"It was a pretty enlightening moment in my sporting life," Barrell added, having been an All Black triallist and represented Wanganui from 1963-1977.
"It's a bit like kicking a goal from the wrong side of halfway, which I did a bit in my old days."
Still, unlike goal kicking success which came from practice and concentration, Barrell said there just seems to be luck involved in getting a golf ace.
The week before on the same hole with the same golf club, he hit the ball out of bounds to the right-hand side of the fairway, then when he returned on Thursday after that magic drive, he made a five on the Par 3.
"It's supposedly a game of skill. Supposed to be."
Barrell was pleased one family milestone was knocked off - his wife made a hole in one around 10 years ago.
"It's always been a bit of a struggle to catch her up. I'm pretty relieved in a couple of areas to have finally got it."
Barrell took up golf as his rugby career was beginning to taper off - playing club games in Taihape on a Saturday, then going out for a round on Sunday.
"I had to do something after I played rugby. I fitted into the game and I enjoy it ... going out with friends."
It is the ninth recorded Hole in One in the wider Wanganui region this year.