For most the first Saturday in February, 2024 will likely be forgotten quickly.
But Mooroopna’s Chris Belford will remember the day for the rest of his life, as February 4 was the day he struck a hole-in-one on a competition day.
Playing with his two sons Chris Longmore and Tim Belford and close mate Matty Gardner, Belford said the first nine holes of the round were relatively unremarkable before the group arrived at the 10th at Mooroopna Golf Club.
It was there that one moment (which often is the case in golf) swiftly changed the atmosphere among the group as Belford’s 7-iron beautifully guided the ball through the air before it trickled into the hole.
“I knew I hit it pretty clean,” Belford said.
“It landed about 5m short of the pin and sort of rolled up. We lost sight of it and we all started getting pretty excited.
“It was fantastic to hit it with them (his mate and sons); they all hadn’t seen a hole-in-one either, so it was good to share that moment with family.
“I was just ecstatic. Jumping around and let out a few yelps and everyone on the driving range turned around and had a look and then started clapping.
“It’s just a euphoric feeling.”
After the dust had settled, Belford admits his hands were shaky as he walked up to tee off at the 11th.
His mind was so scattered from what had just occurred that he committed one of golf’s cardinal sins: playing on with the same ball.
“I played with it for half-a-hole and hit it out of bounds,” he said.
“(When I found it I) put it straight back in my bag.”
Belford and his family recently moved back to Shepparton after living in Queensland for roughly 15 years.
It was there in the Sunshine State that he picked up the sport of golf as something to talk about around the water cooler.
“Everyone was going to work talking about rugby league, football or golf and I don’t like rugby league, so I thought ‘golf, I’ll have to take that up’,” he said.
“I have copped a lot of stick from my mates about (golf) over the years, but I have one back on them now.”