Former Foxton fire chief Gary Stratford had a beer in his hand and story he can dine out on for some time after veteran golfer netted $1500 for a Hole-in-One at the PBI Fire Service national golf tournament at Castlecliff yesterday afternoon.
After the singles competition wrapped up on Thursday, the national competition for 121 current and former firemen continued with the Canadian Foursomes, but few were expecting any sparkling performances on a dreary wet and windy day.
However, after Stratford's playing partner borrowed his ball to tackle the 15th Hole, a Par 3 over 162m, the chief reciprocated when it was his turn.
"He's not getting it back now," Stratford said yesterday from the clubhouse, where he had been inundated with well-wishers.
Given the tough conditions, Stratford opted to use a driver into the head wind, rather than the typical 8 or 9 iron for the shorter drive to the pin.
"With the head winds and rain, it was more like 170m."
While he never expected to land the first ace of his playing days, which began back in 1968 as an 18-year-old, Stratford said he had been making some good swings with the driver during the week.
"There's shorter holes around that I've been close too."
Playing off a 17 handicap, Stratford is a member of the Foxton club and was expecting another celebration when he heads back home.
He will probably need the recognition given he was very generous with his $1500 prize with his fellow firemen at the bar yesterday.
"I'm about $300 short now," he laughed.
Stratford served as a volunteer fireman for 38 years, retiring as Foxton's chief last year after 17 years in charge.
The ace lifted the standard of the tournament after the singles competition wrapped up on Thursday.
Despite being held in better weather conditions than the light showers of Wednesday, not all of the 121 competitors brought their best game out of the clubhouse.
"Today the weather was perfect. Gentle breeze, sunny and overcast, then finished as sunny as can be," said Whanganui organiser Doug Bennett on Thursday..
"I don't know if the scores reflected the weather.
"There was some good scores and some very average scores."
No player managed to land a Hole-in-One on the Wanganui Toyota sponsored 13th hole to win a $47,000 Hilux.
Bennett said the best effort was one fireman managing to land a good eagle on the 18th hole, which is a Par 4.
"A couple of houses got hit today - the clubhouse and a private house - the balls didn't stay on the course.
"But everyone I spoke to said they had a good time, which is the whole point."
Firemen from as far south as Dargaville and north as far as Warkworth came to take part in the annual tournament.
Ken Read was the best of the locals by having the top Nett score in the overall competition.
Results, Singles Championship
Overall - Gross: Caleb Symes (Manaia) 144; Nett: Ken Read (Castlecliff) 138; Stableford: Adam O'Rourke (Riverside) 78.
Senior - Gross: Tony Versteeg (Hastings) 154; Nett: Fraser Smith (Carterton) 144; Stableford: Mike Crawford (Judgeford) 70.
Intermediate - Gross: James Shearer (Karori) 167; Nett: Hayden Robinson (Waitakere) 141; Stableford: Greig Mooney (Waitakere) 73.
Junior A - Gross: Brent Sanford (Te Puke) 178; Nett: Neil Bilderbeck (Riverside) 143; Stableford: John Anderson (Whakatane) 72.
Junior B - Gross: Bob Frew (Taumaranui) 195; Nett: Craig Stevens (Pahiatua) 144; Stableford: Shane Thompson (Riverside) 70.