Image copyright AFP Image caption Club captain: Dougie Habenstein on the right
Emphasising his love of golf came easily to 86-year-old Dougie Habenstein, but aiming at the green proved a challenge.
Habenstein, at a recent Presidents Cup match in Melbourne with partner Brian Townsend, said: “We were playing away, and I tried to hit the tee shot. I didn’t hit it, and I made a hole-in-one.”
You can tell what happened because this fellow didn’t like us saying “hole-in-one” after a “hole-in-one” — but it’s true.
In fact, that may be all you need to say, Dougie.
Image copyright AFP Image caption Habenstein scored a hole-in-one on the 142nd hole in Melbourne
Habenstein, from Bundaberg in Queensland, revealed that the hole in question was a long one: “Round here, we use 52s, 54s, and a few 56s, so it has a little length.
“We started at the 289 [yard] par-three 14th. I went off to the right and landed about 30ft [nine metres] straight up against the bank, so the ball was wedged.
“The wind got to it a little bit but it popped out, and I hit a six-iron, and it hit the pin, and then it rolled three feet or so, and then I hit another six-iron into the hole.
“I wanted to say a bit of ‘ole’ to the youngest members of the club. A lot of the young golfers didn’t have a clue about that part of the golf course.
“When I was 22, I thought it was absolutely fantastic!”
Habenstein is an active member of the club and a club captain. Townsend, who had the honour of carrying the bag for the USA team at the Presidents Cup, said: “The best part of Dougie’s game is his golf swing, and I couldn’t have done better than him last week.”
The pair’s ball had a few hundred dollars in it as they headed for some takeaway burgers on the way back to the hotel.
Did you know a four-ball hit a hole-in-one in the Presidents Cup? Read all about the Presidents Cup golf competition.
