Kentish Express Ashford & District
Hospice fundraiser hole in one nets golfer £8,000
Ex-firefighter takes wife and sister-in-law to America with winnings
A hole-in-one golfer treated his wife and sister-in-law to a holiday with his winnings.
But they were not the only ones to benefit, as Kevin Steele split his £8,000 prize money 50/50 with his twin, Keith.
Retired firefighter Mr Steele achieved his first hole in one at Tenterden Golf Club, where he is a member, at a charity fundraising day for Pilgrims Hospice.
He was at the club on Tuesday to receive his giant cheque.
“The money has already been spent,” said Mr Steele, 55, of Earlsfield, Aldington. “I gave £1,000 to my son, Leigh, and took my wife Lynda and my brother’s wife, Elizabeth, on holiday to Canada and America. Keith did not want to come.”
Mr Steele got his hole in one at the 18th from 181 yards, and was in one of the the final teams competing in the golf day in June.
“I shot from behind the trees so could not see the ball land, but apparantly a cheer went up from those watching on the clubhouse balcony,” he said. “I didn’t know about it until I got closer.
“My bar bill was about £200, but Keith helped me with that. We have always been close, and before we started playing that day had decided to split everything we won. So he got half my winnings.”
Mr Steele and his twin, who is also a member at the golf club, always play in the annual Pilgrims Hospice day, which has now been going for seven years. “We look forward to it,” he said. This year, the day raised £4,500 for the hospice, with 105 golfers taking part.
Vicki Dodds, from the hospice, said it was the second time they had had a hole in one prize. The previous time it had been a car, which no one won.
The prize was claimed from tournament organiser Worldwide Hole ‘N’ One, with the holiday insurance being sponsored by Hastings Direct.
Next year’s golf day is on Friday, June 12.