At 71 years of age, Heywood, who described himself as an “old person starting to play golf”, said it was a thrill to get a hole in one on the 26th hole while playing in the Dubbo Veterans Golf competition on Tuesday.

As a C-grade golfer, and with a handicap of 34.5, he got par at the 25th hole, which according to Heywood, was no mean feat. 

“I never thought I would get a par, that was such an amazing surprise,” he said.

“The fact that I got an eagle on the 26th hole was definitely something I would never have thought possible at my age.”

Heywood recalled he had only been playing for about an hour on Tuesday, when a westerly wind enabled the ball to veer slightly to the left, and before he knew it his partner had yelled out “I think it went in, Peter.”

At the time, Heywood was playing with Ray Moulds, Paul Nolan and also Veteran Golfers Association president John Dixon.

He said it was quite the surprise as he wasn’t sure if it had actually happened.

“I had to run over and see for myself, as it looked like somebody else’s ball went in before mine did. When I saw it in there I was flabbergasted... I was a stunned clubber.

“It’s amazing to think it could happen but I never thought it would. 

“My mother was a keen golfer before she died and she actually got three hole in ones, which took her about 30 years to do... I only have two more to get now,” he said.

Heywood said he thought he could get another hole in one in the next 10 years, if he was still able to play golf.

He used a six iron to get the shot, which he said was a standard club. Heywood added that everybody was different with the club they used, but this particular club definitely allowed him to go the distance and achieve what every golfer ultimately sets out to do.

His hole in one was the only ace on the day, however others came incredibly  close. Fellow golfer Carl Young was a mere 10cm away from the hole. 

Another golfer, 97-year-old Jeff Perry, who makes it to the course twice a week and still walks the length of the course, also came close to a hole in one on Tuesday.

After 11 years of golf Heywood still enjoys the game, especially because of the friendships he has formed while playing.

“We all play for a trophy at the end of it all, but we all do it for the social aspect of the game. 

“I play twice a week and I’m there with other retirees and golfers who enjoy each other’s company and who love a day on the green,” he said.