Golfer’s lucky streak continues as Ian Macrae hits fourth hole-in-one at Kings in Inverness in the last year
Inverness golfer Ian Macrae has completed the remarkable achievement of hitting a hole-in-one at all of Kings Golf Club’s par three holes - and doing it all inside a year.
The retired electrician recorded the feat at three of Kings’ four applicable holes in a matter of months last year, but the fourth eluded him at the time.
Now, 11 months after the first, he has finally managed to secure a hole-in-one at the 13th hole.
Macrae admits he is getting a bit of a reputation for his accomplishments around the clubhouse and among friends, but he is just delighted to have once again done something most other golfers will never do.
“I just hit a four iron, and it looked like a good hit,” he recalled.
“The boys said it just rolled straight in, it never hit the flag or anything – just bounced at the front of the green and kept going.
“The boys I was playing with actually saw it before I did. They were telling me it was in, but I thought it might just be sitting behind the flag because the sun was in our eyes a wee bit. Sure enough, it was in.
“It’s a nice feeling to walk up when it’s in there, and after having the other three, to get that one made it extra special.
“It’s quite a hard hole, and after having three you’re thinking you’re not going to be that lucky again. Lo and behold, I was.
“Every time I go out people are asking me how many holes in one I’m getting today! It’s nice, it’s all good-humoured.”
Macrae is very aware that it is rare to hit a single hole-in-one, never mind four at the same course, and even rarer to do it all inside a 12-month span.
He approaches the accomplishment with no sense of ego, though, putting all four of the moments down to luck.
“Far, far better players than me have never had a hole in one, so to get four in a year, I’m over the moon. It’s just unbelievable, especially to get them at all the different par threes.
“The boys reckon there won’t be many people who have had four holes in one on a course worldwide, never mind at our course and inside a year.
“They were telling me it’s in, and I didn’t believe them, but it was. It’s a good feeling to get one, because I’ve played with boys who are far better golfers than me who have never had a hole in one in all the years they’ve been playing.
“I was over the moon to get it, but I would imagine it’s quite rare. I’ve heard of people getting two in one day, or a father and son getting one at the same hole in one day, but to get four inside a year – I’m very, very lucky.”