Benwick golfer Gary shocks Old Nene Golf & Country Club with hole-in-one - with his first shot
Gary Hastie with his scorecard. - Credit: Archant
In golf, a hole-in-one is a rarity. So to make a hole-in-one in your first qualifying round, on the first hole, with your first stroke, is even more unlikely.
Gary Hastie's scorecard - Credit: Archant
But Old Nene Golf & Country Club members were left open-mouthed when Gary Hastie achieved the incredible feat earlier this month.
Gary, who lives in Benwick, decided to sign up at the Ramsey-based club and record his handicap on November 11.
He stepped up to the first 144-yard hole with his trusty 8-iron in hand, swung, and was left amazed when his shot nestled neatly in the hole at the first attempt.
Jacquie Richardson, Gary Hastie, and Mark Wilbraham. - Credit: Archant
“I think I must have looked quite shocked when it went in,” Gary said.
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“I think there were a lot of envious people on the green afterwards because they’ve been trying to make a shot like that all their lives.
“I just walked up, teed off with my 8-iron, it took a bounce and went in.”
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Gary’s amazing effort prompted fellow club member, Tony Richardson, into looking at records of previous hole-in-ones, and he believes that Gary could be a record-breaker.
“Whilst there are lots of records relating to hole-in-ones, I can find no record of anyone ever duplicating this amazing feat,” he said.
“I think we’ve actually had two hole-in-ones at the club this year now, but I’ve never seen one on the first hole in a first qualifying round before.”
Gary, 44, has kept the ball he used to make the superb shot – and it will be made into a trophy, courtesy of the Old Nene Golf & Country Club.
“I’ve played golf all my life but I’ve never officially had a handicap so I thought I’d join and sort one out,” he added.
“I haven’t played golf properly for about six years so getting a hole-in-one so early on was a big shock.”
