Apprentice Marton Golf Club greenkeeper Jayden Hunter has the lay of the land down pat after 15 months in the job.
The 21-year-old scored his first hole in one from the blue (championship) tees on the par 3, 12th hole in Saturday's club championship competition.
Using his five iron, the former scratch golfer let loose before watching his ball hit the slight mound at the front of the green and then roll straight into the hole for an ace 191 metres from the tee.
"I've been playing since before I can remember, although I had some time away from the game," Hunter said.
"I now play off a 14 handicap, but used to be a scratch player when I was a lot younger. Now I'm working here I am playing more and more golf. I try and play most weekends."
Hunter was shunted out of club championship contention despite his ace, when he lost on the final hole. However, has managed to drown his sorrows in spectacular fashion in the 19th.
"I don't know what the club policy is for holes-in-one, but I got shouted all night. It wasn't a long night, but it certainly felt quite lengthy."
Hunter's perfect shot was the fourth recorded in the greater Whanganui region this year after Castlecliff's Ken Read and Tom Johns' aces in January and then Graham Bond's earlier this month at Hawkestone.