For most of Thursday's round Neville Gorman thought he was playing a lousy game until his tee shot off the 13th.
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The 68-year-old watched his ball fly towards the green on the par-3 hole nicknamed 'The Plateau'.
"I hit an eight iron and it went through the green and up onto the hill and it rolled back down into the hole," he said.
"I didn't see it because it is an elevated green and the guys ahead of us started cheering. We thought 'how come they are cheering? Have they done a good shot on the 14th?'
"Then they all came around the trees and said 'you had a hole-in-one, you had a hole-in-one!'
"I was excited but my partner (Carl Murphy) was not very excited and he said he had already forgotten about it (laughs)."
Thursday's ace was not for the former Melbourne resident's first.
"This is my fourth hole in one," he said. "I have had a hole-in-one on the (par-3) ninth here (at Warrnambool Golf Course) as well. The others were at Essendon Golf Course and Queenscliff.
"I have been playing for a long time and they are all a fluke so I get quite excited when they happen."
Gorman, who moved to Warrnambool in 2012, said the ball he used on the 13th would take pride of place at home next to his others.
"It was a crummy old ball and I have all the others," he said. "Two of them were in competition and the other one was playing social round with my kids. This was a social round but I will still remember it."
Gorman, who plays two to three times a week, said Thursday's round was not his best.
"I wish I played a little bit better because I had a pretty lousy game except for the one hole in one," he says with a laugh.
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Golfers can now return to courses across regional Victoria after an easing of COVID-19 restrictions last week.
Social golf is allowed but competition is outlawed under the eased coronavirus restrictions. Competition is likely sidelined until the end of September.
Conditions for players returning to the course include groups of four, no gatherings of more than 10 people at any one time, facemasks are to be worn at all times.
Players also need to check in via QR codes upon arrival at the course.
Sanitiser stations are located at each hole and WGC strongly recommends players carry their own sanitiser and/or wipes in their golf bag for added personal hygiene protection.
Clubhouses are also restricted to 10 patrons inside and 20 outside at any one time. Takeaway liquor, food and beverages are still available to purchase at Warrnambool's clubhouse.
The right-hander said it was good to be back on course playing.
"I am retired and its good to get out," he said "It is beautiful surroundings and course is in terrific condition and its lovely to be here."
Six holes-in-one - Gorman, Phil Prider, Grant Howland, Tony Saunders, Lachie Peters and John Pederick - have now been scored at the club in 2021.
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