Partially blind golfer clocks up hole-in-one on top course
● Ex-electrician lost his eyesight four years ago
A partially sighted golfer, who can barely make out the flag on the green, has hit a hole-in-one at a top Scottish golf course.
John Foster, from Maidens in Ayrshire, used his trusty seven iron to hit the remarkable shot on the 132-yard sixth hole at Trump Turnberry earlier this month.
The 60-year-old’s sight is limited following a stroke in the right optic nerve four years ago.
He then suffered another stroke in the left optic nerve in 2016.
Mr Foster’s friends Gordon Todd and Martin Brown acted as his golfing eyes and ears, but joked his shot would end up in the bunker.
A former electrician, Mr Foster was over the moon to hit the hole-in-one on 9 May.
He said: “I was just standing at the tee.
“I stood up there and lined myself and I remember one of the boys thought my shot would be in the bunker.
“I was delighted when I got the hole in one, but if it wasn’t for the guys’ directions it would have been more difficult. “I was just over the moon. “At my level I’m OK. I was a better golfer before I lost my sight. I just have no depth perception at all.”
Mr Foster was honoured with a certificate for his extra special ace on the challenging Ailsa championship course, situated an hour’s drive from Glasgow.
He was helped around the course by his friends, who also provided commentary on the flight of his shots.
Mr Foster explained he can only make out vague shapes around him and struggles to comprehend the depth of the course.
He added: “The guys were a great help.
“The funny thing about my sight is that I can see the green, but I can’t tell whether it’s the front, middle or back.
“I can see the golf course when I’m walking about. It all looks perfectly flat to me. I can’t tell the depth of it.
“It’s really hard to explain. I know where I’m looking at and sometimes I can see the flag. I just can’t make out whether it’s at the front or centre or wherever.”
Due to his sight, Mr Foster has had to give up his electrician business.
He explained: “I’m also not allowed to drive and I’ve given up my licence.
“It is a shame as I used to cycle and hill walk, but I can’t see very well now.
“Sometimes I fall into bunkers because my lower vision is away.”
It is not the first time Mr Foster has achieved a hole in one.
He produced the same feat 20 years ago at Caprington golf course in Kilmarnock soon after taking up the sport.
Mr Foster joined Turnberry in 2005. As a sighted golfer he played off a 13 handicap and he has only dropped to 18.
The hole, which is known as Tappie Toorie, has been completely transformed under US president Donald Trump’s ownership.
The tee to the short par three hole now sits right on the sand dunes.
The home of four Open Championships, the Ailsa course has played host to some of the most iconic names in golf.
The course was overhauled in June 2016 thanks to more than £200 million invested by new owners The Trump Organisation.
The golfing destination is named after the third Marquess of Ailsa, who owned the land on which the par-71, 6,474-yard course was built.
“I stood up there and lined myself and I remember one of the boys thought my shot would be in the bunker”
JOHN FOSTER