Golfers count cost of Telford hole-in-one shot

Shropshire golfers Ken Wood and Olive McClements were forced to get the drinks in after both hit a hole-in-one within days of each other at a county course.

The pair celebrated aces on the 141-yard, par 3 7th hole at The Shropshire Golf Centre in Muxton, Telford, last week.Tradition dictates golfers must buy a drink for everyone in the clubhouse after getting a rare hole-in-one. ­­

The bar bill of £50 hit Ken, 68, particularly hard - this year was the first time in more than 40 years of playing he has failed to take out insurance covering the drinks bill in the event of a hole-in-one.

The retired photographer, from Wellington, was playing in a friendly against Telford Golf Club on Thursday when his eight-iron shot pitched short of the green, rolled over the humps protecting the front of the putting surface, took a sharp left turn and vanished into the hole.

His playing partner joked the golf ball had a sat nav system fitted to it and grandfather Ken, who plays off a 24 handicap, said: "I have been playing for more than 40 years and have never even got close.

"I decided not to take out the insurance for the first time this year, I've gone that long without getting one I had given up on ever doing it."

Two days earlier Olive, 62, from Shifnal, broke down in tears after watching her seven iron shot on the same hole pitch on the right of the green before rolling into the hole.

The grandmother-of-two has only been playing at the club for two years and plays off a handicap of 20.

She said: "It was a very emotional moment. It's all a bit strange as I was only talking to my sister the night before about golf and I was wondering if I would ever have a hole-in-one, then I get one the following day.

"There were only seven of us in the clubhouse, so I got off lightly with my round."

The course, owned and operated by Burhill Golf & Leisure, has become something of an ace hotspot, with no fewer than seven hole-in-ones in the last 18 months.

James Lever, Shropshire Golf Centre general manager, said: "Hole-in-ones at The Shropshire are like the proverbial London buses.

"We don't have one for a while and then two come along at once.

"This is the third time we have had two aces within a short period of time, although this is the first time we've had them within days of each other."