Golfer hits first hole-in-one a day after turning 90

A golfer hit his first ever hole-in-one just one day after celebrating his 90th birthday.

John Payne achieved every golfer's dream on the sixth hole at Brailsford Golf Course, near Ashbourne in Derbyshire, on Friday.

Mr Payne said his deteriorating eyesight meant he didn't initially realise he had hit an ace until a fellow player informed him.

"It is a miracle because it is very difficult. I have played here for 30 years and I've never had a hole-in-one," he said.

Mr Payne said his friends "could not believe" what they saw once he hit the ball.

"I hit the ball with my driver and it hit the downslope of the bunker. It rolled and rolled until it dropped in the hole.

"Magic, once in a lifetime," he added.

Operations manager at the course, Gurj Bowbanks, described Mr Payne as a "character and a real joy to be around".

"I think we are all in awe of him and he's put us all to shame," she said.

"We are really over the moon for him."

Mr Payne said he would now like to golf with David Clowes, the owner of Derby County and Brailsford Golf Course.

If the meet-up were to go ahead, Mr Payne said he would not be able to use his hole-in-one ball because he had lost it.

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