Local golfer, 87, is 'oldest' to score ace at historic Fife club

Dr Scott Findlay racks up the third ace of his career at Crail’s renowned Balcomie Links

 

By Chris Johnston

You'reE never too late to play a hole in one swipe – and Dr Scott Findlay is living proof of that.

The 87-year-old, a member at Crail Golfing Society, aced the sixth hole on the brilliant Balcomie Links at the end of July.

He used a 5-wood on the 188-yard par-3, with the shot witnessed by his three playing partners, all fellow members of the world’s seventh oldest golf club. The ball landed just short of the green, rolled on and disappeared into the hole.

The club’s member’s secretary, Carolyn McPherson, presented Dr Findlay with a commemorative certificate to mark the occasion.

DREAM

Society captain David Maiden said he believed he was the oldest member of the Society to achieve a hole-in-one at the Crail links.

“It’s every golfer’s dream to hole out in one shot and to do it at 87-years-old means there’s still hope for all of us,” said Maiden.

This is the third time that Dr Findlay has recorded the perfect score, the first being at his previous club, Haggs Castle, in Glasgow, and the second was also on Crail’sBalcomie Links, but at the par-3 16th hole.

Now playing off a handicap of 16, Dr Findlay played off a handicap of two in the past.

“Scott plays twice a week and still to a pretty high standard,” said Bob Mollison, who was one of his playing partners on the day. “He frequently gives us a masterclass around the greens.”

ACCLAIMED

Crail Golfing Society was founded 229 years ago in 1787 and has two courses: the acclaimed Balcomie Links, laid out by Old Tom Morris and opened in 1895; and Craighead Links, designed by Gil Hanse and opened in 1998. The Society is a member-owned club, with 1,400 members worldwide.It also welcomes over 10,000 visitors each year.

Earlier this year, meanwhile, South Texas PGA junior Taylor Crozier made a name for himself Stateside when he opened the new Tiger Woods course, Bluejack National, a private community in Montgomery, Texas. The 11-year-old hit the opening tee shot on the course - an incredible hole-in-one, earning a high-five from Tiger!

In Other News...