Catalina golfer Tony Riches scores Guinness World Record four holes in one on same hole

Tony Riches tees off with his 6-iron at hole 7. (ABC South East NSW: James Tugwell)

A golfer on the New South Wales south coast has claimed a Guinness World Record for the most holes in one on the same hole during competition play.

Tony Riches has hit four aces on the 147-metre par-3 seventh hole at Club Catalina Golf Course, over eight years, breaking the previous record of two.

“Statistically, they have assessed you have one chance in 10,000 strokes played on a par three to get a hole in one … it’s a very big number of the chances of getting four holes in one on the same hole,” he said.

The former PGA professional and coach at Yowani Country Club in Canberra has been playing golf for 46 years and estimates he had teed off on about 18,000 par-3 holes before he finally scored his first one-shot wonder in April 2015.

“I didn’t think I’d ever get a hole in one,” he said.

However on that April day, his ball bounced just once before landing directly in the hole in what Mr Riches called a “slam dunk”.

“It was exhilarating – one of the best feelings I’ve ever had.

“It took away the doubt I would never get a hole in one.”

In 2018, he aced the same hole twice more, then in February this year he did it a fourth time.

Catalina Club director of golf Rod Booth said the feat was incredible.

“Many golfers go through their whole career never having a hole in one,” he said.

“To have four holes in one, let alone on the same hole, is so rare.

“To hit it from 147 metres away into a four-inch hole and holing it is pretty extraordinary, let alone doing it four times.”

Mr Riches said there was no easy way to get a hole in one.

“There’s no trick, you just make a good swing. You need that little element of luck for the ball to go into the hole,” he said.

When he submitted score sheets and club honour boards to Guinness World Records, Mr Riches was formally recognised for his feat.

Now he looks forward to teeing off with his 6-iron at the hole every round.

“I think about getting a hole in one every time I tee up at the hole. I just have so much confidence standing at the hole.”

Mr Riches doesn’t rule out hitting another hole in one at the hole, but regardless it will always be his favourite place to tee off.

“When I pass away, I want to be cremated and have my ashes scattered behind the back of the hole so I can watch everyone else play that hole.”