There were five golfers playing the hole ahead of them watching from up on the hillside, and Belsham said there had been some good-natured banter between the two groups during the round.
"Next thing, they're jumping up and down with their hands in the air.
"We actually thought they were taking the mickey out of us."
Belsham told his playing partners he would wait to celebrate until he had confirmed the ace himself, and when they got down there he found it in the hole with a nice chunk of dirt on the side, moving on to shake hands with his witnesses.
Remembering stories of other golfers who kept playing their round with the magic ball after an ace and proceeded to lose it, Belsham pocketed his prize and will get it mounted.
"It's not something that comes along every day."
The deputy mayor also exercised responsibility back at the clubhouse, as the rules state any member must buy an ace-getter a drink if requested, however Belsham had to drive himself home.
He took up the golf around 1995, which included taking a hiatus from playing while his children were growing up.
On Sunday, Belsham also managed a two on the 16th hole, but noted that while those two efforts got him nine points, he could only secure 20 more.
"Those were two of the better holes of the whole round.
"It was a very average other 16 holes."
It is believed to be the first ace in the wider region this year, although Wanganui Golf Club's Johnny Keating scored an unofficial ace on April 29 when a magpie picked up his ball off the green at the ninth and dropped it in the hole.
