Chum eyes one more ace in the hole

AND THAT MAKES THREE: Chum Aramakutu has had aces on the second, seventh and now 14th holes at Gisborne Park. He needs a hole in one on the fifth to complete the set of aces on all par-3s at the course. Picture by Paul Rickard

THREE down. One to go. Chum Aramakutu is a swing away from achieving a unique hole-in-one feat at Gisborne Park.

The 70-year-old left-hander earlier this month aced the 14th hole at his home course to make it three holes in one on three different holes.

His perfect 9-iron on the 112-metre hole was added to aces on the 155m second and 165m seventh holes — both of those achieved in 2010.

Now his sights are on the 140m fifth hole to complete the set of all four par-3s at the Park. It is not clear whether this has been done before. Park life member Shirley Paku — who has five holes in one, including four on the 14th — can’t recall it.

Despite having tasted it twice before, Aramakutu was still stunned when his ball hit the green, bounced and rolled into the cup.

“All I was trying to do was get it close to the hole because I was 2-down to Barry Cox (in a match).”

Aramakutu obviously won the hole but Cox — getting nine shots — wasn’t fazed and went on to beat his opponent on the 17th.

Aramakutu has been playing for about 30 years, a good chunk of those at Te Puia Springs before changing to Gisborne Park about 10 years ago. He didn’t come close to an ace during his time at the Springs, he said.

“It’s like winning Lotto trying to get one up there.”

Now retired and getting around the course on his trusty motorbike, he still plays well enough to be on a 9-handicap, which raises the prospect of another golfing achievement . . . breaking his age.

Aramakutu said he had done it at Te Puia but not at Park where his best round this year is 74.