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An amateur golfer at 90 years old achieved a significant milestone by hitting his first hole-in-one just a day after celebrating his special birthday.
John Payne, who has been playing golf for 30 years, accomplished this feat on July 18 at a local golf course in the U.K.
The experienced player made the shot on the sixth hole, a 200-yard par three, despite facing challenges with his eyesight.
“I didn’t realize that it had gone in,” Payne shared with news agency SWNS.
“It’s 200 yards from the tee to the hole. I never imagined I’d get it in one.”
Proving that age is no barrier to success, John Payne hit his first hole-in-one at 90 years old just a day after celebrating his milestone birthday. (Tom Maddick / SWNS)
Payne used his driver to hit the ball, which then struck the downslope of a bunker before rolling straight into the cup.
“When I was told I’d hit the perfect shot, I felt magic,” he said. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime shot.”
Despite playing on the same course for 30 years without achieving an ace, Payne expressed his gratitude for finally accomplishing this remarkable feat.
“Some people have never had one in their life and I can see why,” he added.
“I’ve been playing for 30 years and only just got one now. It’s a miracle because it is very difficult.”
Due to his poor eyesight, Payne relied on others to inform him when the ball dropped into the hole.
“It is a once-in-a-lifetime shot.”
“You play with other people and their eyesight is much better than mine,” Payne commented.
“I’ve been playing for 30 years and only just got one now. It’s a miracle because it is very difficult,” said the golfer about his hole-in-one achievement. (Tom Maddick / SWNS)
At the age of 60, Payne took up golf after retiring from a management career.
He now enjoys regular games with a small group of fellow golfers.
“When you’ve come to the end of your working life, you want to keep busy,” he said. “You want to be out and not cooped up.”
“We play Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. It’s a nice little group of eight of us,” he added.
Although Payne maintains a club handicap of approximately 26, he no longer participates in official tournaments.
“I’m getting too long in the tooth for that,” he joked.
Aside from golf, Payne stays active with gym sessions twice a week to keep his joints mobile and his swing in good form.
“We play Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. It’s a nice little group of eight of us,” said Payne. (Tom Maddick / SWNS)
“As you get older you need mobile joints,” he emphasized. “You need to be able to turn.”
Following his remarkable hole-in-one, Payne celebrated with his family, including 16 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Gurj Bowbanks, operations manager at the golf course, expressed joy on behalf of the club for Payne’s achievement.
“We are really over the moon for him,” Bowbanks said.
Payne’s story has served as an inspiration to fellow golfers, demonstrating that it’s never too late to accomplish something extraordinary.
