Newcomer aces the most elusive shot

IT'S THE most elusive shot in golf, and whether you have been playing seriously for 60 years or just 12 months, there is nothing sweeter than a hole in one.
So far in 2016 there have been three "aces" in the wider Whanganui region - two at the Belmont Links of the Wanganui Golf Club in January, and then last week at the Marton Golf Club during the nine-hole competition.
Warren Jordan, a Wanganui club member who lives and works in Western Australia, sank the magic shot at Belmont on a return golfing trip, while 60-year club veteran Michael Sewell had a magic swing on January 21 during the Thursday roll-up competition.
Sewell was facing a slight breeze on the ninth hole - a Par 3 of about 120m - and so decided on the 8 iron that day.
"The tee's well elevated above the green," he said.
"It was very straight and it hit the ground and popped into the hole, it travelled no distance at all.
"It was well struck, unlike many other shots that I play."
Sewell kept composed about his outstanding drop shot, compared to the rest of his foursome who knew the famous Belmont rules about aces.
"They were more excited than I was - they knew they were going to get something to drink."
It was the second hole in one of his playing career, the previous occasion happening in Australia.
"The irony, it was a golf course I've played four times in my life. I wouldn't know how many rounds I've played at Belmont in my life."
Marton Golf Club's Bryan Hammerton could probably still count the number of rounds he's played on his club course, having joined the Tuesday morning nine-hole competition in March last year, encouraged by friend and long time member Jean Duncan.
And he had a bit to live up to this morning after sinking a hole in one last week on the 3rd Hole - a Par 3 of 135m.
Taking out the 5 iron, Hammerton was facing a somewhat difficult green, which will roll off either to the left, or land in the bunker on the right if you over-compensate.
"When you tee off, you're sort of looking up at it slightly," he said.
"It just pitched before the green and just kept rolling left towards the pin."
Only one member of his playing four watched the amazing shot, so they got one of the others to retrieve the ball from the hole in order to confirm it.
While Hammerton had some experience in businesshouse golf, Marton was the first time he had taken up the sport on a weekly basis, as the Tuesday morning start time could be worked into his schedule.
"I'm not a very good golfer. I've hardly ever played, too busy farming," he said.
Duncan had convinced him to join and he grabbed an older bunch of clubs to have a hit.
Anyone should come and have a go, he said.
"I'm really enjoying it and it's a great little club, and friendly.
"There's no one-upmanship. Everyone's on the same level, everyone's helpful."
Golf insurance company US Hole In One calculates the odds of the average club player making an ace at 12,500 to 1.