

“It was without doubt the most humbling experience I’ve ever had,” said the former PGA Captain. “You hear people talk about life changing experiences and this was certainly one for me. When you see the conditions those soldiers work in – 12 hours, seven days a week minimum – it’s amazing how passionate and confident they all are about everything they do.”

Parnell spent three-days on the ground in the UK’s Afghan headquarters, Camp Bastion, where he taught hour long group lessons to everyone from +1 handicappers to those who had never held a golf club before.

Parnell added: “We could use all the clubs in the bag as the makeshift driving range was an 800 metre rifle range. We had so much equipment, which had been kindly donated by suppliers – luckily we had Huxley mats because the ground out there is horrible.

“The equipment we took with us was all donated to the troops, so they now have the ability to hit a few balls and practice their swing when they have the chance.”

The most daunting part of the whole trip for Parnell and the PGA team was leaving the confines of Camp Bastion to head to Kabul where the team was introduced to the President of Olympic Sports in Afghanistan, General Mohammed Aghbar.

“It was quite an experience donning dog tags, Kevlar vests and being ferried around in armoured vehicles by guys with guns on their laps,” admitted Parnell. “But I always felt that we were in very safe hands throughout the trip, the RAF and Army are so professional and have a calm confidence about everything they do.”

While in Kabul, Parnell, Monty and current PGA captain Eddie Bullock, spent hours coaching local schoolchildren in a football stadium that forms NATO’s compound.

“There were quite a few American NATO troops in the compound so there was a bit of banter going on with Monty, particularly when the Ryder Cup trophy came out,” added Parnell. “It was great fun and Monty was superb with everyone we came into contact with.”