Maleny Golf Club Celebrates Historic Visitor’s Hole in One
Aida Lavings from Nanango sent a buzz around the course by Acing the Par 3 Third Hole.
Maleny Golf Club is celebrating the first Hole-in-One by a visitor during a competition since the 9-hole public course opened in July 2015.
Long-time member of the Nanango Golf Club Aida Lavings, 73, was playing in the club’s inaugural Ladies Invitational (on Monday 21 May) when she aced the Par 3 Third Hole from 140m off the red markers to score her first Hole-In-One.
“I just used my driver off the tee like I always do and hit what was the perfect shot,” said Aida. “I’ve never had a hole in one so I’m very thrilled and excited.”
Remarkably, Aida and fellow Nambour Ladies Veteran Shirley McDougal 82, were playing alongside Maleny member Liz Mellish who aced the same hole in October last year to become the first woman to score a Hole-In-One on the course during a competition.
Nanango Ladies Captain Joy Cavanagh said all the members at Nanango were very proud of Aida.
“We’re all so happy for her and we will be presenting her with a trophy on which the ball she used will be mounted,” Ms Cavanagh said.
Maleny Golf Club President Dr Max Whitten said he was delighted for Aida achieving the club’s first Hole-in-One by a visiting player during a competition on a day when the club was hosting so many players from other clubs within the District.
“This was also our first Ladies Invitational at Maleny when we were able to showcase the course and by all accounts we acquitted ourselves very well in hosting and catering for a field of 63 players on the day,’’ Dr Whitten said.
The odds of an amateur golfer achieving a Hole-In-One are estimated to be around 12,500-to-1.
The 9-hole course designed by Graham Papworth has a par of 35 (or 70 for 18 holes). Maleny member Blake Wellington holds the club’s 18-hole gross course record for men after carding 67 off the stick during a Monthly Medal competition.
The ladies 18-hole gross course record of 82 is still held by another promising junior Jessica Cook from Woodford.
Visitors are always more than welcome, so too new members with the new membership year commencing on November 1.