The Koroit export was back home over the Christmas break and took the chance to have a crack at the Rotary Club of Warrnambool East’s annual hole-in-one challenge. 

And it only took a short warm-up before Gleeson nailed it. 

“I was lucky enough to skinny one in, which was a pretty unreal feeling,” he said. 

“I'd already been through a bucket of 30 balls and was probably on my 40th or 50 hit when it went in.

“I think there was a bit of beginner's luck involved, but I've been getting into the golf lately with a few of the boys – it's a great game.

“Don't be afraid to spend your money and have some fun, because you never know what could happen.”

Gleeson said while he isn’t one for new year’s resolutions, he hoped this golfing success marked a “good omen” for the upcoming season. 

“We got Dylan Shiel and Zac Clarke in the trade period, as well as a few younger guys coming in, so there's a good feeling around the club at the moment,” he said. 

Rotary president Maggie Dwyer said it was exciting to have Gleeson at the hole-in-one.

“We've had fabulous weather and all the money raised goes back into the community,” she said.

Warrnambool’s Andrew Meade, 26, also sunk a hole-in-one on Tuesday.