Golf: Geoff Warren sinks ace on 16th

Geoff Warren attempts to repeat last weekend's hole in one on the 16th at the Hastings Golf Club. Photo/Paul Taylor

IF you are a golfer and you are worried about future hip replacement operations interfering with your game don't be.

That's the advice from Hastings Golf Club 15 handicapper Geoff Warren. Four years after surgery to replace his left hip (his pivot hip as he is a right hander) Warren hit his first hole in one last weekend.

Playing in a Saturday club day competition, Warren, produced his ace on the 145m par three 16th on the Bridge Pa course with a six iron.

"The surgeon did a great job. It certainly hasn't proved detrimental to my game," Warren said.

A livestock scheduler for Silver Fern Farms, Warren, 52, has been playing golf for 15 years, the past eight at the Hastings club after previously playing in Manawatu and Queenstown. He took up golf when a neck injury collected in a scrum ended his rugby playing days.

"It was very well struck ... one of those swings which you knew was hit properly," Warren said, as he recalled his first hole in one.

"While the distance reads 145 metres it was actually 151 metres to the pin which was at the top right of the green. The ball faded to the right and landed in the middle of the green before it slowly trekked to the pin after a couple of small bounces.

"My eye sight isn't as good as it used to be but I saw the ball disappear. My mates confirmed it had gone in the hole and there was heaps of yelling and high fives," Warren said.

"It was a special feeling particularly because it was shared with my regular golfing friends," he said referring to Peter Bailey, David Potter and Allan Bradley.

"Fortunately it was late in the round because I was so distracted I didn't play well after that."

Warren finished with a round of 91 and 34 stableford points. He didn't qualify for any collects off the prize table but, with the traditional bar shout for the ace, Warren was the most popular bloke in the clubhouse after the round.

"That 16th hole is elevated and well protected by the bunkers. It was a wonderful feeling. I've always been a very keen golfer but not a very good one.

"I've always wondered what it would feel like and I've often dreamed about it ... it was just like in the dreams."

Warren's next round will be another club day fixture this weekend.

"I'll be looking to repeat last weekend's feat," he added.