Making a hole-in-one is one of the most unique achievement in golf, and a number of players will go an entire lifetime without making one.
As rare as they are, making one yards away from your home is even more extraordinary.
Butch Harmon School of Golf student Julia Rose, at the par-3 second hole of The Els Club at Dubai Sports City, did just that.
Rose, who is part of a ladies group receiving regular coaching under teaching professional John Howells, aced the hole where her villa at Victory Heights is located.
A delighted Rose said after her perfect six-iron shot from 114 yards: “My dad has been playing for 50 years and has never got a hole in one so for me to get one is amazing, really.
“We live on that hole (at Victory Heights) so I look at it every morning. So to do it at the second was something special.”
Julia received a commemorative print of the design of the second hole from Howells and Francisco David of The Els Club as a reminder of her fantastic achievement.
Young Max Hibbert steals the show in Sharjah
New Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club (SGSC) junior member Max Hibbert upset the field in the recent Orient Travel-Malaysia Truly Asia Monthly Stableford as he fired home a scintillating four-under 40 points to win six clear of his nearest rival.
Hibbert, who is currently enrolled in SGSC’s junior golf development programme, impressed the professionals who guide and mentor him by keeping a cool head and using great course management to guide his ball around the 18 holes to great effect.
With the nine-year-old Hibbert having just moved into full membership and a growth spurt imminent, he is definitely a name to watch out for in future years.
With both a morning and an afternoon shotgun it was Max’s playing partner, and father, Gary Hibbert who came home in second place among the morning golfers with 33 points.
Nepal’s Mukti Rai finished one point behind on 32.
During the afternoon rounds, it was ex SGSC Club Captain Mel Stewart who produced the best score of 34 points.
Second spot went to South African Roy Holmes with 32 and Malaysian Abdul Latif came home in third on 31 points.
Top Etihad honours for Harrison and Seng Tan
With a respective 25,000, 15,000 and 10,000 airmiles up for grabs for the top-three players in their categories, it was yet another hard-fought battle at the Etihad Open Stableford.
Abu Dhabi Police member Keith Harrison, who finished the day with an incredible 41 points, won the Division A Handicap Category (0-14).
Craig Ireland finished a close second with a solid 40 points, while Ian Miller was third with 37 points.
The Division B (15-36) category was won by Bak Seng Tan, who finished with an impressive 43 points.
Second place was a close call and Kia Heng Tan (40) won it by one point over Andrea Hartley (39).
