Wyboston Lakes golfer wins car after drive of a lifetime

A new Toyota Aygo was presented to one of Wyboston Lakes ' golfers on Wednesday 10 th November after the player hit the shot of a lifetime.

Left to right: John Thurlow, Chairman of George Thurlow (Holdings) Ltd; Dave Little, Leisure Services Manager, Wyboston Lakes , and Derek Fitzgibbon, golfer

Derek Fitzgibbon, a retired interior designer from Great Staughton, Cambridgeshire, saw his tee shot on the 5 th fly into the hole from 140 yards. The incredible shot, which defied odds of 30,000/1, was witnessed by Mr Fitzgibbon's two playing partners at the Snooty Tavern Golf Day on 4 th September.

The Toyota Aygo, supplied by Thurlow Nunn Toyota, St Ives, was one of a number of prizes offered for a hole-in-one on the five par-3s at the Wyboston Lakes Golf Centre.  Other prizes included a holiday in Portugal and set of golf clubs. Over 80 golfers took part in the event, at which golfers were served breakfast in the Waterfront Brasserie, before teeing off round the course which is set in 350 acres of countryside alongside the banks of the River Great Ouse on the Cambridgeshire/Bedfordshire border.

Mr Fitzgibbon's achievement, the first time a car has been won for a hole-in-one in the 27-year history of the course, was made even more improbable by his use of a driver, an unusual choice of club for a par-3.

Mr Fitzgibbon said: "With my driver I can hit it quite straight. I saw it roll towards the hole, and I didn't know if it had gone in the hole or gone over the back of the green. One of my playing partners turned around to the other and said 'that's gone in' so they both jumped into the buggy and drove to the hole.  "To get a hole-in-one is the highest accolade in any golfer's life to be honest. I'm very passionate about the game."

David Little, Leisure Services Manager at Wyboston Lakes said: "We are very pleased Mr Fitzgibbon has won this prize from our friends at Toyota   Mr Fitzgibbon is a regular at the course and he has now made a piece of Wyboston Lakes history by becoming the first player to win a major prize for a hole-in-one."

A caveat to all amateur golfers who win such a prize
The player is in breach of his amateur status if he accepts the prize, and would forfeit his amateur status as a result.

By accepting such a prize a player does not become a professional though. As far as the Rules are concerned, he has simply broken the Rules and would become a non-amateur. If he wanted to call himself a professional then that is up to him - there is no law against it - but he would not be a professional in most people's eyes, i.e. he is not a member of a professional tour, nor a teaching professional.  

KEVIN BARKER
Assistant Director - Rules
The R&A, Beach House, St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9TY , Scotland
Tel. +44 (0) 1334 460000
Fax. +44 (0) 1334 460003

WYBOSTON LAKES

.        The 5963 yard long course offers golfers, from amateur to the keenest of swingers, a challenging course with fabulous lakeside vista including the 3rd, 5th and 7th which are testing par 3s surrounded by water.
.        The golf course enjoys the expertise of golf professional Paul Ashwell, who was recently named by Golf Monthly magazine in the top 25 coaches in UK and is also an EGU national coach
.        The golf course is open every day, weather permitting, for members, corporate events, golf societies or pay-and-play.
.        Guests can also relax at the onsite health club,  enjoy superb food created by award-winning chefs at the Waterfront Brasserie or book a golfing break at the 3-star Wyboston Lakes Hotel
.        Wyboston Lakes Golf Centre, Wyboston, Bedfordshire , MK44 3AL .
.        www.wybostonlakes.co.uk / 01480 212625
.        Email golf@wybostonlakes.co.uk .  Pro Shop tel: 01480 223004