An amateur golfer was left “frozen” and “could not stop shaking” after hitting a hole in one from 411 yards (376 metres) – a one-in-six-million chance, according to one estimate.
Matthew Vigurs, from Droitwich in Worcestershire, narrowly missed out on claiming a Guinness World Record when he sank the shot during a league match at Great Barr Golf Club in Sandwell near Birmingham.
The record sits with Robert Mitera who in 1965 at Miracle Hills Golf Course in Nebraska, USA, hit a hole in one from 447 yards (408 metres).
But despite being 36 yards (33 metres) short, 32-year-old Vigurs said: “I got married last year so obviously that’s number one but this is definitely up there as a close second best moment of my life.”
England Golf, the national governing body for amateur golf, believes Vigurs’ achievement could be a national record, but that is yet to be confirmed.
But for any golfer a hole in one is a moment to remember and due to its rarity, Vigurs admitted he felt “stupid” even looking for his ball near the hole.
“We all hit good shots but I didn’t expect it to go anywhere close to the green and I didn’t know it had until we got up there,” he said.
“We were looking for the balls but mine was missing.
“Everyone else was about 40 yards short of the green and we even had a look over the back of the green.
“I just double checked the hole and unbelievably I froze for about 10 seconds when I noticed the ball in the bottom.
“I rolled it over and saw my markings and we all went mad. It was surreal.”
He added: “It was mental and obviously we couldn’t see anything off the tee so I already felt a bit stupid for looking over the back of the green because the lads I was playing with were all short of the green.
“So I thought I already look a bit stupid so I might as well look in the hole. I had to do a double take.
“I froze and couldn’t stop shaking.”
He added: “It’s honestly surreal. England Golf told me it was a one in six million chance of happening.
“It really is surreal and also to know it wasn’t altitude assisted, so it wasn’t down hill, and I played all 411 yards – it’s a crazy feeling.”
Incredibly, Vigurs shot another hole in one just weeks prior at Droitwich Golf Club.
And like the 411-yard drive, he and his friends had “plenty of drinks” to celebrate, which Vigurs said had resulted in a “couple of expensive months”.
He and his teammates at Droitwich Golf Club also beat Great Barr Golf Club to gain promotion to Division Three.
“It was a good day for Droitwich too,” he said.
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