"If it wasn't for golf, I'm not ashamed to say I'd be struggling, I really would," 3 years ago Paul had perfect eyesight, he's now registered as blind.
He recalls getting back from a holiday with his wife, and having blurry vision. Soon after the 43 year old was diagnosed as having a rare disease, called Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, which causes rapid sight loss.
"It very quickly attacked my right eye, leaving me with 97 per cent blindness, and it's slowly catching up in my left now - I'm left with about 27 per cent vision."
Paul Innocent, at his local golf club Middleton Hall
"It was very, very tough to be honest with you, I was a very active person, running kids to and from school, and self employed - I had my own business as an electrician.
"And more or less over 6 weeks everything changed, I had to stop working, had my driving licence revoked."
Paul describes his wife, Kelly, as his 'rock'.
"She pulled me together. I've played golf since I was 11 years old and she said come on, what can we do, what can we still do to keep your spirits up - and she found blind golf, which I never knew existed."
Paul is now among the top four blind golfers globally, although the modest way he chats - you wouldn't know it.
Assisted by a guide, his first win was the British Blind Open in Scotland in 2025 (he retained the title this year), he's since won the US Blind Golf Open, and similar competitions in Spain and Sweden.
"I practice every day. Along with my wife at home, the kids and the dogs - golf is more or less my life.
"I'm a much happier, better person, I don't know where I'd be without golf to be honest with you, it doesn't bear thinking about."
US Blind Open, July 2026, winning the B2 category
As we work our way around Middleton Hall Golf Club, he tells me about an exciting year ahead, with competitions in Spain, Italy and South Africa.
He's also going to be a motivational speaker for charity The Lily Foundation later in the year, which helps families affected by an incurable condition called mitochondrial disease.
Paul hopes by sharing his struggles, and how he's overcoming them, it could help others going through similar things.
"I'm lucky that I've found golf, but it can be anything, just find something positive and stick with it.
"My condition isn't life threatening but it is life changing, I'm not going to die from blindness - but for some people it can really take away their lives, their skills, their enjoyment of life.
"I want to get the message out that opportunities, interests and ambitions don't have to disappear."
He ends by acknowledging the love and support his wife continues to give, "I can't really put into words what she's done for me to be honest with you, she's an absolute diamond."
Find out more about Paul and how to sponsor him here: https://www.paulinnocent.co.uk
