At the ripe old age of 31, I’ve now been playing golf for 17 years and have never hit a hole in one.

My standard of golf’s been showing some recent signs of improvement as the conditions are starting to improve and summer is now looming. I played a 9 iron off the tee of the 12th hole at Thornbury GC (Gloucestershire, UK), a 130 yard par 3. The ball took off well with my usual gentle draw. It looked good but I didn’t think much more than that.

The issue is that given how raised the green is, you can’t actually see the hole from the tee box. Luckily a pair had pushed in front of us (even though we had the first tee time of the day) and were stood on the 13th tee box which overlooks the 12th green. I heard the “thud” as the ball landed and the two lads in front cheered and shouted “hole in one!”. All of the players on the surrounding holes began cheering and clapping. I couldn’t believe it, 17 years it’s taken me!

Needless to say, it took about three holes for me to regain my composure and my score took a bit of a battering afterwards but I couldn’t care less! Finally. My first hole in one.