MY OLD-IN-ONE
Grandad, 92, is oldest UK golfer to hole tee shot
A GOLFING grandad aged 92 has become the oldest Briton to get a hole-in-one.
Derek Jackson sank his tee shot on the 150-yard hole, despite his view of the flag being obscured by a small hill.
Remarkably, it was his second holein-one, his first coming in 2011 as a sprightly 81-year-old.
Retired chartered engineer Derek, from Pershore, Worcs, downplayed his latest ace at nearby Evesham Golf Club, saying it was “just a bit of luck”.
Describing the feat, he said: “You don’t know if the ball has gone in the hole or not until you go up to the green. My first thought was, ‘That’s going to cost me’, as there is a tradition to put a bottle of whisky on the bar.
“I couldn’t believe it. It’s a good feeling. Some golfers never get to experience it once, let alone twice.”
Derek started playing in 1957 and has no intention of giving up, even though he’s now a bit more picky about the conditions he plays in.
He said: “I’m a fair weather player now. I try to get out about twice a week in the summer.
“I’ve been playing for 66 years and still enjoy it. As Andy Warhol said, I’m just enjoying my 15 minutes of fame.” Club pro Rob Steele described Derek’s hole-in-one as a “fantastic achievement” adding that it takes “a lot of skill”.
He told the BBC: “Yes, there’s a huge element of luck but you’re aiming it at a target, selecting the right club, [thinking about] all the elements, the wind and ground conditions.”
The oldest golfer to record a hole-in-one was late pro Gus Andreone, who aced the 113-yard 14th at Palm Aire Country Club, Sarasota, Florida, in 2014, when he was 103.
Some never experience doing it once, let alone twice
DEREK JACKSON ON HIS SECOND HOLE-IN-ONE