Golfing partners hit 'one in 17 million' double hole in one
To hit a hole in one is something quite special. For a player’s partner to then step up and hit another is nothing short of miraculous.
Indeed, according to the Hole In One Society, the odds of two players hitting a hole in one with consecutive shots stand at 17 million to one.
But that is precisely what happened on Tuesday, at Richmond Golf Club in south-west London, when first Wayne Eagling, a former Royal Ballet star turned choreographer, teed off with a six iron, followed by his partner Peter Orton, an award-winning television director, also using his six iron.
The pair had no idea they had both holed out until they walked up to the green and could not immediately see either of their balls.
After much searching they thought of looking in the hole, where – to their amazement – both balls were nestling.
“We couldn’t actually see what happened although we both knew we were close,” said Mr Orton. “As we were walking towards the green, Wayne asked me if I had ever had a hole in one and I said ‘No’.
“When we got up to the green we couldn’t see our balls until we looked in the hole and there they both were.”
When nearby players heard the two men’s celebrations they came across to see what all the fuss was about, including Mike Winsor, the voice of Basil Brush, who took photographs of Mr
Eagling and Mr Orton celebrating. On their return to the club’s Grade I-listed 1725 Palladian style clubhouse the pair fulfilled the long standing tradition that anyone who scores a hole in one buys drinks for all present.
John Maguire, Richmond Golf Club’s general manager, said: “It was incredible. We’d already had two holes in one over the previous couple of days and that’s something we hardly ever get here. I’ve been here 12 years and I’ve never seen anything close to that.”