One of Britain's oldest amateur golfers celebrated sinking his first ever hole-in-one – the day after his 90th birthday.



John Payne has been playing golf for 30 years but only hit his first ace during a round last Friday (18/7).



The sprightly pensioner struck his perfect shot on the sixth hole of Brailsford Golf Course, near Ashbourne, Derbys.

John, who has deteriorating eyesight, didn't realise he had achieved a hole-in-one on the par three hole until another player told him.

He said: "I didn't realise that it had gone in. "

"It's 200 yards from the tee to the hole. I never imagined I'd get it in one. "

"I hit the ball with my driver and it hit the downslope of the bunker. It rolled and rolled until it dropped in the hole. "

"When I was told I'd hit the perfect shot I felt magic, it is a once in a lifetime shot." "

"It's 200 yards and it's a once in a lifetime shot. "

"Most people never achieve this."





"It's not bad going to be alive at 90 and being able to hit a hole-in-one. A lot of people are dead 12 years or so before me."





"Some people have never had one in their life and I can see why. I've been playing for 30 years and only just got one now."



"It is a miracle because it is very difficult. I have played here for 30 years and I've never had a hole-in-one."



"You play with other people and their eyesight is much better than my eyesight. They gave me a running commentary as the ball landed."





John, who boasts a handicap of 26, only took up the sport after retiring from his management job in his 60s.

He said: "When you've come to the end of your working life you want to keep busy, you want to be out, and not cooped up."



"We play Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning - a little group of eight of us come and play. It's a nice little group of us."



"My club handicap is probably about 26 now but I don't play club competitions really, so I don't keep up to date."



"I'm getting too long in the tooth for that."



"Golf is important, but the gym is important for the movement side of things."



As you get older you need mobile joints, you need to be able turn.





"I go to the gym twice and golf three times a week."



John celebrated his hole-in-one with his family, including 16 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Operations manager at the course Gurj Bowbanks said: "I think we are all in awe of him and he's put us all to shame. "

"We are really over the moon for him."