Rare hole-in-one wins a new car at charity golf tournament
WHEN Richard Donovan entered a charity golf tournament, little did he know he would be on his way to winning a brand new car. The Bridgend County Civic Charity Appeals Standing Committee and the Mayor of Bridgend held the fundraising golf event for local charities on May 6.
Nathaniel Car Sales Ltd offered a new car to any golfer participating in the charity event who scored a hole-in-one on the 4th hole. The new MG3 car was displayed on the course on the day of the tournament so golfers could see the prize.
Fifteen teams of four golfers each played in the competition at Pyle and Kenfig Golf Club in Bridgend. Hole four on the course is par three and features a long, narrow green. The golfer faces greenside traps and gorse at this hole. The prizewinning shot was Richard Donovan’s first hole-in-one ever.
How rare is a hole-in-one? An amateur golfer has a one in 12,500 chance of achieving a hole-in-one. On average, a golf course will be the site of 10-15 holes-in-one per year. Most golfers who sink their first hole-in-one have been playing for 24 years before their lucky shots.
Richard Donovan started golfing 15 years ago. At that time, he joined the Pyle and Kenfig Golf Club. He gave up golfing for a few years due to work. However, he returned to golf when he retired five years ago.
When asked if he has any tips to help other golfers win a new car with a hole-in-one, he replied: “This is my first hole in one, so I can’t give any tips because if I knew how to do it, I’d do it again and earn myself a fleet of cars.”
How did Nathaniel Car Sales Ltd feel about awarding a new MG car to the lucky golfer? Wayne Griffiths, managing director of Nathaniel Car Sales, recalled: “We have sponsored many sporting events over the years within our community, and to present a prize for a hole-in-one, now that is a first for us too. With talented golfers going for charity events such as these you can bet that this is not the last time we will give such a prize, but we are more than happy to do that.”
The event benefited charities in Bridgend County Borough including Mental Health Matters Wales/Bridgend, Cardiology Investigation Unit Project at The Princess of Wales Hospital/ Bridgend, The Bridge Mentoring Plus Scheme, and Ysgol Bryn Castell Bridgend.