Wes Young is a hole-in-one golfing ace
Ever had a hole-in-one? Consider that Wes Young of Roxboro, now 85 years old, has collected an amazing 16 aces in his lifetime, the most recent coming this past fall at the Windmill Heights club in NotreDame-de-l’Île Perrot.
With one stroke of his 5 wood, Young knocked his TaylorMade ball into the par 3 seventh hole.
The accomplishment added another chapter to an amazing feat for the amateur golfer who always “aims for the pin” when he tees it up. He recorded his first ace as a 15-year-old in 1948 at the old Meadowbrook Golf Course in Lachine. Seventy years later, his 16th ace was celebrated at Windmill Heights on Oct. 31.
So what is Young ’s secret to collecting hole-in-ones? “I’ve always been pretty good with my irons,” Young said modestly.
He can still drive the ball 250 yards off the tee. Young, who used to have a scratch handicap, has also aced a couple of short par 4s as well. In 1992, he holed out a 255yard, par-4 en route to a record 56 at a course in Clearwater, Fla. Young said the disbelieving club pro at Clearwater asked to play a round with him the next day.
Young was more than happy to oblige, carding a sizzling round of 63. After a few holes, the pro walked off, satisfied that Young was the real deal.
Young no longer travels to Florida during the winter months to hone his game and warm his bones.
Till the winter snow melts, the Air Canada retiree stays fit by swimming three times a week.
He said playing golf several times a week during the summer months keeps him young. “I am Young, after all,” he said laughing. “I have to live up to my name.”
The odds of an amateur golfer getting a hole-in-one are estimated at one in 12,500. Tiger Woods has a reported 18 aces over his career, while Jack Nicklaus had 20 and Arnold Palmer had 19. WES YOUNG’S LIST OF ACES No. 1: 1948, Meadowbrook Golf Course, Lachine, 18th hole, 155 yards
No. 2: 1956, Meadowbrook Golf Course 12th hole, 287 yards (par 4)
No. 3: 1957, LaSalle Golf Club, LaSalle, sixth hole, 155 yards
No. 4: 1957, Malborough Golf Course, Cartierville, ninth hole, 195 yards
No. 5: 1958, Daytona Beach, Fla., 18th hole, 145 yards
No. 6: 1959, Wentworth Golf Course, Côte St. Luc, seventh hole, 135 yards
No. 7: 1959, Summerlea Golf Course, Lachine, 15th hole, 195 yards
No. 8: 1972, Palas Verdes, Los Angeles, 13th hole, 144 yards
No. 9: 1982, Toronto golf course, 184 yards No. 10: 1986, Ocean Palms, Fla., third hole, 180 yards
No. 11: 1991, Ile-Perrot, 12th hole, 154 yards No. 12: 1991, Ile-Perrot, 17th hole, 149 yards No. 13: 1992, Clearwater, Fla., 18th hole, 254 yards (par 4)
No. 14: 1997, Ile-Perrot, third hole, 145 yards
No. 15: 2003, Ile-Perrot, seventh hole, 155 yards
No. 16: 2018, Windmill Point, seventh hole, 150 yards