A 92-year-old golfer is making headlines after scoring his first hole-in-one from more than 100 yards at the Casino Golf Course.
Boydie Collyer hit the ball 117 yards.
“It was just good, when I hit it it was just good,” he said.
The local legend was created when Mr Collyer approached the 17th hole on Tuesday.
“I said to one of the guys, ‘Oh, you’re on the green, I’m going to get closer to you'”
he said.
Mr Collyer approached the ball and then kicked it.
He and his golfing buddies watched it hit the green and then disappear.
“I didn’t even know he went in the hole, I thought he left the green,” he said.
“But then they said, ‘No, it’s in the hole.'”
Boydie Collyer stands on the green where he made his dream come true. (ABC News: Cath Adams)
Mr Collyer could not contain his disbelief at his ace.
“I said stupid things,” Mr. Collyer said.
He was still shaking his head as he approached the green.
“When I got on the green, I said, ‘Do I need my putter?’ he said.
“They said, ‘Only if you want to get the ball out of the hole.'”
Ace creates a legend board
Word travels fast on a country golf course.
“I think everyone on the course knew it before we got back to the club,” Mr Collyer said.
“Everyone is excited to make your first hole-in-one at 92, there’s a bit of an atmosphere,” said Casino Golf Club pro Matt Adam.
“He probably took it in his stride, but I looked on the Internet and (the average amateur) has a 12,500-to-1 chance of hitting a hole-in-one, but at 92 you’re not going to hit as far as normal people.”
Mr Adam said there weren’t many veteran players as enthusiastic as “young Boydie Collyer”.
“He’s coming early, he’s one of the first guys here, he’s from Coraki, he’s driving his car at 92,” he said.
“His name will appear on the board as a hole-in-one.“
This board is reserved for the local legends of the Casino Golf Club. (ABC News: Cath Adams)
A day like any other
Mr Collyer has been playing for eight years and last week celebrated his 92nd birthday.
He said he couldn’t put his finger on what he had done differently.
“I had some Weetbix, it was like every other day, just going out to have fun,” he said.
As for technique, he said it was a bit hit or miss.
“Most of the time I just close my eyes and knock,” Mr. Collyer said.
But his advice to other players was to keep your eyes open.
He said his eyes were open when he made the hole-in-one.
He encouraged aspiring older golfers to give it a shot.
“Go out and do it because it takes your mind off everything else,” he said.
“It’s a good game.”
