HOLING-IN-ONE RISK

Evening Star, Issue 22688, 30 June 1937, Page 1

HOLING-IN-ONE RISK

INSURANCE FW PLAYERS Following* a precedent established in New Zealand, English golfers may soon be persuaded against holing in one—an achievement which customarily means drinks all round at the expense of the one who accomplishes it. A Lloyd’s insurance broker discussing a policy taken out in Auckland, whereby the insurance company pays £5 to the man who holes in remarked that if brokers could get sufficient business in that line it would bo a very good risk. FEW SHILLINGS A YEAR. “ I think it could be done in* ’this country for a very small premium just a matter of a few shillings a year,” he said. “ The odds against a man. holing out in one are vety great. _ I should say it could be done here quite easily.” . ■ Insurance companies are not likely to have to pay out large sums annually. The odds against a golfer driving his tee shot straight into the hole could never be calculated, but in a test carried out on a New York golf course a few years ago, 1,085 strokes failed to produce one hole in one. Two hundred and seventeen golfers, amateur and professional, all of whom had holed in one at some time or another tried deliberately to do it again from 120yds. Each took five shots, but not one managed to put the ball into the hole. TWICE IN ONE ROUND. In spite of these odds, Mr Eric Fiddian, playing against Mr Jack McLean, in the final of the Irish open championship in Newcastle, County Down, in 1933, twice holed in one. Eighteen months ago, after a player had holed in one the eighteenth hole of the Wilderness Club, near Sevenoaks, Kent, and spent more than £ll in consequence, the club decided to entertain players in future holing their tee shots. There are only two holes among the thousands throughout the world where a definite reward exists for golfers holing in one. Onb is the te Island Hole,” bn th© course of the Royal Ashdown Forest Club, Sussex, which some years ago took the fancy of a visitor who endowed it with £5. The accumulated interest was to be paid to the player “ doing it ” in one stroke at the Easter, Whitsun, or autumn meeting of the club. The interest has been growing ever since, and no player Las yet qualified for it. A similar endowment exists at a United States club. ONE-ARMED GOLFERS. There are three recorded instances of one-armed golfers performing a hole in one. The most recent of these was that of Captain C. E. Wilson, who at Sandwich in 1930 drove 216yds straight into the hole. Perhaps the most remarkable of all holes-in-one was that by Mr F. H. (Bryde at New Galloway, 11 years ago. The ball went out of bounds over a wall, struck a rook, rebounded on to the green, and rolled into the hole. Two women at Colwyn Bay in September, 1935, halved the eighth hole with on© stroke each. According to the ‘ Golfers’ Handbook,’ Alex Herd has the record number of holes in one. He has the honour on 19 occasions. The record for the longest hole in one is held by an American, Frank Melius at the Los Angeles County Club with 374yds. The British record was made in 1928 by George Kirby, the local professional at Stoneham, Southampton, with 34.0yds.