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Hole-in-One Double Delight

Golfer John McGee chose exactly the right time to score his first hole in one.

John, from Ingleby Barwick, near Middlesbrough, holed the 15th on the new Rockliffe Hall course at Hurworth, near Darlington – and picked up a £23,000 Jaguar car at the same time.

John, who had only played three times this year, was playing in a Golf Classic hosted by the Butterwick Hospice, which is based in Stockton-on-Tees.

The car was the prize for a hole in one at the 15th – the second ace at that hole on the newly opened Rockliffe Hall course. Member Tony Weir achieved the feat just a few weeks ago.

John, 37, plays off a handicap of ‘about 28’.

‘I played a lot when I was younger, but over the last few years have only managed three or four times a year,’ he said.

‘I played the ball, and one of my playing partners said “it’s gone in!” I didn’t believe him and had a search round before looking in the hole. And there it was.’

John said he was ‘amazed’. ‘I was almost as pleased at getting a hole in one, as getting the car. My wife thought I was winding her up when I told her.’

John, who is Managing Director of his own company, Resilient Power Solutions of Belasis Park, Billingham, was playing with his business partner Andy Mullen.

The company is a corporate supporter of the hospice, which provides pain and symptom control, end of life, respite, day and home care, complementary therapies, bereavement care and family support free of charge to children and adults with life limiting illnesses.

The Butterwick serves the communities of Teesside, County Durham, North Yorkshire and Wearside, and this was the first golf classic it has held.

Chief Executive of the hospice, Graham Leggatt-Chidgey, said: ‘We couldn’t believe it when someone said there had been a hole in one at the 15th and the car had been won. Thankfully, we were insured against it being won, so it’s the insurance company who pays out.'

‘And is it great that it has been won by someone who is already a supporter of the Butterwick. We are delighted for him.’

The Hospice raised about £12,000 on the day.

Nick Holmes, managing director at Rockliffe Hall, said: “We had our first hole in one, just a few weeks ago, on the very same hole, so we just couldn’t believe it when we heard the cheers go up.

“The chances must be so remote of lightning striking twice in such a short space of time. The 15th is one of the toughest par threes on the course and it was playing at 169 yards into the wind!

“We’re thrilled for John, because his company has been a long term supporter of Butterwick. It really couldn’t have happened to a more deserving individual. It was great to see him driving off with a brand new Jaguar.”

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