Simon’s first hole-in-one!
The first ever hole-in-one on Parley Golf Centre’s new course has been sunk – by club secretary Simon Hentrich.
It’s his first hole-in-one in more than 40 years playing the game and he ‘jumped up and down and shouted’ as it dropped.
The course is part of the centre’s £250,000 investment programme which also includes a major new short game practice area, indoor coaching facilities and academy holes.
Simon, who has been a member at Parley for four years, was on only his fourth round of the new course when he struck gold.
Using a pitching wedge on the 124-yard 17th hole he launched his ball that bounced before the flag then spun back from its second bounce and into the cup.
Simon said: “Every round until then on the new course I’d gone into the bunker, so I was determined to get it on the green.
“When I hit it I knew it would be safe and my playing partner was shouting ‘in the bunker, in the bunker’, and I said ‘no, in the hole!’
“It bounced before the hole then span back in. I jumped up and down and shouted – it’s my first ever hole-in-one, I couldn’t believe it.
“It cost me a few quid in the café-bar afterwards, but it was worth it.
“I was only on my fourth round of the course so I didn’t know the hole that well – I was just trying to avoid the bunker.
“And I’m delighted to have scored the first ever hole-in-one on the new course because it’s a record that can’t be broken.
“It’s a great new course with Par 3 holes right through to a 624-yard Par 5 and it’s playing really well. We would very much welcome new members.
“I currently have handicap of 11.3 and I want to get it down into single figures – so I need a few more holes-in-one.”
Parley is a ‘pitch-up-and-play’ course opposite Bournemouth Airport and is introducing a variety of new competitions this year.