If Tiger Woods ever decides to have a round of golf here he may be wary of taking on two locals because they recently hit holes in one.
Woods may be the world’s best but Mark Williams and Philip Wight are right up there with him when it comes to fairway achievements.
A hole in one is the pinnacle of any golfer’s career. Many seasoned pros have not achieved it so Williams and Wight are in a unique band at the Links at Safehaven.
Williams has only been playing seriously a few years. His magic moment came on 6 August at the 13th hole. Not unlucky for some this time. ‘It was 175 yards and I hit it with a six iron,’ Williams said. ‘I was playing with Brian Uzzell (Compass publisher), Mary and someone else. By coincidence, Brian had just asked me if I’d ever had a hole in one, which I hadn’t. Anyway, we were looking all over for it and in desperation I said to Mary: ‘Go and look in the hole’. I didn’t believe it at first.’
Traditionally, all golfers have to buy everyone in the clubhouse a drink. Williams, 43, is general manager for Nautilus who provide semi-submarine tours. ‘Being a Monday there weren’t too many there, thankfully. It wasn’t a cheap round but it could have been a lot worse.’
He was playing off a 17 handicap and that shot helped improve it 15. ‘It’ll take a lot more holes in one to bring my handicap down anymore,’ he joked. ‘Every time I get to the 13 now I remember it. Someone emailed me when he heard and was ribbing me because he’s never had one in 28 years of playing.
‘Field hockey is my main sport but golf is rapidly overtaking it. Take on Tiger Woods? Only in field hockey.’
Wight did his unique feat four days earlier. It was his first ever hole in one after 10 years of playing regularly. This time it was at the No.9 hole, another 175 yarder and also a par three. ‘When we saw it go in my brother Michael and two others ran ahead to get their drinks,’ joked Wight. ‘That’s one rule they’ll have to change. Actually, the bar tab wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.’
Wight, 40, a jeweler at Kirk Freeport, is one of five cricketing brothers who have all played for the Cayman national side. He added that he would only take on Woods at cricket. ‘Golf has taken over from cricket because you don’t have to run around so much.’
Sean Wilson is the director of golf at the club. He quipped: ‘I was away when Mark hit his but was waiting at the bar when Philip hit his. It’s a great feat for both of them to have done it. I’m still waiting for my first one.’
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