Coronavirus: Golfer holes first shot when play resumes on Wednesday

No mulligans were needed for Ed when he hit his first shot after golf resumed on Wednesday

Golfer Ed Sandison resumed playing in spectacular style with his first hole-in-one with his very first shot after the lockdown restrictions canceled

The amateur player perfectly returned to the Styal Golf Club in Cheshire on his 176-yard par-three opening hole.

Sandison played with his father-in-law Tony Sweeney, hit a 4-hybrid and was initially just relieved that he had made good contact.

"I hadn't closed a club through a lockdown," he told BBC Sport.

"We don't have nets in the yard, so it really was my first shot on the first hole for my first hole-in-one and I've never really come close."

The 34-year-old from Berkhamstead has been staying with his in-laws since Mother's Day on March 22.

"We have a 15-month-old daughter who helped with childcare, so it made sense to stay here," Sandison added.

"Tony was speculatively trying to book a start time last week. When things seemed to reopen and the first slot we could get was Wednesday morning."

The duo turned 09:04 off when thousands of golfers across England used the simplified coronavirus lock. limitations. No one will have made a better start than the 18 handicapper, who tries to play at least once a week under normal circumstances.

"I thought that was quite a nice shot, hopefully it's on the green," he said Sandison.

"I was just relieved that it honestly went airborne because I only had a few balls in my bag and I didn't want to lose too much too early.

" I could get my ball not see on the green when we walked upstairs. I looked around the edges and thought: & # 39; I'll just look at the hole, just in case & # 39; – and I could just see the top half of the ball stick up from the inverted cup.

"Then we took out the cameras and filmed and it all got a little crazy. It was absolutely fantastic and I just spent the rest of the round laughing because I couldn't believe it happened."

Fellow golfers offered congratulations, and many pointed out Sandison's happiness that clubhouses remain closed. Traditionally, anyone who makes a hole-in-one must purchase all drinks at the bar.

He played five tricks under his handicap. "I'm not a great golfer, but I have 41 points and it was probably the best round I've ever had, unbelievable," added Sandison.