FOR a golfer of any age and any handicap, a hole-in-one is a rare achievement, but when you’re 91 years of age, and hit that most elusive of golfing triumphs, then it’s certainly a case of double whiskies all around back at the clubhouse.

Abergavenny golfer Vincent Kelly first picked up the club some 65 years ago, and although down the decades and through the years, he’s already bagged five aces in the hole, Vincent’s most recent hole-in-one has to be his sweetest strike yet.

The Monmouthshire Golf Member struck gold on his home club’s par three tenth hole, and explained that although it was something of a pleasant surprise it wasn’t too much of a shock to the system.

“Whenever I walk out on the greens I’m looking to get a hole-in-one. Prior to the most recent hole in one, my tally was five, but I must admit it was nice to add a sixth,” explained the enthusiastic golfer.

The New York Times once reported that North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il claimed to have shot five holes-in-one during his first attempt at playing golf. The story was of course a complete fabrication. Holes-in-one, of course, do happen, but they’re hard to come by, and any golfer, no matter if they’re first name is Tiger and their second name is Woods, always need a certain degree of help from lady luck, if they’re to put their name to one of these sporting epiphanies.

During the 1973 British Open, 71-year-old Gene Sarazen had a hole-in-one, but the ‘Gene Genie’ was a relative teenager compared with Monmouthshire’s own ‘King Kelly,’ who had 20 years on the American pro when he delivered his latest flying ace.

In August this year, Pennard Golf Club’s Peter Phillips was the toast of silver-haired sportsmen and women everywhere when he aced the par three 16th hole at Llanishan Golf Club. Yet even at the age of 86, Peter is still Vincent’s junior by five years.

The oldest player to record a hole-in-one is PGA Professional Gus Andereone. The 103-year-old swinger recorded the eighth ace of his career on the 113-yard, 14th hole of the Lakes Course at Palm Aire in Sarasota.

It has yet to be ascertained if Vincent, who has been a member of Monmouthshire Golf Club for 50 years, plays with a handicap of 28, and still plays golf at least twice a week, is the oldest golfer in Wales, possibly the UK, to get a hole-in-one, but at the age of 91 he’s definitely in the running.

And in case you’re wondering, if there’s any golfers out there, old or young, who are still striving to bag their first hole-in-one, Vincent has some sound words of advice, “Never give in and just keep on swinging.”