Most amateur golfers dream of hitting a hole-in-one, but for retired motor mechanic Terry Lingham, the dream has turned into a costly nightmare.
For 76-year-old Terry has just bagged his 13th inch-perfect tee shot, and in line with tradition, has yet again had to fork out for a round of drinks for members in the clubhouse bar.
He potted No 13 on the Par 3 11th at Leighton Buzzard’s Plantation Road club where he has been a member for 30 years, using an eight-iron for his 150-yard ace.
Terry, who lives a chip and a putt from the aptly named Bunker Lane in Linslade, hit his first three holes-in-one whilst he was a member of Whipsnade golf club….and 10 more since joining his home-town club. A low handicap golfer in his younger days, Terry has now recovered from major knee surgery, and plays off a handicap of 22.
Says Terry, who has aced all four Par 3 holes at Leighton where he typically plays three rounds a week: “Thirteen holes-in- one is quite an achievement, but I’ll be out there again next week trying to make it 14.”
[] Joan Waples won Leighton Ladies latest stableford, beating Val Brown on countback after both finished with 39 points. Lesley Bednarek was third with 38 points, a shot clear of Rosalind Miles. The Ladies 9-hole competition was won by Sylvia Dell with 19 points, two clear of Val J Smith and Val A Smith.
[] Grand Prix champion Howard Allen won Leighton’s Wallis Cup beating Daniel Waite on countback after both finished with scores of +6. Lee Harnett took third place with +5, a hole clear of Paul Ahmet, Ryan Connew and Steven Paine.
[] Oliver Mortimer and Daniel Lamont carded 49 points to qualify for Leighton ‘s Captains’ Cup final which takes place on Saturday.
[] Andy McDonald recovered from a covid infection to kick-start his year as Captain of Leighton’s Senior section with a 5-3 inter-club win over Aspley Guise and Woburn Sands golf club. Andy teamed up with Richard Samuels for an opening match win, with John Clavey and Christoper Figg doubling the lead. Peter Gadsden and Ron Burgoyne lost before Martin Broadley and Graham Pellow won for Leighton, and though David Miles and Ian Rimmer lost narrowly, wins by Harry Adam and Phil Rickard and Danny Nairne and David Nero secured a Leighton victory before Paul Bishop and Matt Byrne lost the final rubber.