Talk about a ‘nice drive’. David Haimes didn’t just get admiring glances for his tee shot at Silkstone’s 9th hole, the 56-year-old bagged a £40,000 new car.
The 17-handicapper at the South Yorkshire club won a luxury Mini after making a hole-in-one at the 190-yard par-3.
It was the first time such a mammoth prize had been on offer at the Barnsley venue and it was also Haimes’ first ace – a well-struck 4-iron landing short of the green before bounding on, catching the side of the cup, and going the full 360-degrees before dropping.
The odds of getting a hole-in-one are unlikely enough – estimated to be 12,500-1 for the average amateur golfer. But this short hole, with a forced carry over a pond, is so difficult it hadn’t seen a competition ace for a decade!
Hole in one prize: ‘I didn’t want to celebrate because I’d look like a fool, to be honest, if I was jumping up and down and it hadn’t gone in’
So Haimes will get to pick up the car, supplied by Wakefield’s Sandal Mini, following an event that was sponsored by kitchen worktop suppliers Roann.
He said: “It’s not the easiest hole. It’s over water and quite a small green with bunkers left and front right. It’s not one you really challenge often but as soon as I hit it – I’m not sure what words I said, something to the effect of ‘that’s good’ or ‘that’s on it’ – I knew I’d really caught the shot.
“I saw it land and I thought it probably landed about six feet away and then I lost sight of what happened. Obviously striking it well to get onto the green and striking it well for a hole-in-one are two completely different things. I didn’t expect it but I just knew I’d absolutely nailed the shot.”
Haimes added: “There was [a specialist drone operator]. He said, ‘I think it’s gone in’. I didn’t want to celebrate because I’d look like a fool, to be honest, if I’m jumping up and down and it hadn’t.
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“But he actually ran off to the green – I wasn’t running up – and then started waving and saying, ‘it’s in!’ I felt really calm. I don’t know why. Obviously very pleased but I don’t think it really quite dawned on me the enormity of it. It’s quite incredible.”
The driving instructor, who has been a Silkstone member since 2008, said it was unlikely he’d be letting his students get behind the wheel of his new motor anytime soon.
“I may keep that away from the learners,” Haimes quipped. “But it’s brilliant. I just wouldn’t dream of going to buy a car of that sort of quality. It’s a really great feeling.”
Main image, tee shot, and video from drone it.
Now have your say
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