Golf News

Hurlston Hall's first one handed ace

HURLSTON Hall Golf Club has seen its fair share of holes in one over recent years but last month one of its members had a rather special ace – he holed out on the par three 16th while swinging using just one arm!

John Roberts, from Ormskirk, was actually playing in a competition with the One Armed Golf Society at the time.

The 16-handicapper, who plays back handed with his left hand, hit a five iron on the 167- yard hole. Playing alongside Bob Snellgrove, Kevin Spencer and Paul Sproson it was John's first ever ace.
"I've hit the pin a few times but never actually holed out,” said John.
"The ball pitched on the green, took one bounce and then rolled in. I saw it disappear but I didn't get too carried away because I wasn't 100% sure. I thought it might have been hiding behind the flagstick. The closer I got the more sure I was that it was in. Once I realised it was I got a bit excited. I was shaking like a leaf on the next hole,” added the 59-year-old.

Following tradition John had to fork out for the drinks in the clubhouse afterwards. "It was the first ever one handed hole in one at Hurlston so we celebrated properly.”

John, who was born with his disability, started playing when he was 11.
"I saw Jack Nicklaus hitting balls with one hand at the Open when he was practicing and I started playing golf properly and joined Ormskirk.
"I got down to a nine handicap and got to the final of the World One Armed Golf Championship in Fife in 1977.
"Once I got married and had children I stopped playing for 25 years but then I started playing again seven years ago when I joined Hurlston.”

Double delight for ladies

HOLES-IN-ONE are always worthy of celebration but two local ladies achieved their latest aces in spectacular fashion.

Davyhulme Park's Ann Kerr, the designer and supplier of the brand new Trolley Dolly golf handbag, had her first-ever ace at her own club a number of years ago and her big regret was that she didn't actually see it go into the hole on the par three 120-yard 17th hole.

Ann said: "I hit a three-wood and was delighted when it hit the flagstick full on and then disappeared. "After a long search around the green we eventually discovered that it had gone into the hole.

"The latest one came during a club fourball matchplay round with Jenny Page as my partner.

"We went into the 17th hole leading by two shots and Jenny said to me to make sure again that my ball landed on the green to finish the match off so that we could get to the club barbeque night which was going on at the time.

"With my handicap now down to 15 I was able to hit a seven-iron and having hit it well and seeing that it was bound for the green I bent down to pick up my tee.

"There was a great scream from my playing partners as they saw the ball go into the hole but once more I had failed to see it for myself.”

Meanwhile at Crompton and Royton Saddleworth lady captain Hazel Rogerson saw her nine-wood tee shot on the fourth hole go into the cup for her second-ever hole-in-one during the Oldham Ladies Golf Association Chronicle Cup event.

Hazel said: "The fourth hole is 138 yards downhill and I was pleased with my tee shot which disappeared behind a steep bank.

"And to the delight of myself and my playing partners Jenny Knight (Saddleworth) and Irene Carr (Crompton and Royton) we found that it gone into the hole.” She added: "My previous ace was at Saddleworth when playing with my husband Albert.”

John's flying high after hole-in-one

SHROPSHIRE Golf Centre member John Bowden was sky-high after scoring his first ever hole-in-one.

The 51-year-old, who works at RAF Cosford, joined the exclusive hole-in-one club when his shot into the picturesque 141-yard par-three seventh with a seven iron ricocheted off a bank and rolled into the hole.

He couldn't believe it when he saw the ball roll into the hole. Neither could his playing partners – wife Sara and brother-in-law Mick Merrick. John, from Telford, said: "I've been playing golf for quite a few years now and this is the first time I've got a holein- one, I've never even been close before.”

The centre's general manager James Lever, said: "We don't get many hole-inones. We're lucky to get one a year. Our par-threes are quite tough, and the seventh is one of the very toughest.”