He’s had holes in one before but they’ve never come this close together for Bill Bell in more than eight decades of playing golf.
The 87-year-old Bell shot a hole in one on No. 11 at the Shawnee Country Club on Thursday, giving him six for his career. His fifth came just five weeks earlier on April 30 on No. 3 at Lost Creek Golfers Club, the site of his previous four, when he and his wife, Joan, played nine holes.
“There’s a lot of luck involved in those things. But the one yesterday was really pure,” Bell, of Lima, said about his most recent hole-in-one. “The guys who were just getting off the green said it took one hop, went past the pin and backed up into the hole. I said I hadn’t backed up a ball in 25 years.”
Bell was in a foursome with his brother Dr. Ron Bell, his nephew Doug Bell and his brother-in-law, John Pike, of Toledo, on Thursday.
Thursday’s hole-in-one was the first on No. 11 at Shawnee since it was redesigned before this season.
“I’ve got six but Tiger’s got 19, so I don’t think I’ll catch him,” Bell said, with a laugh.
“I’m kind of restricted now because of my age. We’re down to nine holes about three times a week and as long as I shoot half my age on nine holes I’m happy,” he said.
