Hartlepool golfing friends mark 80th years with hole in one on same hole within days of each other

John Hall and Barry Parkes, who both turned 80 in January, hit aces on the third hole at Seaton Carew Golf Club just days apart.

The old pals are no strangers to landing the perfect tee shot with John now having nine to his name since joining Seaton in 1953 and Barry just behind him on eight after previously appearing in the Mail in April 2017 and repeating the feat last week.

Barry, a former inside forward for Hartlepool United and who has played at Seaton for over 40 years, said: “I was playing with Robbie Holland, he said that looks good and right at it.

“I thought it could be close. It never left the pin. When we went up it was in the hole.

“When we got back to the clubhouse it was packed, everyone congratulated me and it cost me two bottles of whisky.

"It was a pleasure because I was flying. I didn’t even have a drink!”

John, who has won the club championship four times and was captain in 1991, got his latest hole in one five days earlier with a six-iron.

He said: “I don’t get that many good shots any more so I remember it!

"It was dead on the pin and I thought I’d actually hit it too well, maybe running in to the bunker at the back.

“Anyway Mick Chalk, who I was playing with, said ‘that was quite near’. He has the worst eyesight as well! I couldn’t see the ball either, when I walked up I looked in the bunker first and when it wasn’t there I knew.”

It was John’s first ace in four years. He has also hit his tee shot straight in at Darlington, Bishop Auckland and in Portugal.

Friends at Seaton Golf Club have suggested to them they should have a race to see who hits a tenth first.

Barry and John’s friendship goes back many years to played table tennis and football for Holy Trinity, Seaton Juniors together.

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