Shropshire golfer Ivor Talbot had a double celebration when he followed up his golden wedding with a hole-in-one.

The 75-year-old, from Newport, recently marked 50 years of marriage to wife Natalie with a celebration at The Shropshire Golf Centre in Telford. Then just last week he hit another milestone at the public pay and play course by shooting his first ever hole-in-one after 20 years of playing golf.

“With it being my golden wedding anniversary as well this year, which we celebrated at the club, I suppose you could say it has been a bit of a double celebration,” said Mr Talbot.

The retired financial controller’s ace came at the picturesque par three third ho- le of the centre’s gold course.

It looks out over the countryside near Telford and is the perfect setting for a golfer to hit the perfect shot.

Mr Talbot said: “It was all over so quickly. You have to hit enough club to get the ball over the water, and my playing partners shouted ‘It has gone in, it has gone in,’ before it had really registered with me.

“When we got back to the clubhouse I bought the customary round of drinks but, luckily, the clubhouse was pretty empty at the time, so I got away with buying the drinks for just my playing partners.”

James Lever, The Shropshire Golf Centre general manager, said: “What a great way for Mr Talbot to celebrate his golden wedding anniversary.”

Hole-in-ones are becoming a fairly frequent occurrence at The Shropshire Golf Centre. This was the sixth ace in the space of 15 months.

Mr Lever added: “The aces just keep on coming, the golfers must be putting in plenty of short game practice on our driving range and par three short course, before playing the main courses.”