Joy nails her second hole in one

Joy Stantiall and her playing partners got quite the surprise when they went looking for her missing ball at the Hawkestone Golf Club last Tuesday.

Playing in the medal and putting competition, the 70-year-old was lining up her shot on the just-over-100m, par 3 8th a drop hole where only the top of the pin is visible from the ladies tee-off and the green runs close to the edge to another hill.

Using a large club due to the recent watering of the greens, a few seconds later Stantiall had the second hole in one of her career.

However, being unable to see where the ball landed, Stantiall's only initial hope was her shot had stayed on the green, "which is why it wasn't very exciting".

"The lady said, 'I think you've hit it out of bounds," said Stantiall.

"I'm busy looking down the hill for it, then the lady saw it in the hole."

Having played thousands of shots in 23 years of golf, Stantiall was like many golfers who achieve the ultimate drive in thinking her shot had flown off to the side of her intended landing area at best staying in putting range on the green.

"It happens when you're not even thinking about it."

She had been much more excited with her first hole in one, seeing the whole shot clearly on the now-removed 135m 16th hole, sweetly connecting with her three wood during a Christmas Cheer in November 2009. Hawkestone Golf Club gave her a trophy, which she got engraved herself.

"I got a lot of hugs and kisses, that's the best bit," she said.

"I don't want another trophy. It looks pretentious."

It is believed to be the third hole in one recorded during competitions across the Wanganui area clubs this summer.