Bert hits his third hole-in-one on the fifth!

Bert Whyte gave himself an early Christmas present when he aced the fifth hole – for the third time – at Canterbury Golf Club on Friday.

Playing into a strong, gusting southerly breeze, 11 handicapper Whyte said: “After watching my playing partners David Divers and John Gawler fail to even make the green, I took the decision to use my 20 degrees rescue club and flighted a drill shot on to the green and into the hole.

“This was my third hole-in-one on the fifth and I’m wondering if the club will rename it ‘The Bertie Hole’.

“I offered drinks in the club house for anyone on the course that day, saying proudly it’s a great Christmas gift and I wished everyone a happy Christmas and safe new year.’’ Next year’s ladies’ captain Alyson Wreford (h14) overcame misbehaving putts and 21 rivals to win the nine-hole December

Stableford at Canterbury Golf Club.

She won by two points from Sue Jones (h19), who was second overall for the third competition running, following a first place just before Lockdown 2. Only nine holes were available following the recent heavy rain, with eight on the front nine and the 15th replacing the sixth, and playing into the low sun was as challenging as the heavy ground conditions.

Despite struggling on the greens and dropping two points on the first five holes, Wreford picked up with pars on the short eighth and the par-five ninth and a bogey five on the 15th saw her home with a one over par total of 17.

Wreford won overall while in Division 1 Jones took honours by two points from Claire Wilson (h19).

Division 2 was won by Bettie Morton (h32) with 15 points, after making a strong start but failing to score on two holes. June Bevan (h31) was a point behind in second place.